This question was posted on LinkedIn. Below is my answer. Please add your views and experience in the comments:

Definitely both.

It’s great to meet new people and expend my network. I really enjoy connecting with and getting to know quality professionals so I have a large group to draw from in order to help other people, and to help each other.

I also know that networking is not a fast process and takes time and effort. The easiest way to get to know someone and for them to get to know you, is to see and interact with them over time. The more interaction and in different settings and scenarios, the better the relationship foundation.

“Proximity breeds familiarity.”

This is something I learned in a social psychology class in college (many, many years ago :) ), and I believe it to have great insight into relationship building and by extension networking, marketing and sales, both online and offline.

If you would like to join a great networking group for small business owners, check out
Local Chicagoland: http://www.meetup.com/ChicagoBusinessDevelopmentForum 
International on Facebook: http://groups.to/IdealBusinessCommunity

And please let me know if I can ever be of assistance, or you’d like to meet for some quality networking.

All the best,
Jason 

“Helping entrepreneurs, small biz owners, and sales professionals achieve your ideal business in 12 months or less.”

773.829.1276

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook Profile: http://facebook.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook Business Group: http://groups.to/IdealBusinessCommunity