Judy, this is a message I am constantly hammering on, in my writings and in my workshops and with my clients.

One thing to add: we all need to be patient. Just because we finally choose a niche doesn't mean it automatically finds us. It's taken me almost 22 long years to settle into my specialty: teaching creative solopreneurs how to build their business.

During those years, I've helped all different types of people, but it actually wasn't until the past 5 years that I claimed "creatives" as my market and committed my resources to it. And that does mean saying no to other opportunities, some of have potential. But I can't do everything. So I have to choose.

Thanks again for the article. I'll link to it from the MarketingMixBlog.com

Love the video, Dyana, I wish I were on the other side of the country to attend last night. But I'm glad you got yourself out of the house to do so.

See you soon! ilise

I had a great time too. It was the perfect combination of meeting new people and connecting back up with some old friends and clients. I especially loved the raffle: what a great idea to ask people to donate things/services to raffle off. Excellent marketing for everyone!

Can't wait til the next one. When is it?

Excellent follow up article, Jeff, and perfect to demonstrate your expertise in this area. I was thinking it might make sense to integrate the big idea about "the big idea" in here somewhere too.

And where can I get one of those jelvetica tatoos? I've got an empty spot on my ankle.

Lindsay, I offer a free 30 minute phone consultation and it has been a great tool for my business, mainly because I stress that it's not a sales pitch, rather a 30 minute taste of what it's like to work with me.

After the consultation, some choose to become clients, other's don't, but if nothing else, people get to see what it's like to work with me, and get 30 minutes of my help with their marketing questions. It's a win-win for everyone, as they say.

Excellent article, Jezra. I am constantly trying to get my clients to think less concretely about their marketing efforts and not trying to assess whether they "got something" out of this or that event or marketing effort.

It is all cumulative and it all adds up to something eventually. The "fun" part (for some of us) is in not knowing what exactly.

Love your article, Mark! (And will link to it from the CreativeFreelancerBlog.com later today.)

I am always pushing a huge rock up a steep hill when I preach about cold calling (which I now call "research calling") and the well-documented fact that it really does work.

So your article and indisputable statistics will add much-needed heft to my argument. Thank you.

Jill, I think that "forcing yourself" to attend an event (even when you don't feel like it) is essential if you're going to grow your business, especially now.

I always say, "You don't need to be 'up,' just open." Because so many people think they have to be in a particular type of mood (up) in order to network effectively.

I don't buy that.

Not everyone feels like networking when it's time (and some never feel like it). But if you let your "feelings" get in the way you will be doing yourself an injustice. And you have no idea what you will be missing.

Plus, I've noticed that when my clients go anyway, they almost always end up feeling better. There's something about interacting with others that has the potential to extricate yourself from yourself, and that's always a good thing.

Hi Teri, I couldn't agree more. I tell my clients -- most of whom are in fact really busy at the moment -- to stay away from the news. It's easy to get disheartened when the news is all doom and gloom. There's always work out there, it just comes down to rolling up your sleeves and finding it!

Pamela, excellent tips that would help anyone tackle an uncomfortable conversation.

Jamie, your article gives a nice perspective on networking. I love the idea, "don't network, meet interesting people."

Often, clients tell me they don't "feel" like networking because they're not "psyched up." And my response is always, "You don't have to be up, just open." In fact, I sometimes think being "up" gets in the way of being open.

Networking doesn't have to be full of pressure. We don't need to find new clients or get more business, we just need to be open to meeting new people. Once you start to view networking in this way, it becomes so much more natural and easier to do.

At the risk of promoting myself (occupational hazard), I'll just mention the book I wrote on exactly this topic, "Stop Pushing Me Around: A Workplace Guide for the Timid, Shy and Less Assertive."

i'll be there in spirit too and am just thrilled to see how beautifully biznik works at connecting real people.

have a great time tomorrow. can't wait to hear about it.

I'm going to look into that travel kit. What i've been using hasn't been working well and I just haven't focused on finding something better. So thanks for that.

Great article too!

You make it sound so easy, Jezra, and I know it is because I've been doing it for a while. But often, when I suggest to clients that they consider speaking as a marketing tool -- well, let's just say it takes a lot of persuading.

But speaking is my number one marketing tool. It really gives people a chance to see who and how I am as a human being -- which is crucial in our almost completely virtual, Twitter-enabled world.

Excellent article!

I can barely follow this thread. When do you guys work?

There is no question as to the potential marketing benefits of Twitter, but isn't anyone else out there on overload with all this social networking? I can't possibly do everything, and do my billable client work, which is a priority.