by Erica T. Barton

Created on: February 18, 2008   Last Updated: June 13, 2009

Networking is one of the most powerfully effective, yet commonly ignored tools in growing any business, whether a startup or a well-established company. It is a sales force without a full time staff, an advertising campaign without a marketing budget, and a personal testimony without outright bribery. It is quid pro quo and win-win for everyone involved.

One reason that networking is so effective for businesses and business startups is that networking provides free word-of-mouth advertising, the most valuable advertising available. Just look at the Mary Kay Company and their 1.7 million Independent Beauty Consultants. It has only been in the last few years that Mary Kay commercials and ads have begun to show up in the media, and yet the Mary Kay Company has grown by leaps and bounds in the last forty years of its existence. This is due largely to their reliance on Word-of-Mouth networking, faith in their products, and the beauty consultants' willingness to "put themselves out there." The company lets the products and their consultants speak for them and thus has made the company the number one selling cosmetic company in the United States. They also network among each other to gain sales tips, education and encouragement when obstacles seem insurmountable, thus making their consultants lifelong business partners in the company.

The basic goal of any networking medium is to provide professionals, resources, clients and opportunities to members, their businesses and their business ventures. Members of professional networking groups find and refer their clients and businesses to each other in exchange for the same services done for them. Listed here are a review of the most common resources and how to implement them into your own business.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Family and Friends are the most common resource for any new business owner to utilize. One benefit is they know who you are and if you are capable of providing their acquaintances with excellent service. Thus, they will vouch for your character giving you the proverbial "foot in the door." Another benefit is that they will truly want to help you and do whatever they can to help you succeed. However, this can also be a negative since the people who care about you the most are often the least supportive when you venture out on your own. It's not because they doubt your ability or determination, it's simply that they want you to be "safe"and starting a new business is never safe.

Therefore, when dealing with friends

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