Face Time

Never underestimate the power of face-to-face meetings.

Firing off an email is fast, easy, free and painless. Picking up the phone takes a bit more work, and gumption depending on the circumstances, but implies a level of commitment and closeness that is oftentimes worth it.

Videoconferencing will be far more prevalent in the coming years, and for good reason. It’s increasingly effective as the technology improves, cuts down on costly travel, and is a far richer communication experience than a conference call.

Thanks for advances in technology, meeting face-to-face to do business isn’t nearly as necessary as it once was.

But that doesn’t mean face-to-face meetings have lost an ounce of power. Whether you’re in sales, business development, marketing or any job function, taking the time and effort to have a conversation in-person can be a powerful relationship builder, deal accelerator, and driver of more efficient, successful, profitable business for years to come.

Yes, it takes more time. Yes, it can be inconvenient. Yes, it takes much more effort – especially when easier channels are available that, technically, accomplish the same task.

Short-term, they may get you what you’re after. Long-term, it’s night and day different.