Ashley, I bet your number is low enough to not send shock waves down your spine. 🙂 Marketing is like anything else we don't like doing – it doesn't hurt that badly and once we get going it's actually kind of easy.

Kim, I have to tell you how comfy all of the Tom's shoes are. And I won't show you the gorgeous black heels I got at DSW – I don't want to cause any rush on the store. 🙂 And likewise on this being the busiest summer. I'm so glad for it.

Rant away, Mridu. I feel the same. You cannot run a business without getting word out that you're IN business. Marketing isn't all about brochures, newsletters, advertisements, and such. It's about making connections and building relationships. Unless she's a complete social misfit, she can do it.

Glad your marketing paid off, Paula! Way to go!

One editor said he was just about to make assignments and would have something for me soon. Sadly, they're bi-monthly and pay on publication, so it will be mid-September before I'd be paid. (I'll still need money in September, so I'll take whatever they have to assign.)

Belated Happy Birthday, Lori. I hope you're enjoying your birthweek!

When I told her that at least 80% of what I do is marketing, and that she needed to get out there and start pitching, she said, "Well, I suck at marketing."

That's a conversation stopper right there, isn't it? What did she want me to say? That it's okay not to market and that she'd manage anyway? That I love marketing and think I've found my calling in it?

Freelancing requires marketing. It always frustrates me when people think they can be an independent business without telling people about it.

Okay, rant over.

Okay, to the topic at hand – I wrote about this very topic on Friday – someone in a Yahoo! writers group I belong to polled the group about how business was going. The results were startling clear: those who admitted that they weren't actively taking steps to market their business were having serious problems.

From time to time I slack up on my marketing efforts too – especially when I become overwhelmed with client projects. But this has honestly been my busiest summer since I started freelancing full-time in August 2007. Why? Probably because I've been moving into a specialty niche which has meant a lot of self-promotion in that area. the fruits of labor, so to speak.

I was just telling my accountability partner this morning that the biggest challenge for me is finding repeat clients. A challenge, but not impossible.

As far as keeping in touch, I use post cards and email. I've learned that following up and developing on-going relationships is a very important part of this business.

Time to build an oasis, right?

Happy belated b-day, and I hope you're having a great vacation!

I've found that marketing something I really dread doing, but once I get rolling, it's not so bad. It's just starting that initial push, especially when other things are pressing, that's the hardest part.

Thanks, Cathy, for the reference to "Get Clients Now." I like structure, too, and a good game plan might help me get rolling with marketing more consistently. I'll check it out.

C.J.'s helps you create a 28-day plan where you either are filling the pipeline, following up, getting presentations or closing the sale. Sometimes I need the structure. You select tasks that fit your need.

The Wealthy Freelancer has a lot of good marketing ideas, like email campaigns, networking.

Like I said, sometimes when I am getting "twitchy" – usually when big projects are coming to a close, I pull some ideas from these sources.

Happy belated birthday. If it makes you feel better, Lori, no matter what 0 is attached to your age, I guarantee I'm older and will remain so. 🙂