Is relationship building ever bad for networking?

Building relationships is an initial outcome of networking - relationships with people that started out as strangers. Relationships with people who can help you ... or ... who you can help.

Don't mix networking, marketing and sales. Do them separately at different times as the relationship evolves. I'm also turned off by people who try to sell when they should still be networking and trying to build relationships. Most people are.

You can get to know someone, but try to do it in the business context. What do they do? How can they help you, or someone you know? What do you do? How can you help them or someone they know?

With purely social networking, business doesn't matter. At a COSE or other business event where people are networking, business does matter.

Ultimately, you have to do what you're comfortable with. Just be willing to deal with the results ... or lack thereof.

No matter what the environment whether it is a networking event or in their office, people do not like to be sold. The 'networker' whose only objective is to make sure everyone in the room gets his or her business card can be a little annoying. I believe that networking events are all about building relationships. It's almost guaranteed that if you have a conversation with someone and build a good rapport that eventually they are going to ask what you do. It comes down to the fact that people buy from people they like.

Mark, thanks for contributing to this discussion. You're absolutely right ... it's all about relationships.