100%! It's all about building relationships. Face-to-face networking is especially important for these reasons: Interpreting tone and visually accessing body language and cues; eliminates communication errors - something that may not be conveyed properly through text; Information and explanations of a product/service is understood on a more precise level, through verbal conveyance; Personality and people skills are what can make you or break you. Face-to-face networking can save time and energy on both sides - it's generally apparent (usual very quick) whether you do or do not mesh with someone, personally or professionally.