Sir – Thank you for your excellent editorial in the June 2011 In Business. Sometimes I feel like a politically incorrect ‘lone’ voice in my desire to keep people doing what they need to do and have been doing for centuries to build a successful business As you so rightly quote “Face to face contact, a good conversation and a firm handshake . . .”

Social networking is definitely a must today and as it seems everyone is shouting to be heard, although I think Group-On seems to generate more success for business to consumer offers and events as these can be measured in terms of results.

However, for the service-based industries, whether it is to meet with an old friend, an old client, a supplier or even just a colleague, nothing can take the place of that personal meeting.

A friend of mine last month in the construction industry decided to drop in on an old contact he had not seen for a few years. Having a chat over a coffee, his old contact asked him for some advice on a potential project he was working on — long story short, my friend secured the contract by negotiation before the month was out.

John Harris, Abingdon