Quantity Is Good but Quality Is King in Networking It is not what you know or who you know but how well you know each other that counts.

By Ivan Misner

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Thomas Barwick | Getty Images

A few years ago, I had a long conversation with a good friend who was considered a networking expert in Europe. He did a lot of work with online networking or social networking.

During this conversation, we got into a fundamental disagreement on the subject. He believed that networking was first and foremost a numbers game. He said that "the more people you were connected to the stronger your network."

Related: 4 Networking Tips for Introverts

At first, I went along with this comment agreeing that the number of people in your network was in fact, very important. I then said, "the only thing more important than the quantity of people was the quality of people in your network." Suddenly, our paths diverged. He said the "quality of people in your network are really not that important, instead it is all a numbers game."

To this day, I steadfastly disagree. Networking is not a numbers game. It's more like a people puzzle. It's about building relationships with the close people in your network. That means that it's about finding ways to interconnect the relationships you have to build a powerful personal network. In order to do that -- you actually have to have a fair number of quality relationships in that sea of contacts.

Related: 5 Steps to Rock Any Networking Event

If your network is a mile wide and an inch deep, it will never be successful. Instead, your network needs to be both wide and -- in places, deep. That is, you need to have a wide set of contacts but some of those need to be connections that go deep. Therefore, the quality of your network is just as important, if not more important than the quantity of your network.

This doesn't mean that quantity isn't important. It is important. A small network of quality people limits your success. However, a large network with multiple quality relationships makes for a much more powerful, personal network.

It is a little like your left hand and your right hand. Both are really important.But one is generally stronger, more powerful and generally used more than the other. You can't accomplish what you want as easily without both. However, one is the stronger hand. This is similar to the quantity vs. quality argument in networking.

It is not what you know or who you know -- it's how well you know each other that counts.

Related: The 6 Deadly Sins Of Networking

Strong relationships take simple "contacts" and turn them into powerful "connections." It doesn't really matter if I have an amazing database of people with many phone numbers. What really matters is how many of them will take my call if I can pick up the phone and ask for a favor.

By the way, since that argument a few years ago, my friend is no longer in the networking business. Quantity is good but quality truly is King.

Ivan Misner

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Bestselling Author

Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author and co-author of the bestselling book, Networking Like a Pro (Entrepreneur Press 2017). He is also the founder and chief visionary officer of BNI, the world's largest referral marketing and networking organization.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Here's How Much a Typical Google Employee Makes in a Year

Compensation for the median Google employee was up 5% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to a new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Business News

UPS Is Laying Off 20,000 Employees and Closing Over 70 Locations: 'Reduce Cost'

UPS announced the move as part of its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

Why Gen Z is Ditching Old Online Platforms for More Control

Emerging social media platforms need to keep agency and discoverability top of mind if they are looking to engage and retain Gen Z creators.

Business News

AI Just Took Over the Hottest Job...in AI

Prompt engineering was one of the best jobs in tech just two years ago, but not anymore.

Business News

This Is the Perfect Number of In-Office Days Needed to Keep Employees Engaged and Productive, According to a New Study

PwC's three-month study of its employees revealed how many days of in-office work it takes for a company to run smoothly.