One of the first things that many small business owners realize is that their lives would be much easier if they could replicate yourself. Trying to run and market a small business with only a small (or nonexistent) staff can quickly become very exhausting. No matter how much you believe in your business and how committed you are to making it succeed, it can become very frustrating to feel like you have to be all things to all people at the same time.

Many small business owners look at networking activities as just another item to add to the to-do list, that may or may not get done. However, what people who are struggling to build a successful business fail to understand is that time invested in building a strong contact network among other professionals in the community can actually relieve some of the stress and feelings of being overwhelmed from your shoulders.

When you approach business networking in the right manner, you aren’t just going to events to pass out and collect business cards. Those types of events do have value in many cases, but genuine networking is a completely different animal. Socializing is one thing; networking is quite another. When you actively engage in the process of networking your business, you cultivate long-term relationships with like-minded professionals so that each of you actually becomes an extension of the other’s sales force.

What true networking is all about is taking the time to get to know other business people well enough that you come to recognize each other’s integrity and merit. When this happens, each of you becomes comfortable referring his or her contacts to the other. As the members of your network start to refer prospective customers to you, your business will reap the benefits. Multiply the benefits of qualified business referrals by the number of people within your network, and you’ll soon come to understand why business networking is well worth the investment of time.

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of networking, or finding a strong contact networking group in you community, visit the Business Network International (BNI) website. BNI is founded on the principle of giver’s gain. Members are trained to conduct themselves with integrity and to be willing to help their fellow members without expectation of reward. BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world, and there are local chapters in most communities.