>>Has anyone had particular, or even any, success with advertizing their skills, abilities and experience in the VFUG "Classifieds" Yellow Pages?
>>Or have you experienced any or better success elsewhere for that matter and, if so, where?
>
>My other job (s), a.k.a. my company, has had some luck with the VFPYP ad we placed. So far, I have received at least 5 calls from people interested in large projects. 2 of which were here in the Twin Cities area. In addition, several "head-hunters" have contacted me via e-mail (as well as some other people). Keep in mind that I am doing this "on the side" and it is not my main source of income, so I cannot judge if one can make a living off of this type of advertisement. I prefer to rely on "word of mouth" myself. I have also had interested parties contact me due to my web pages andactivity in forums such as this, VFUG, newsgroups, etc.
>
>>What stories do you have to share about your own marketing efforts and experiences re promoting your own services, getting contracts and closing sales?
>
>Keep your sense of humor, you'll need it! (s)
>
>>What has worked most effectively for you in developing a client base and in obtaining new opportunities through using the "Net" or via any other particular avenue?
>>Bottom line - how best do you think can I build my business as an independent contractor based upon your own shared experiences? What works & what doesn't?
>
>Like I said, I prefer word of mouth. Vitus (my company) has an alliance of sort with many people in the area. We all have some special skills and call each other in on projects at certain times. For instance, we know a Novell wiz, data designers, VFP people, network gurus, etc. We all kind of "scratch each others backs". Of course, again, this is all in what little spare time my partner and I have. Fortunately (sorta (s)), we are getting enough calls that we have to turn away business (lack of time).
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>Like anything else, knowing the right peopple can help you get going. This forum (and others) have been extremely helpful to me and my company, so you are on the right track, IMHO.
>
>HTH,
>Scot.

Thank you Scot; yes that helps.
The information gathering on this topic has, in general, totally reinforced 2 strategies; active, physical (face-to-face) style personal networking on the one hand and using the Internet on the other. In particular it does appear that there is a great deal of confirmation for the overall productivity of UT and the related classifieds. So I am planning a web site and a classified based upon all of the feedback and upon close scrutiny of the classifieds themselves. I am also fortunate to have a good friend and associate who, I swear, could sell truck loads of snow to Eskimos in a blizzard - all I have to do is explain what it is that I (can) do in a way that she can do the marketing. It seems that having a "Product" to offer rather than just a service may also be more profitable in the long run. I have actually been in business for the past many years but relied very much upon word-of-mouth and referral connections but it now seems that there are many greater opportunities out there that I may have been missing by my low profile .... which is rapidly becoming a high profile simply thro' interaction here. :))
Thnx to all of you who responded for your suggestions. /psb.