With music and magic in the air and retailers telling you it's time to go shopping, it can be hard for even the most dedicated entrepreneur or professional to stay focused on his or her business.

As sure as Rudolph has a red nose, there is not a better time to start building long-term business relationships. Whether you hope to land a new job, meet a new client, make that big sale or get a long-sought promotion, the festive season can be a gold mine - but only if you know how, and where, to stake your claim.

Here are twelve tips for Holiday Networking to help you make the most of your holiday season:

1. Be yourself. Authenticity is the most attractive feature in people. When we feel someone is  genuine, we feel most at ease in their presence.
2. Dress appropriately. What kind of event is it?  A dressy holiday party?  An office party?  A  happy hour or open house?  Whether it's dress up or casual, make sure you look professional.
3. Make it your job to meet people. Set a goal of how many people you will meet and stick to it.  This gives your networking a sense of purpose and direction.
4. Attend parties. Most businesspeople try to avoid networking with people while holidaying.  However, remember it is important to stay connected with people. Several organizations  throw holiday parties to break from the traditional business parties. Attend these parties, as  it is a great way to reconnect with people and stay visible, which is an important part of  effective business networking.
5. Listen to understand. Business is all about providing solutions to people's problems. How can  you understand their problems if you don't ask questions and listen. Use active listening skills  to build rapport and gain a true understanding of their issues and concerns.
6. Talk about something other than business. In building relationships, which is what networking  is all about, you want to get to know people on a personal level, as well as a professional  level.   Take advantage of the holidays to relax and socialize and get to know people a little  better.
7. Ask for introductions. Know who you want to meet and don't be afraid to ask your friends,  relatives and old acquaintances for introductions. Teach your new contacts to trust you before  you ask for introductions.
8. Arrange meetings. Holidays offer a good time to reach potential target audience. Some  businesses tend to slack down during holidays, people working in such business get time to  interact with others. Proactively, reach to the target market not covered as of now. Such  individuals will definitely appreciate the efforts and the business will get a chance to develop  new relationships.
9. Avoid gossip at all costs. Holiday parties are often the time when people let down their hair  and rumours swirl. The best advice is to distance yourself from gossip.
10. Also be careful who you bring with you. Don't take a new acquaintance or someone you don't  know very well as your guest to the party. It’s not a time to discover that your new squeeze  cannot hold his/her liquor or has a tendency to cry, sing, tell off-colour jokes, share stories  of past  indiscretions or dance on top of a table.
11. Be gracious. Write timely thank you notes for invitations, assistance, introductions, referrals  and advice. Not only does this show you have good manners and are courteous, it also  makes  someone else feel appreciated and reminds them of your interaction.
12. Be mindful about what you post on social network forums such Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,  YouTube etc after the event.  Your boss may not appreciate the comments/photos you share  about the event or what he “accidentally “said. Remember: Everything you put online is  public.

We hear it over and over, the holidays are a slow time of year for doing business.  Don't you believe it!  Whether in a large group or a small one, online or in person, ultimately networking success comes from the relationships you develop. The bottom line? It's a busy time of year but don't let networking drop to the end of your holiday to-do list.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season from Africa’s Networking Guru!

Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all our clients, blog readers, Facebook friends and associates.

This article may be copied or republished with the following credit:  "By Karl Smith: author, speaker and founder of Business Networking South Africa” Cape Town, South Africa. +27 (0) 71 444 2210 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   www.businessnetworkingsouthafrica.co.za"