The Digital and Real-World Handshake for Leaders

By Jeffrey Mangus, CEO, Mangus Media Group

Want to know the real secret to building influence in 2025? It's not just about shaking hands at a conference. It's not just about your LinkedIn profile. It's about a new, powerful blend of the two: the integrated handshake. As the CEO of Mangus Media Group, I see leaders struggling with this every day. They're either killing it with their in-person network, but have a weak online footprint, or they have a slick website, but can't close deals face-to-face.

Here’s the truth: you can't just pick one. Your traditional industry presence—the relationships you build at events, the referrals you get, the conversations you have—is no longer enough on its own. Your online presence—your website, your social media, the articles you publish—is the first impression many will have of you.

 And it's happening 24/7.

The best leaders today don't see these as separate. They leverage their online presence to enhance their industry visibility. And they use their industry presence to supercharge their online growth. It’s a flywheel, and if you're not spinning it, you're falling behind.

In essence, when it comes to building your professional network, you've got two main options: in-person or virtual. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice depends on your goals, resources, and personal style. I've found that combining both approaches is the most powerful way to build a broad and dynamic network.

 The Power of In-Person Networking

There’s nothing like meeting someone face-to-face. That's where you can build trust in things like eye contact and body language. The unscripted conversations you have at conferences or events often lead to the most genuine connections and unexpected opportunities. Plus, being physically present helps you stay focused and fully engaged, which can spark some serious creativity and collaboration.

Of course, in-person networking isn’t always easy. It can be expensive and time-consuming with all the travel and event costs. You're also limited to a specific geographic area, which can keep you from meeting a more diverse group of people. And for someone like me with hearing issues, a noisy room can be a real challenge. It's tough to stay focused and catch everything people are saying.

The Benefits of Virtual Networking

Virtual networking is a game-changer for accessibility. It's much more cost-effective since you save on travel and time. You can attend events from anywhere with an internet connection, which is great for the environment, too. The flexibility is a huge plus—many events are recorded, and my own networking platform is open 24/7. This lets you connect with professionals from all over the world, which dramatically expands your reach and opportunities.

On the flip side, virtual networking can feel a bit impersonal. It takes more effort to build the same level of trust you get from a face-to-face meeting. You also have to deal with technical issues, like bad internet connections, which can disrupt the flow of a conversation. And let's be honest, spontaneous, serendipitous moments are harder to come by online.

Finding the Right Balance

I've learned that the most effective strategy is to use a hybrid approach. I attend key in-person events to build deep, personal connections. Then, I use virtual platforms to maintain those relationships and expand my network globally.

Ultimately, your approach should be what works best for you. If you value personal connections and have the resources, in-person events are a must. If you have a tight budget or want to connect with people worldwide, virtual is the way to go. But remember, you don’t have to choose just one. By strategically combining both, you can build a network that truly helps you grow.

Let me give you a real-world example. I know a CEO; let's call her Maria. Her tech startup was brilliant, but its growth was stalled. She was a master networker, attending every conference she could, but her reach was limited to the 2,000 or so people she could meet in a year. We helped her change that. Here’s what we did. We launched a content-rich article and email campaigns that positioned her as a thought leader in her niche. She started posting genuine, insightful content on LinkedIn every single day. She engaged with other leaders, not just promoting herself, but adding real value to their conversations.
The result?

Before her next big conference, hundreds of people already knew who she was. The handshake wasn't a cold introduction; it was a warm connection. Her conversations were no longer about who she was, but about how they could work together.
Her lead generation from that one event jumped by over 300%. That’s the power of the integrated handshake.

Now, let's talk about the ultimate tool for this strategy: writing a book and building a parallel book-content “ecosystem.” I know what you're thinking. "A book? That’s for authors, not busy CEOs!"
Wrong.

A book is not just a book; it's the foundation of your entire content ecosystem. Think about it: A book is the ultimate validator. It says, "I'm not just an expert; I wrote the book on this." It gives you instant authority and a massive advantage over your competition. But that's just the beginning.

The content from that one book can be repurposed and amplified for years.
Each chapter can become a series of blog posts. Key ideas can be turned into a 30-day social media campaign. You can create a webinar series based on the core principles.
You can use it as a tangible business card at every industry event you attend.

This is precisely what we did with Steve, a seasoned consultant in the financial services industry. He was a powerhouse of knowledge, but was stuck in a referral-only business model. We helped him write a book that distilled his decades of experience.
The outcome was insane:

He started using the book as a lead magnet on his website, attracting qualified prospects 24/7. He used the book to land speaking engagements at major industry events. When he met someone new, he didn't just hand them a flimsy business card; he gave them his book. It completely changed the dynamic of the conversation. In just one year, Steve's online presence exploded, his authority skyrocketed, and his business revenue grew by 7-figures. This is the power of a strategic content ecosystem built around a book. It’s the ultimate digital handshake.

My advice?

Stop thinking about your online presence and your industry presence as two separate things. Start seeing them as a unified force for growth.  

Are you ready to stop leaving money on the table and start building real, scalable influence?

Speak with our team. At Mangus Media Group, we help leaders like you write their books, build their content ecosystems, and master the integrated handshake.

Click here to schedule a free strategy session with my team. It’s time to turn your expertise into a growth engine.