Here's a common scenario we hear from our readers: I've got a great idea. And I've got a business plan that could persuade Bill Gates to invest his fortune in my start-up. So how do I get a VC to take notice?

Know this: it ain't easy. But that doesn't mean it's impossible. One of the first things you should do is thoroughly research the VC groups you're interested in. Check out sites like VCDB, the VC database we wrote about earlier this week, which gives you the biographies of a firm's managing partners and information like the types of businesses they've previously funded. It makes sense to focus on venture capitalists who've worked with other start-ups in your industry, or who are familiar with your technology/innovation/brilliant idea. That's because it saves you the time and trouble of having to persuade a VC who's not familiar with your industry that it's hot, growing, and profitable. Save your breath for the important stuff. Like having to convince an investor that your idea is potentially profitable.

Once you've nailed down several VC firms that you're interested in pitching, start networking. It may seem unfair, but the reality is that a referral—no matter how tenuous—is always better than a cold call or email. Speak to as many friends, family members, and other business owners as you possibly can. Find out if anyone has worked with a particular VC group and ask if you can drop their name in an email or a phone call. Locate business owners who've gotten funding to see if they can either give you a referral or tips on how to get an investor's attention. Use social networking—particularly business sites like LinkedIn—to figure out who's linked to the VCs you'd like to meet, and shoot them an email to see if they'd be willing to talk to you about their experience. If they're a friend, all the better.

If all else fails, you still have the option of contacting an investor without a referral. The best way to do this is either via the submission forms that some investment firms have on their website or email. If you choose to go this route, it's critical that you keep your email concise and exciting. This is not the time to ramble. Pinpoint the most riveting aspect of your business and figure out how to convey it in the fewest words possible. And most important, get right to the point. Remember, these guys get hundreds, if not thousands of submissions each week. And if you want them to notice your idea spending a paragraph blathering on about how you located their website and settled on pitching their firm isn't the way to do it.