The following is a guest post by Katie Skow, a small business owner who blogs about women entrepreneurs.

Networking is the key to growing your business. Joining business women groups, chambers, and industry networks is a great way to both see and be seen in your community.

Having built a successful business from networking alone, I’ve made a list of the unspoken DOs and DON’Ts of networking:

DON’T:

• Be a serial networker.

This means passing out business cards as fast as you can say “hello, good-bye” and leaving the event without ever really getting to know anyone. People will not remember you and you will not remember them.

• Expect a fountain of free advice.

People don’t like to feel used. Networking, like any relationship, involves give and take. Don’t assume the person you just met wants to give you $500 worth of advice over cocktails. Follow up and make that appointment!

• Waste time if there’s no connection.

Can you do business with them? Can they do business with someone in your network? If there’s no spark or connection, politely excuse yourself and move on to the next person.

• Add everyone you meet to your mailing list.

Not everyone will need or want what you offer. There’s nothing worse than receiving a million newsletters that don’t relate to who you are or what you do. Please ask people before adding them to your mailing list and don’t be offended if they say no.

DO:

• Follow up.

This is probably the most important rule. Don’t let two weeks pass before you make that “nice to meet you” call or shoot them an email. I use the 48 hour rule–don’t wait any longer, the sooner the better. You will be forgotten.

• Be consistent.

How many quality connections can you really make when you jump from group to group and never consistently show up to anything? If you want to network, commit to a membership and consistently show up to the events. It shows dedication, commitment, and people will remember you.

• Be a connector.

Networking isn’t only about you and your business. It’s about connecting others. Who would you rather meet while networking…the person who enjoys selflessly connecting others or the person who is only there for their own business? Successful businesswomen are connectors. Grasp this concept and you will succeed.

• Write on business cards.

I always carry a permanent marker and write on business cards at the event. If they’re interested in my services, I’ll write it down right in front of them. After the event, I go through my cards and write the date, event, and any other notes to help me identify/remember the person in the future. My little notes have come in handy more times than I can count.