A very interesting article by Ali Hale at DumbLittleMan.com regarding how to make the most of your Network and ensure they know what you are doing all the time, you never know when you may need them!
One good point that is mentioned is:
In the long run, the people who you want to surround yourself with are people who like you for who you are, and who want to do business with the “real you”.
Another good idea is:
A large part of networking is simply letting people know what you’re up to. This could mean sending the occasional “newsletter” to old college friends; you never know who might be in need of your products or services. It also means taking the time to send out cards or even holiday gifts to your clients. Don’t keep trying to expand your network whilst neglecting or forgetting about those already in it.
More from the original article:
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/01/five-networking-tips-for-wallflowers.html