It's also a great time to show your customers how much you appreciate them, and to begin building bonds with new customers for the New Year. Even if you're strapped for cash after all that holiday shopping, you can still do some low-cost or no-cost seasonal networking that will kick-start your business for next year.

Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your holiday networking opportunities:

Attend holiday get-togethers hosted by vendors. Many people in your day-to-day life--dentists, chiropractors, shipping and mailbox stores (FedEx/Kinkos, UPS Store), sign shops, real estate agents--have a Holiday Open House, and it's a good place to see and be seen. The idea, however, isn't to "sell, sell, sell," but to enjoy and share in the holiday spirit with interesting people you might not otherwise meet. So dress in your holiday best, grab a handful of business cards, put on a happy face, and get out and mingle.

When people ask what you do, hand them your business card, give them your 30-second elevator pitch, then turn the conversation back to them. People love to talk about themselves, so be a good listener, show your interest, and ask them for their business card too. A couple of weeks after the New Year, you can send a short note enclosing two of your business cards, saying how much you enjoyed meeting them and look forward to doing business with them in the near future.

Send e-mail greeting cards to your best customers. Many well-known companies like Hallmark and American Greetings offer free e-cards that you can send by e-mail to anyone in the world. The reason you only want to send e-cards to your best customers is two-fold: 1) it's time-consuming to pick out just the right card and customize it with your own personal greeting, and 2) many people won't bother opening e-mail if they don't immediately recognize the sender's name. Your regular customers will remember you for your thoughtful gesture.

Send an end-of-year newsletter or e-mail to your entire contact list. Thank your customers for their past business and tell them how much you look forward to their continued patronage in the upcoming year. Offer them a dollars-off coupon or a two-for-one special "good for a limited time only" as a thank-you. This keeps you on their radar screen and provides incentive for them to buy from you in the near future.

Collaborate with another business owner to host your own holiday party. The advantages of sharing an Open House celebration include: cutting your expenses in half while doubling your exposure to the marketplace, building good will in the community, and letting potential clients get to know you, which builds trust and credibility. If you're a shy person, team up with an outgoing type who will take the hostessing pressure off you. If you're an outgoing person, team up with a shy partner who will gladly let you do the entertaining. It's a win-win situation!

Collect toys for a children's hospital, or coats and winter garments for a woman's shelter, or books and magazines to donate to a nursing home. If you work from home, ask a neighborhood store owner if you can set up a festively decorated donation box in their shop to collect goods for the underserved and less fortunate in your community. A few days before the holiday, you and the store owner (if they want to participate), can drop off your donations at the hospital or shelter or nursing facility. This not only spreads good will to those who might not find much joy in the season, it also heightens your visibility in the community as someone who cares enough to get involved. What better time than the holidays to let your inner light shine and provide warmth and comfort to others in need.

Sharing and caring are what the holidays are all about. Share yourself this holiday season and watch the magic unfold as the New Year rings in new opportunities.