1. Develop “free samples” of your service. Usually the best samples are written or recorded information. Write a tip sheet or a short list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). Record a speech you give to a local organization.

2. Improve your existing advertising by writing ten new headlines for your newspaper or Yellow Page ads. Test these new headlines against your existing headlines in small classified ads. Measure the results and let the winner be the headline the next time you run a larger ad in the Yellow Pages or newspaper.

3. Host a wine tasting or open house in your place of business. Invite several potential clients and prepare a short talk on a topic of interest to them. Use the tip sheets or free samples you prepared above to give to each attendee.

4. Request testimonials from your best clients.

5. Volunteer yourself and your employees to assist in a charitable cause. For example, your team could man the phones at the next public radio or television membership drive or help other organizations with fund raising.

6. Join a new group. Select organizations that allow you to get involved and meet potential clients or networking contacts.

7. Find a non-competing business that serves the same client base as you. Approach this business about forming an alliance and sharing referrals.

8. Sponsor a talk and invite a visiting expert on a topic of interest to your potential clients. Send out invitations and press releases to alert the media.

9. Get in touch with ex-clients who no longer do business with you. Find out how you can help them and get their suggestions about how to improve your services.

10. Sponsor a children’s club or sports team.

11. Give an award for the “Best of ___.” Use this award as a way to attract publicity.

12. Create a profile of your ideal client. Then determine what groups these ideal clients are members of or what specialized publications they read.

13. Find an online discussion group. www.boardtracker.com is a search engine that specializes in discussion groups. Just read the conversations as they go back and forth for a while (this is called “lurking”). Then, after you have a feel for the personalities involved and the group’s protocol, start adding your own input.

14. Develop a “needs assessment” that you can use in new client interviews.

15. Do a client survey to uncover your strengths and weaknesses. Make it clear that you are seeking honest and open comments and are look
    Career Advice: How To Make Gossip Work For You
    That headline deserves an explanation, or else you'll think I've taken leave of my senses...or least that I am an off-the-wall contrarian.Okay, in a perfect world gossipers wouldn't exist, but we all know the world has its imperfections a plenty. Gossip and gossipers are here to stay. Deal with it.A survey by a research firm known as ISR showed that 63% of U. S. employees get all or most of their information about their companies from "water-cooler talk".
    in small classified ads. Measure the results and let the winner be the headline the next time you run a larger ad in the Yellow Pages or newspaper.

16. Host a wine tasting or open house in your place of business. Invite several potential clients and prepare a short talk on a topic of interest to them. Use the tip sheets or free samples you prepared above to give to each attendee.

17. Request testimonials from your best clients.

18. Volunteer yourself and your employees to assist in a charitable cause. For example, your team could man the phones at the next public radio or television membership drive or help other organizations with fund raising.

19. Join a new group. Select organizations that allow you to get involved and meet potential clients or networking contacts.

20. Find a non-competing business that serves the same client base as you. Approach this business about forming an alliance and sharing referrals.

21. Sponsor a talk and invite a visiting expert on a topic of interest to your potential clients. Send out invitations and press releases to alert the media.

22. Get in touch with ex-clients who no longer do business with you. Find out how you can help them and get their suggestions about how to improve your services.

23. Sponsor a children’s club or sports team.

24. Give an award for the “Best of ___.” Use this award as a way to attract publicity.

25. Create a profile of your ideal client. Then determine what groups these ideal clients are members of or what specialized publications they read.

26. Find an online discussion group. www.boardtracker.com is a search engine that specializes in discussion groups. Just read the conversations as they go back and forth for a while (this is called “lurking”). Then, after you have a feel for the personalities involved and the group’s protocol, start adding your own input.

27. Develop a “needs assessment” that you can use in new client interviews.

28. Do a client survey to uncover your strengths and weaknesses. Make it clear that you are seeking honest and open comments and are loo
    A Con Man's Dream - Think Big When Going Over To The Dark Side
    A father / son team of convicted felons actually did this in the early 1990s. The Dominion of Melchizedek, a totally fictitious, sovereign nation was located on an uninhabited Stoll owned by the Republic of Marshall Islands in the Atlantic Ocean,, off the coast of Columbia, South America. President of this island nation was the son's wife, who reportedly lived in California. It was purportedly a quasi-religious society governed by a "House of Elders." It had a complete fi
    e, your team could man the phones at the next public radio or television membership drive or help other organizations with fund raising.

29. Join a new group. Select organizations that allow you to get involved and meet potential clients or networking contacts.

30. Find a non-competing business that serves the same client base as you. Approach this business about forming an alliance and sharing referrals.

31. Sponsor a talk and invite a visiting expert on a topic of interest to your potential clients. Send out invitations and press releases to alert the media.

32. Get in touch with ex-clients who no longer do business with you. Find out how you can help them and get their suggestions about how to improve your services.

33. Sponsor a children’s club or sports team.

34. Give an award for the “Best of ___.” Use this award as a way to attract publicity.

35. Create a profile of your ideal client. Then determine what groups these ideal clients are members of or what specialized publications they read.

36. Find an online discussion group. www.boardtracker.com is a search engine that specializes in discussion groups. Just read the conversations as they go back and forth for a while (this is called “lurking”). Then, after you have a feel for the personalities involved and the group’s protocol, start adding your own input.

37. Develop a “needs assessment” that you can use in new client interviews.

38. Do a client survey to uncover your strengths and weaknesses. Make it clear that you are seeking honest and open comments and are loo
    Getting The Most From Business Cards
    In order to get the most from your business card, you have to make sure that it stays around for a while; hopefully a long while. A card that has gone straight to the trash does you no good. Think of the poor baby you have worked so hard designing just laying there in the trash, waiting for incineration. Sort of makes you want to cry, doesn’t it? Okay, maybe that’s taking it a bit far. It is upsetting though. What can you do to prevent this card tragedy from happening t
    vitations and press releases to alert the media.

39. Get in touch with ex-clients who no longer do business with you. Find out how you can help them and get their suggestions about how to improve your services.

40. Sponsor a children’s club or sports team.

41. Give an award for the “Best of ___.” Use this award as a way to attract publicity.

42. Create a profile of your ideal client. Then determine what groups these ideal clients are members of or what specialized publications they read.

43. Find an online discussion group. www.boardtracker.com is a search engine that specializes in discussion groups. Just read the conversations as they go back and forth for a while (this is called “lurking”). Then, after you have a feel for the personalities involved and the group’s protocol, start adding your own input.

44. Develop a “needs assessment” that you can use in new client interviews.

45. Do a client survey to uncover your strengths and weaknesses. Make it clear that you are seeking honest and open comments and are loo
    Job Hunting Tip: What Employers Are Looking For In You
    One of the most dramatic changes in the 21st Century job market is in the way employers consider you when they first lay eyes on you.For example, if you think that it’s your resume that will get you a job, you’re in for a long, LONG job search!Or if you’re intent on proving yourself based on your work history . . . what you used to do for someone else . . . get ready for disappointment and rejection.And if your confidence is based on your ability to passi
    nline discussion group. www.boardtracker.com is a search engine that specializes in discussion groups. Just read the conversations as they go back and forth for a while (this is called “lurking”). Then, after you have a feel for the personalities involved and the group’s protocol, start adding your own input.

46. Develop a “needs assessment” that you can use in new client interviews.

47. Do a client survey to uncover your strengths and weaknesses. Make it clear that you are seeking honest and open comments and are looking for ways to improve.

48. Become more active in your local Chamber of Commerce and other organizations that open up networking opportunities.

49. Create a list of reference books and CDs you can recommend.

50. Create a 21 word description of your business that clearly tells what you do, who you do this for, and what makes you distinctive. This is your “elevator speech” that can be used on your marketing materials, press releases and given to someone who introduces you at public speaking opportunities.

51. Find barter organizations or set up barter relationships on your own. Not only can you reduce the cost of goods and services your business needs, you will gain new clients.

52. Buy season tickets to a local sports team. If you take clients or give tickets to people you do business with, they will be tax deductible and fun as well.

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