(This guest post was written by Ryan Bukoski, start-up enthusiast)

Everyone knows the age old question, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” A similar question could be asked regarding startups: “If a startup has an outstanding product, but no one has been made aware of its existence, is it really that great a product?” No matter how amazing your product offering may be, if you’re not taking the necessary steps to market it, then it will never see the light of day, and you’ll be nothing more than any other run-of-the-mill schlub with an idea. So network you must!

In today’s social media focused, locally-centric driven environment, it is simply unacceptable to not be networking with other like-minded individuals, both in your field and in your surrounding neighborhoods. People are talking, and it’s up to you to include yourself in the conversation. It gives you the ability to get your name and your company to be heard, and it allows you to incorporate your two cents, which you can use to steer the conversation towards piquing the interest of others to ascertain what you can bring to the table.

I realize that this may come across as preaching to the choir (after all, you are reading this, and you probably got here through Twitter, Facebook, someone else’s blog, etc.) and that means you’re already on the right track so I don’t want to harp on this aspect. But if you’re going to network yourself, then network smart and network in a way that makes you stand out. Sure, be professional, but be memorable, be eccentric, be extravagant!

A perfect example that encapsulates the notion of networking, and doing so in a way that makes one stand out, is the “Bizarre PR Event”, taking place on Saturday, April 10th, which is being hosted by the Public Relations Student Society of America from Drexel University. The event will focus on how several companies in the Philadelphia area have pulled off bizarre yet successful PR and marketing campaigns. In addition to hearing from professionals highlighting their bizarre stunts in the sports, publishing, film, event and corporate PR world, members of PR Society of America (PRSA), Philadelphia PR Association (PRRA), and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) will also be in attendance. So not only can you learn some new techniques for networking and communicating your company more effectively, but you’ll get the opportunity to flex your new skills with other Philly entrepreneurs as well. For more information on the event and how to attend, visit the Bizarre PR website.

I’ll end on another popular phrase, that “It’s not about what you know, but who you know”. I’d like to think it’s a bit of both sides of the coin. If your company is all that and then some, but you lack the connections and the know-how to generate buzz around your product offering, you’re bound to get nowhere. Ditto knowing everyone and their mother, but being a dunce in your field. It’s that Goldilocks-ratio of just the right amount of both that you’re looking for as a startup, and if you’re able to accomplish it, you’ll be able to go a long way in terms of generating and maintaining success.