These days, having impressive business cards isn’t enough. Even the most outspoken business professionals can sometimes get shy when it comes to networking with strangers, so be sure that any business publications you receive give networking tips such as the following:

• Practice your story. This isn’t your pitch or elevator speech, this is your life story—how you got into this business. Is there some humor to it? Was it a big coincidence? Was it something you longed to do since childhood? Telling your personal story will help people remember and connect with you.
• Surprise them with a phone call. When you get an email from a networking contact, obtain their phone number from the signature and go ahead and call them. Say that you got the email and wanted to connect. It is very impressive to people that you would go out of your way like that, and often results in a referral.
• Give talks to local organizations. If you are a small business person, you must be an expert in something, so go ahead and offer to give a free talk on the subject. Groups of people will then become familiar with you and you’ll be the go-to person when they need your services.