Business people don't always want formality or rigidity of lunch - especially with a new contact. But idea of a 15 minute meeting in local Starbucks is often an unthreatening and welcome alternative.

4. Personalize your business card.

We all give out and receive business cards, but how often do we really notice them?

Instead of just handing it out, pause, get out a good quality ink pen (image is important), and say something like "Let me save you effort of fighting through switchboard and answering machines - I'll write my cell phone number down so you can get hold of me easily."

Or you can recommend a book or a movie and write it down on back of your card.

It is personal, thoughtful and friendly.

5. Try to do two favors a week.

At least. Get into habit of thinking how you can do favors for other people. If you know someone who is unhappy in their job, log that information in back of your mind. When you hear that another company is looking for staff, put them together.

If you think of a simple way that two people you know can be mutually beneficial, act as middle man.

Don't ask for, or expect any reward - that will come in time. But, both parties will be grateful and will remember your generous help.

6. Send greetings cards.

However important a person might be, they still find themselves fascinating. So show them that you do too. It has never been easier to remember birthdays, Thanksgiving, anniversaries, and all dozens of personal times.

Don't be afraid to ask someone when their birthday is. Write it down. Diarize it. And then make sure you send them a card. Or make it really simple, an e-card.

This tiny act of goodwill really pays dividends in long run.

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If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair. -- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

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7. Keep in regular contact

Have a regular DIARIZED networking hour each week to make phone calls and send emails to your growing network. This is time for 'hello how are you' calls.

Naturally you don't want to call everybody at same fixed time each week - that would be too obvious. Rotate people around, but make sure you cover everybody at least once a month.

These ideas are not rules, but they are workable examples of some of many ways you can ensure that when someone says 'I do business with people I like', they mean you.

7)Build sound fundamentals into your business – grizzled marketing veterans like your author experienced post PC downturn in mid 80's. I don't think we are going to see such a radical meltdown in our new economy, but look at declining valuations via stock markets, slowing PC penetration, and Internet access signups. Yes, it's still a solid global economy with plenty of niche marketing opportunities for growth, but "digital high tide" is starting to recede. So, don't count on mega million advertising revenue as your "path to profitability" VC buzz word du jour, develop fundamental profit centers in your business.

8)There are lots of free marketing resources out there, but be wary of proliferation of snake oil salesmen (sorry John D) – there is a new industry springing up of people who are hyping free or low cost ways to instant riches. Here's how I set my hype filter – if it sounds to good to be true, then it is, so click your browser and move on.

9)Build a web site that's popular, one that's linked and listed by many others sites. This helps you get high listings via Google, HotBot and other top tier search engines. Here is a free resource that helps you setup and participate in a LinkPopularity program – it can be set up in a couple of minutes via Fantomaster.com web site.

10)Recruit and hire with an eye to variances in market. Meaning, don't hire until you absolutely have to and use outsourced companies for jobs, which are not part of your company's core attributes. This saves money in long run and lets you quickly scale up your business when and as you need to, in turn minimizing your fixed human resources and/or payroll costs.