Have you ever heard this before?

"My ad copy has nuthin' to do with those results, it's all YOUR fault, because you're NOT doin' your job properly! And I want my freakin money back and if you don't give it to me - I'm reporting YOU to every agency there is"!

Instead of getting angry you may just want to try a little something like this for a response:

Really? Well here, you can start at iCop, because I am NOT really a member there, I just thought graphic would look cool on my web site. While you're at it, you go and report me to Better Business Bureau, (who quite frankly will not care anyways, if I am a con artist or not).

Then you can just head over to my site and email all of people who gave me testimonials and tell them what a BAD person I am, because your ad didn't receive results you were looking for. Well, actually you better not, because those testimonials are fake, I just made them up (I'm not sure where links really go ... hehe).

It goes without saying that clients are lifeline of every independent professional. You sure won't be in business long without them! There are many marketing methods used to get clients. Some methods, such as magazine advertising, are quite expensive while others cost very little in comparison and produce better results. Here are five inexpensive and successful marketing methods to get clients.

1. Networking

Like it or not, getting clients is done through one-on-one personal communication. The strength of your relationships is paramount. You won't get to know anyone or develop any relationships if you hide in your office or behind your computer. Get out there and press flesh!

Clients want to feel comfortable about independent professionals they retain and prefer to know them personally or have a trusted person recommend someone. Go where decision-makers are that can hire you. Go to same conferences; join same associations, read same magazines and newsletters.

Make a habit of regularly staying in touch with your network. Contact all of your friends and colleagues. Tell them what you are looking for and what you're interested in. Be sure to contact prior employers and bosses too. If you've departed on good terms, this is a great way to get clients.

2. Writing articles

An independent professional that writes articles and gets them published in industry magazines, trade journals, newsletters, etc. becomes positioned as an expert.

Potential clients that like your articles will contact you when they want more information. Some of these contacts will become clients.

Consider writing articles for a variety of publications in your industry such as magazines, journals, print newsletters, ezines, and web sites. You can write articles on a variety of topics such as new trends, a creative way to solve a common problem, your thoughts on current state of business, etc. There are numerous possibilities!

Unless you are extremely well known, don't start out submitting articles to most prestigious magazines and journals. Start small. It is best to target publications where you have most likely chance of getting published.

Be sure to include copies of your published articles in your literature to potential clients.