Is Business Networking Effective? Survey of 1,006 Professionals Reveals Dissatisfaction with 'Shallow 5-Minute Conversations'

Keiei Sanbou Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenji Shintani) conducted a survey on the 'Actual State of Networking Event Participation among Business Professionals,' targeting 1,006 individuals who have participated in such events within the past year.

## Frequency and Triggers of Participation
The survey revealed that approximately 60% of professionals participate in networking events 'once every few months or less,' with the most common responses being 'once every six months (19.2%)' and 'once a year (18.7%).' Offline events tend to have higher barriers due to travel time and scheduling compared to online options.

The most frequent trigger for participation was 'Information from a community one belongs to (50.7%),' followed by 'Interest in speakers (28.8%)' and 'Referrals from acquaintances or colleagues (26.2%).' This indicates that trusted networks and existing relationships strongly influence the motivation to attend.

## Expectations and Lead Conversion Rates
The primary expectation for attending events was 'Gaining a community for new connections (48.3%).' Other practical goals included 'Obtaining specific information or case studies (31.7%)' and 'Securing opportunities for business deals (28.5%).'

Among those seeking business opportunities, the conversion rate to actual meetings was as follows:
- 10-20% conversion: 35.5%
- 30-40% conversion: 37.3%
- 50-60% conversion: 15.3%
Notably, 7.0% responded that attendance had never led to a service inquiry or consideration.

## Key Dissatisfactions
The top dissatisfaction reported was 'Too many people to have meaningful conversations.' The survey highlights a prevalent issue where interactions end with a mere exchange of business cards or shallow conversations lasting only a few minutes per person, making it difficult to establish substantial professional relationships.