At Tapt, we know that networking is the heartbeat of business. It drives growth, opens doors, and helps professionals build lasting relationships. In fact, Google searches for networking events have jumped 28% worldwide, year on year, reaching an all-time high, proving that networking has not only recovered since the pandemic but is thriving at unprecedented levels.
With the pace of networking picking up, which industries and locations are making it a priority? And is there a perfect time to make the most connections?
To find out, we analysed a sample of over 400,000 networking connections — instances where professionals exchanged details using our platform — from a total of 3.7 million interactions. We looked at total networking volume and how actively individual businesses connect.
We have broken down the industries, business sizes, cities, and countries leading the way, as well as the best times to make meaningful connections. From peak networking hours to the professionals who keep the momentum going even on the weekend, here’s when and where networking thrives the most.
The most active industries for building connections
The industries where businesses network the most
Businesses use networking to drive growth, secure deals, and build strong industry partnerships to stay competitive. This is especially true in manufacturing, which takes the top spot for business networking, with companies making an average of 110.2 connections per business. From industrial machinery to consumer goods, manufacturers rely on strong supplier relationships, efficient logistics, and B2B partnerships, making networking essential for growth.
Retail Trade follows closely at 107.4 connections per business, highlighting the industry's need for supplier negotiations, franchise partnerships, and customer engagement. Financial Insurance Services (92.2) and Information Media and Telecommunications (90.4) also rank high, reflecting the importance of strong industry networks for building client trust and long-term relationships.
The data highlights a clear trend: businesses that prioritise networking don’t just build connections, they create opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and gain a competitive edge.
The industries where professionals network the most
Networking isn’t just for businesses, it’s a game-changer for professionals looking to advance their careers and expand their industry presence.
The Information Media and Telecommunications industry tops the list with the highest rate of connections made per profile (36.4). With journalists building sources, broadcasters expanding networks, and tech companies forging partnerships, success in this field depends on staying connected. As digital transformation accelerates, professionals rely on strong networks to stay ahead of trends and access new opportunities.
Manufacturing (34.5) and Retail Trade (33.6) also see high networking activity. Retail relies on supplier relationships and customer engagement while manufacturing professionals use networking to find opportunities, build partnerships, and stay competitive.
Does the size of the business matter?
The business size with the most contact exchanges
Large businesses (200+ employees) dominate the networking game in terms of volume, accounting for 34.7% of all contact exchanges on Tapt. With big teams and established reputations, they naturally rack up connections; however, when looking at connections per user, large businesses average 28.9 exchanges per profile, the lowest of all business sizes.
Interestingly, smaller businesses punch above their weight when it comes to networking per profile. Small businesses (5–19 employees) lead the pack with 32.5 connections per profile, followed closely by self-employed professionals (32.4) and micro businesses (30.4). Although their overall share of exchanges is lower, these numbers suggest that smaller teams may be more agile and proactive in building meaningful connections—possibly out of necessity, as networking plays a bigger role in driving growth and opportunity.
The Most Successful Times for Networking
The best time of the day for networking
Turns out, lunchtime isn’t just for sandwiches, it’s prime time for networking, too. Our data shows that nearly 3 in 10 (29.5%) contact exchanges happen between 11 am and 2 pm, making it the busiest window for professionals to swap details. Whether it’s a quick coffee chat, a business lunch, or a post-meeting exchange, midday is the sweet spot for making connections.
Following closely behind, the afternoon (2 pm - 5 pm) accounts for 23.6% of networking activity, with late morning (8 am - 11 am) rounding out the top three at 19.9%. Interestingly, breakfast networking doesn’t see as much activity as expected, calling into question whether pre-work breakfast events are the most effective for networking groups. The early evening (5 pm - 8 pm) also sees a solid 13.6% of connections made, likely fuelled by post-work drinks and networking events.
The best day of the week for networking
The middle of the workweek is the busiest time for networking, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday accounting for more than 6 in 10 (61.8%) connections made. Wednesday leads with 21.9%, closely followed by Thursday at 21.7%, suggesting that midweek events and meetings drive higher engagement.
While Friday (15.2%) and Monday (11.8%) see solid activity, the weekend lags behind, with Saturday (7.0%) and Sunday (4.2%) being the least active. However, weekends still account for 11.2% of total connections, showing that unique opportunities exist for professionals in industries operating outside the standard Monday-to-Friday workweek or for those attending weekend events.
Certain industries still thrive with networking on the weekends, with Retail Trade leading with 23.3% of its connections occurring over the weekend, followed by Arts and Recreation Services (17.8%) and Health Care and Social Assistance (13.6%). These industries highlight that networking extends beyond weekdays and into a wider range of professions.
Midweek lunchtime and early afternoon are prime networking hotspots. Between the midday hours on Wednesdays (6.5%) and Thursdays (6.3%) lead the way for connections. Professionals are most engaged when breaking up their workday, making these times the best windows to connect.
The busiest months for networking
May emerged as the busiest month for networking, accounting for 12.1% of all contact exchanges, 2.4% more than runner-up August. This surge in May could be linked to businesses ramping up mid-year projects and professionals solidifying connections before the winter slowdown and the push to wrap up deals ahead of the financial year-end on June 30th. Similarly, August's strong showing suggests a renewed push for engagement following the mid-year break.
Unsurprisingly, networking activity dipped at the start and end of the year, with November (6.6%), January (4.9%), and December (3.5%) recording the lowest levels of contact exchanges. As professionals wind down for the holiday season and summer break, networking takes a backseat to festive commitments and vacation plans.
The Most Popular Cities and Countries for Networking
The Australian cities where networking is most popular
* Min 50 profiles
Melbourne leads in networking activity, with 15.8 connections made per user, followed closely by Perth at 15.3. These cities, with a high concentration of corporate hubs and industry events, are key to Australia’s business landscape. Sydney (14.8), Brisbane (13.4), and Adelaide (11.2) round out the top five, reflecting their importance in building connections as central business capitals.
The cities where networking is most popular outside of Australia
* Min 50 profiles
Networking is a truly global activity, connecting people across borders and industries. On Tapt, users are making professional connections all around the world, with those networking internationally connecting with fellow professionals in an average of three different countries, with one user reaching as many as 25 countries. In total, connections were made in 146 different countries, highlighting the platform’s global reach. Despite this wide-reaching activity, Singapore comes out on top for networking connections.
Singapore leads international networking on Tapt, with 10.3 connections made per profile. As a global business hub, Singapore’s strategic location and status in sectors like finance, technology, and trade make it a hotspot for professional connections. Dubai follows with 8.8, reflecting its growing prominence as a key business city in the Asian region. Riyadhi (7.8) ranks third, benefiting from its role as a major business center in the Middle East, attracting professionals across various sectors, including finance, real estate, and tourism.
To gain deeper insights into the global demand for networking opportunities, we also examined Google search volume data for searches related to networking events. The United States leads with a significant 18,100 searches each month, making up 59.2 monthly searches per million reached on the search engine, reflecting the country’s strong business culture and the growing importance of professional connections across a range of industries. Canada follows with 1,300 monthly searches, or 33.9 per million, with notable interest in cities like Toronto, a recognised hub for business events.
The countries with the highest rate of connections made per person outside of Australia
When it comes to the countries with the highest networking volume per person, Singapore leads again with 10.3 connections made per profile, reflecting a strong culture of professional networking. New Zealand follows with 9.7 connections, while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia rank closely behind with 9.6 connections, showcasing significant individual engagement.
Other standout countries include the United States (9.2), Vietnam (8.5), the United Kingdom (8.4), all showing strong individual engagement in professional networking.
Elon Datt, Founder and CEO at Tapt comments:
“Networking is essential to business success, it drives growth, opens doors to new opportunities, and helps professionals build lasting relationships. With networking gaining momentum once again since the pandemic, now is the perfect time to learn the key tips and tricks that can help you network smarter, not harder.”
1. Maximise Midweek Engagement
Wednesday and Thursday are the most active days for networking. Professionals are settled into their workweek and ready to connect. Scheduling meetings or attending events during these days gives you the best chance of making meaningful connections.
2. Capitalise on Lunchtime Networking
Nearly 30% of contact exchanges happen between 11 am and 2 pm. Use this prime window for networking, whether it’s over a business lunch, coffee chat, or a quick post-meeting follow-up. It’s a great time to engage without interrupting the flow of the workday.
3. Take Advantage of Global Connectivity
With cities like Melbourne, Perth, and Singapore leading the charge in networking activity, digital tools like Tapt make it easier to build a global network, no matter where you are. Whether you're travelling or working remotely, stay connected across borders and take advantage of international opportunities.
4. Plan for Busy Networking Months
May and August are the peak months for networking activity, likely due to professionals wrapping up mid-year projects or ramping up efforts after summer. Focus your outreach during these busy months to ensure your networking efforts are met with high engagement.
5. Embrace Weekend Networking in Key Industries
While weekends are quieter for most industries, sectors like Motor Vehicle Manufacturing and Hospitality excel during these off-hours. If you work in an industry that thrives on weekends, don’t neglect these days for targeted networking opportunities.
By using these tips, you can align your networking efforts with the most effective strategies and timing, helping you make valuable connections and accelerate your professional growth.”
About the data
We have analysed 12 months worth of Tapt users' activity data to analyse which industries and business sizes are effectively utilising networking the most, when and where they like to network, and who is not switching off their networking mindset, even on the weekends.
This research looks at over 400,000 contact exchange events, both sending and receiving contacts on the Tapt platform, made by users between 1st January, 2024 to 31st December, 2024 (UTC - Coordinated Universal Time). When analysing connections per user, we narrowed in on active, regular users to better represent the patterns of making connections.
For the purposes of this research, business size has been categorised as per Australian Bureau of Statistics definitions by number of employees. Cities and countries used in this research are approximated based on the IP Address of the send/receive event from the user. Note that over 80% of the contact exchanges came from within Australia.
The time of events are approximate, with local time derived from coordinated universal time (UTC) and mapped based on the city location. Where city location is unknown or unable to be mapped to a timezone, the most populous city of the country location has been used to determine the local time. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of time and location information, there may be some negligible levels of imprecision.
Some data has been excluded from the study due to missing or unknown values.
Google Ads Keyword Planner was utilised to obtain search volume data for “networking events” in all languages between January 2024 and December 2024, inclusive. We analysed over 30 of the top countries included on the Tapt platform, and over 130 cities from those countries. City search data was estimated from their countries’ percentage breakdown.
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