Let's consider the points I mentioned above.

1. Goal setting

What are your goals this year? What do you want to get from your network in 2010? Last year was a year of regrouping for many. If you were one of those, I hope you are ready for your business to take off this year. As the economy continues to recover, I anticipate a lot of pent up demand. Are you ready to meet it? What can you offer to meet that demand? And how can your network help you?

Perhaps you spent the last year as I did, researching new things to offer your clients. Have you communicated those new offerings to everyone? If not, how do you plan to do it?

Even if you aren't offering new products or services, you are probably not looking for exactly the same things you were last year. Have you communicated that to your network? If not, you have some work to do early this year, and you want to do it quickly.

You may need to network in different places. Now is the time to look at the groups and events you attended last year. Are they still meeting your needs or do you need to look for some new groups? Is one group working out very well while another didn't meet your expectations? Don't continue to attend an event that isn't meeting your needs.

2. What Can You Give?

Now is a good time to look at your efforts from last year and see how they can be of benefit to others in your network. Did you land some good clients who are potential contacts for others? Did you find a great event you need to share with others? Perhaps you switched to a new vendor, and you need to get the word out about how great they are.

I'm certain there are things you have to offer this year that you didn't last year. Take the time now to thinks through what they are, so you are ready to talk about new ways you can give to your network.

3. Time Budget

This is going to be a very important area to examine. Many people I know spent more time networking in 2009 because their business was not where they wanted it to be. Now that things are improving, you might realize you have less time to network. But less time shouldn't mean no time. Take a realistic look at what you can devote to networking. Compare that time budget to the events you examined above and get the good events locked into your calendar now. I suggest you save some time to explore at least one new group or event this year. Finding a new place to meet different people is always of benefit.

4. Social Media

Last month I wrote about finding time for social media. More and more I am convinced that it is a necessary part of an effective networking marketing plan, especially if you want to extend your reach out of your immediate geographic area. Face to face networking is still the best way (in my opinion) to build solid relationships, but it's most effective in your home town. If you want to reach clients in other parts of the country (or world), social media is the most cost and time effective way to do that. I'm building a relationship with someone in Nashville, TN and someone else in Austin, TX. Neither of those would have been possible without social media.