You know you have to do it. You have been meaning to do it. And now that the recession is here, you wish had done it sooner. But networking, especially if you are never going to be described as outgoing, can be extremely difficult. Still, by putting off any real effort to network, you have not used the opportunity to create mutually beneficial business relationships.

It’s not too late, experts say. Here are some tips that can help.

IT’S NOT THAT HARD. Writing on CIO.com, Meredith Levinson makes two good points that may relieve some of your anxiety.

While most people instantly think about approaching strangers whenever the term “networking” surfaces, that doesn’t have to be the case. You can begin by “seeking out familiar faces, such as relatives and friends,” she says. “Starting with someone you know makes it easier to get your networking career under way.”

Second, “many introverted professionals think they have to act like an extrovert in networking situations. While you do have to make an effort to be more gregarious than normal, you shouldn’t be artificial.”

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