The Question Nobody Wants to Ask
Marcus had been "networking consistently" for two years. He attended events, commented on LinkedIn posts, grabbed coffee with connections, and sent thoughtful follow-ups. He was doing all the "right" things. But when his manager asked, "What's the ROI on all this networking?" Marcus froze.
He had stories. Anecdotes. A few vague outcomes—"Oh, I got connected to someone who introduced me to someone else." But hard numbers? Proof that his networking time was worth the investment? He had nothing.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: most professionals can't prove their networking delivers value. We know relationships matter. We feel it intuitively. But when pressed to quantify the return on the hours we spend cultivating connections, we go silent. And in a world where every hour has an opportunity cost, that's a problem.
The good news? Relationship ROI is absolutely measurable. You just need the right framework—and the right tools to track it. This is where networking ROI metrics and systems like the ANDI Chrome Extension come in. They help you move from "I think networking works" to "Here's exactly what I got from it."
Why Relationship ROI Matters (Even If It Feels Uncomfortable)
Let's be honest: putting a number on relationships feels transactional. Isn't networking supposed to be about people, not spreadsheets? Yes. But here's the thing—if you can't measure it, you can't improve it. And if you can't prove it delivers value, you'll always struggle to justify the time you spend on it.
Measuring relationship ROI isn't about reducing people to numbers. It's about:
- Understanding what's working: Which relationships are generating opportunities? Which networking activities are worth your time?
- Justifying your investment: Whether you're a founder, a sales professional, or an employee, your time has a cost. Being able to show that networking generates 5x or 10x returns makes it easier to protect that time.
- Optimizing your approach: If you know that coffee meetings convert at 20% but LinkedIn DMs convert at 5%, you can allocate your energy accordingly.
- Avoiding burnout: When you measure results, you can focus on high-value relationships instead of trying to maintain 500 connections equally. This is why organizing your network into tiers is so critical.
The professionals who treat networking like a strategic investment—complete with tracking, analysis, and optimization—are the ones who generate outsized returns. The ones who wing it? They burn out, waste time, and wonder why LinkedIn "doesn't work."
The ROI Framework: How to Measure Relationship Value
Calculating networking ROI metrics isn't complicated, but it does require a framework. Here's the formula:
ROI = (Value Generated - Time Invested) / Time Invested
Let's break down both sides of the equation:
Measuring Value Generated
Value isn't just revenue. It includes:
- Direct revenue: Deals closed, clients acquired, referrals that converted
- Opportunities created: Intros to key people, speaking invitations, partnership discussions
- Knowledge gained: Insights that helped you avoid mistakes or identify trends
- Social capital: Increased visibility, credibility, or access to networks you didn't have before
- Time saved: Problems solved faster because you knew the right person to ask
Assign a dollar value where you can. For example:
- A client referral that led to a $50K contract = $50K in value
- An intro that saved you three months of research = your hourly rate x 120 hours
- A speaking opportunity that generated 10 inbound leads = estimated pipeline value
For intangible value (credibility, access), estimate conservatively. The goal isn't perfect accuracy—it's directional clarity.
Measuring Time Invested
Track how much time you spend on relationship-building activities:
- Commenting on LinkedIn posts (5-10 min/day)
- Coffee meetings (1 hour/meeting + 30 min prep/follow-up)
- Writing personalized DMs (10-15 min per message)
- Attending networking events (2-3 hours/event)
- Maintaining your CRM or notes (15-30 min/week)
Multiply your time by your hourly rate (or your desired hourly rate) to get your time cost. If you spend 5 hours per week on networking and your time is worth $100/hour, that's $500/week or roughly $2,000/month invested. This is where the LinkedIn engagement tracker becomes invaluable—it shows you exactly where your time is going.
Calculating the Return
Let's say in one quarter you:
- Closed a $30K deal from a LinkedIn referral
- Got two speaking gigs worth $5K each in exposure/leads
- Saved 20 hours by asking a connection for advice instead of figuring it out yourself ($2K in time saved)
Total value generated: $42K
You spent 5 hours/week on networking for 12 weeks = 60 hours at $100/hour = $6K invested.
ROI = ($42K - $6K) / $6K = 600%
That's a 6x return. Now that's a number you can take to your manager—or use to justify protecting your networking time from getting squeezed by other priorities.
How ANDI Makes ROI Trackable (Without Spreadsheet Hell)
The problem with calculating relationship ROI manually? It's tedious. You have to remember every conversation, every intro, every outcome. Most people give up after a week. This is where ANDI becomes your co-pilot.
Tracking Relationship Activity
ANDI gives you a place to log every interaction you have on LinkedIn—comments, DMs, meetings. It timestamps them, categorizes them, and ties them to specific contacts. You don't have to remember who you talked to when—ANDI shows you at a glance. This smart context capture ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Tagging Outcomes
When a relationship generates value—an intro, a referral, a deal—you can tag it in ANDI with the outcome and the estimated value. Over time, ANDI builds a value map of your network: which relationships are generating the most return, which activities are converting, and which segments of your network are worth doubling down on.
Visualizing Conversion Signals
ANDI doesn't just track outcomes—it tracks leading indicators. When someone moves from "occasional engager" to "repeat commenter" to "DM conversation" to "meeting scheduled," ANDI visualizes that progression. You can see which relationships are warming up, which are stalling, and where to focus your energy. This aligns perfectly with the data behind relationship momentum.
Time Tracking Built In
ANDI can estimate how much time you're spending on relationship activities. It tracks how often you're engaging, how many messages you're sending, and how much time you're investing per contact. Combine that with outcome tracking, and you have a complete picture of ROI.
The result? You move from "I think networking is valuable" to "Here's proof: I invested 60 hours and generated $42K in value." That's the difference between hope and evidence.
Real-World ROI Examples from Different Professionals
Sales Professional
Time invested: 4 hours/week engaging on LinkedIn, 2 coffee meetings/month
Value generated: 2 deals closed from referrals ($80K total revenue), 5 warm intros to decision-makers
ROI: 450%
Founder
Time invested: 6 hours/week on LinkedIn content + engagement, 1 networking event/month
Value generated: 1 co-founder connection, 3 angel investor intros, 10 early customers from content
ROI: Immeasurable in early stages, but essential for momentum
Recruiter
Time invested: 10 hours/week sourcing + relationship nurturing
Value generated: 8 placements from referrals ($120K in fees)
ROI: 300%
Career Switcher
Time invested: 3 hours/week engaging with people in target industry
Value generated: 1 job offer ($30K higher salary than previous role)
ROI: $30K value for ~150 hours invested = massive long-term return
Notice the pattern? In every case, the professionals who track their inputs and outputs can clearly see the value of their networking. The ones who don't? They assume it's not working—and often quit before they see results.
Related reading: To scale this approach, check out how to build a LinkedIn CRM using ANDI and why every networker needs a system.
Common Mistakes When Measuring Networking ROI
Only Counting Revenue
If you only measure closed deals, you're missing 80% of the value. Intros, advice, credibility, and access all matter. Estimate their value conservatively, but count them.
Expecting Instant Returns
Relationships compound. A conversation today might lead to an opportunity six months from now. Measure ROI over quarters or years, not weeks.
Treating All Relationships Equally
Not all connections generate equal value. A handful of high-trust relationships will generate 80% of your outcomes. Identify them, invest disproportionately in them, and track them separately.
Forgetting to Track
If you don't log outcomes when they happen, you'll forget. Use ANDI or a simple spreadsheet. Tag every intro, every referral, every deal. Six months later, you'll thank yourself.
From Guessing to Knowing
Most professionals network on faith. They assume it's valuable but can't prove it. As a result, networking becomes the first thing to get cut when time gets tight. But when you measure relationship ROI, everything changes. You stop guessing and start knowing.
You know which relationships are worth your time. You know which activities generate the highest return. You know how to justify your networking time to skeptical managers or investors. And most importantly, you know that the hours you're investing aren't wasted—they're compounding.
ANDI makes this possible without turning you into a data analyst. It tracks the patterns, surfaces the outcomes, and gives you the evidence you need to prove—to yourself and others—that relationships are one of your highest-leverage investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can't assign dollar values to intangible outcomes?
Estimate conservatively. If an intro saved you three months of trial and error, multiply your hourly rate by the hours saved. If a connection boosted your credibility, estimate the pipeline impact. Precision isn't the goal—directional accuracy is. Even rough estimates give you far more insight than tracking nothing.
How long should I wait before expecting ROI from networking?
Relationships compound slowly. Expect to invest 3-6 months before seeing consistent returns. Early wins can happen faster (a referral in week two), but sustainable ROI usually emerges after you've built familiarity and trust over time. Measure quarterly, not weekly.
Does tracking ROI make networking feel too transactional?
Only if you let it. Tracking outcomes doesn't mean you're using people—it means you're being intentional about where your energy goes. The most generous networkers are also the most strategic. They invest deeply in relationships that matter and avoid spreading themselves too thin. Measurement enables better stewardship of your time.
What's a good ROI benchmark for networking?
A 200-500% return is realistic for consistent networkers (2-5x value generated vs. time invested). Top performers can hit 1000%+ by focusing on high-value relationships and strategic positioning. If you're below 200%, you're either not tracking properly, investing in the wrong relationships, or not giving it enough time to compound.
Next step: Take control of your LinkedIn relationships — Try ANDI Free.
