Public speaking is a powerful form of networking. Think about it: when you're in a gathering, who do you remember most easily - someone in the crowd or the lady who's just given a presentation?

Get into the habit of giving talks whenever you can. Give fr*ee talks at places like the Chambers of Commerce, Rotary club, Kiwanis or anyplace where people in your target market meet.

Give information-laden talks, not sales speeches. Show your expertise through presentations.

There are several benefits to doing this: aside from the publicity you get, you can generate extra income by selling some of your own material as back-end products (booklets, tapes, etc). Your credibility as an expert in your field also increases when you speak in public on your topic.

As you improve (and yes you will become better and more proficient with practice), you may start getting paid speaking engagements - yet another income stream. All this happening while you promote your business.

If you're like most people, you're probably scared to death of speaking in public. Why not aim to be like the minority that do it anyway and are very successful? The fear will always be there, make no mistake, but don't let it paralyze you and prevent you from utilizing this very powerful and effective business- and credibility- building activity.

To get practice and training in public speaking, visit your local toastmasters club (http://www.toastmasters.org/). This organization provides a safe and friendly environment for you to hone your public speaking skills.

Seek out public speaking venues and get started on the way to even more exposure for your business when you do.