← How To Build Your Ultimate Small Biz Support Network

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By Elayne Fluker | Published February 10, 2011 | Full size is 507 × 338 pixels

4. Host a dinner/happy hour each month and invite new people. Consider this your start-up marketing expense! Host an event for a select group of people you want to get to know. Be strategic in your invitations, and make sure you personally meet and greet each person who's on your list. Allow each person to bring a guest if it's a happy hour. If you're hosting a dinner, it's ok to extend the invitation just to that person. Also, make sure that the people you're inviting can benefit from getting to know your other guests, not just you! I love to cook and entertain people in my home, so I usually host dinner parties once a month. At this point in my career, my parties are more about hanging out with my friends and mutual support. But they're always fun! So don't make it all about business!

4. Host a dinner/happy hour each month and invite new people. Consider this your start-up…

Business people having lunch outdoors