When I first started in this industry I worked for a large, very well-established civil engineering firm in the Intermountain Region. I was the first marketing person they had ever hired so I was fortunate to be able to set up the department and get their marketing programs put into place. One day I approached my boss, the president of the company, about establishing a Client Relations program to monitor client satisfaction.

It seems intangible among the 47 unread emails and strewn papers on your desk, but it’s a lot of the reason your business exists and keeps going: Networking. Referrals can make up to 80%-90% of new business revenues—so, it’s all about relationships. Just being great at your job isn’t enough. Developing a strong and powerful network is key to maintaining and cultivating new business and clients.