I think the balance between online and in-person networking totally depends on the field you are in, but it does sound like you likely want to do more online given your design and animation services.
I know a guy who is a successful journalist in the city I live in; he offered the advice that one night a week should be an 'industry night' where you get out and do in-person networking. For him this meant attending local writing events.
I did a lot more in-person networking (readings, workshops, library visits) when my book came out. Leading up to the book's release, almost all of my networking was done online (largely on Twitter).
There's definitely a lot to consider!
Thank you @jessicakluthe for the thoughtful response! I love my current networking groups, but the travel time and preparation can be overwhelming. I think if I pack all meetings into one day, I'll be much better off.
I'd rather have an 8-hour day of meetings than two days of 3 hour meetings... sounds crazy, but I have difficulty regaining focus after being out and about ;) And - what I wouldn't do for a sound-proof office!!!
Like most things in life, it's best to diversify, and I've routinely done the opposite. Moving forward, though, I'm striving to do enough of everything. Balance!