Networking is a process of building relationships where there's a benefit to both people involved. It's a cycle where you meet people and find ways to show them your worth. As they build their trust in you and see the value that you have to offer, they will provide you with resources, information and referrals for new business. The key to starting this cycle is to provide value. One great way to do this is to become a manager and filter of information.

There is no way to get around the requirement of providing value to other people when you want to build a powerful and profitable network. There are many ways to do this but here's one that is free, unlimited and might even turn you into an expert along the way.

If networking is the process of exchanging ideas, resources and information as a path to friendship and business relationships, then find a way to provide people with them. Resources are at the top of the pyramid. It's not the process of knowing what they are so much as having access to them. And this can require you to already have connections either through hard work or though luck of the family draw.

Ideas are wonderful, but if you haven't proven that you are a person with valuable ideas or if you don't have a network or influence, they might be ignored. For example, some of the best-written books ever have been commercial flops because of a bad title, ugly cover or a lack of marketing. Start recording your ideas for the day when your network is built.

One of the best ways possible, then, to build a network based on providing value to others is to become a curator of information. There's no lack of it. In fact, we all know the feeling of complete overwhelm from information overload. Wouldn't you be positively inclined toward someone who can filter and rate that information for you? What if you were that person, finding the needle in a haystack for others?

Become a filter. Look for important articles and follow the "bunny trail" of links from blog to blog that might lead you to vital but hidden information. Get to know the people in your network that you want to connect with and think about the information that they need, that would help them and that they want. Then seek it out and provide it to them. Do this when you've made the initial connection and want to deepen the relationship. As time goes by, you'll have proven your value, built trust and even learned something along the way.