There are many ways to do this. I have a list of potential clients, and I call everyone on this list at least once a month. I also send out postcards to everyone on list four times a year. Hot prospects also get two additional special mailings a year.

Postcards can be made cheaply by creating card in a program like Microsoft Publisher '97. Fit four cards on a page, then photocopy this design onto a very bright card stock. Cut postcards apart and mail them. The very bright paper really stands out on a client's desk that's piled high with paperwork.

Other things that I have done include: mailing out monthly calendars, sending out small gifts (pencils, pens, small photo albums, etc. with my name and phone number printed on them), mailing Christmas and birthday cards and sending thank you cards after every completed assignment.

You will need to establish pricing for your services. The best way to find a starting point is to check with several professional organizations in your field to see what national average is. Then call several people in your area who are doing what you want to do and ask what they charge. I would suggest calling as a prospective client as you'll get more cooperation from them. Remember that prices will be higher in large cities than in small ones.

If you think that finding clients, and getting assignments, are end of your problems, think again. You still need to be paid.

Most of your clients will pay you. They may take longer to pay than you would like, but they will pay. In two years as a freelance photographer in Southern California, I had only two clients that I had payment problems with. The best way to avoid problems with payment is to have a signed contract. Many professional organizations can supply you with sample contracts that you, or a lawyer, can customize for your specific needs. Be sure contract includes what services are to be rendered, what fees are to be charged and when payment is due. Even if your contract states that payment is due in thirty days, it's not uncommon to wait ninety days to get your check. It's something you just need to live with. It's better to wait for payment than get bent out of shape and lose a client. But feel free to call client every two to four weeks to get an update on your payment.

You can also find clients by setting up your own website. Showing examples of your product or service, along with testimonials, can be a great help. It also allows prospective clients see your work instantly. You could even find clients using only a website. I sell my ebooks on my website, and I have friends who sell their web design, writing, audiotapes, astrological forecasts and other services exclusively from their website. If you have skill and time, you may also want to have an e-newsletter to send out regularly to those who have signed up for it. It's a great, and cheap, way to promote yourself and keep your name in front of prospective clients. Doing anything on Internet can be time consuming, but it can cost almost nothing. I pay $25 a year for my domain name and $10 a month for a website. That's about cheapest promotion you will find anywhere.

The real secret to promoting your business is to stay motivated. Be excited about your product or service, and show that excitement to your clients. Excitement is contagious, so get your clients excited about you and you'll have a much better chance of getting a sale or assignment.

Suggested Reading

1001 Ways To Market Your Books by John Kremer - Even though this book was designed to help writers sell their books, it's full of useful marketing information that anyone can use.

Any of Guerrilla Marketing books by Jay Conrad Levinson - These books are a great source of marketing information.

The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman - Peter will show you how to be financially self-sufficient as a freelance writer in a big city in six months or less.

There is also a membership discount store in my town called Sam's Club. It's like a Costco or Fedco. They offer a dental discount program. It's not insurance, but for about $70 a year I can become a member. I get a discount card that I can take to participating dentists, and get their services for a discount. The only drawback is that most of dentists in program are in large cities. Be sure to check this out before you join to be sure your dentist is part of program.

There are ways to get medical care that is free or inexpensive without using insurance. In my town, there is a health clinic that has a sliding scale based on income. There's also a dental school in town that has very inexpensive rates if you let students work on you. I know people that drive for over an hour to use this facility and they think it's wonderful.

In Arizona, there is also AHCCCS Program (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) which offers low cost insurance for low-income households with an annual income of up to $18,000. Check with your state to see if it has a program like this.

Consider an option that requires no insurance. Put money into a bank account. I know of one person who put $2,000 into a bank account before starting her own business. The money would be used for any medical expenses. Over next two years, she put another $8,000 into account. So far, this has taken care of all medical problems that have arisen for her family of four. If you want even more security, you could set up a savings account, and have catastrophic insurance coverage with a high deductible. Just decide what you are comfortable with. I usually go with minimal coverage because I have virtually no health problems. I'm in my late forties, and in past twelve years I have only gone to a doctor once and I take no medication. The only recurring health problem I have is getting new glasses every five years or so, and having occasional filling. I've always been very healthy and I don't see this changing any time soon.

One last note about insurance. If you are going to have clients coming to your home, you should look into liability insurance with medical reimbursement coverage. I had this several years ago when I ran a photography studio out of my house. Fortunately, I never had to use it, but I did come close one day. A woman came in for a portrait and brought her friend, who also had a one-month-old baby. As we were getting ready, I told mother that she and her baby could sit in a chair across room. I pointed out a very bright orange extension cord and told her to be careful. She looked at cord and said she would be. She then proceeded across room and tripped on cord. Visions of her falling on top of her baby flashed through my head before she caught her balance. Everyone was fine, but I was very glad that I had insurance, just in case.

What you need to do, as a self-employed person seeking health insurance, is to be creative and look everywhere. Contact every club, credit card and organization you belong to, and don't forget college you graduated from. Call your city and state government to see what programs they offer too. Use that same creativity that keeps your business successful to find all your options, and then select one that's best for you. Be sure to read fine print so you know what is, and isn't, covered by a plan before you join.