Prospecting on a slow week

For the past 14 months I've made the bulk of my living online by providing writing services - ghostwriting, press releases, SEO content, etc.

The downside of this is that it's a feast or famine life - one week I'm working 12 hours a day six days a week, one week I've got three orders come in and I'm twiddling my thumbs.

I was talking to a press release client of mine recently - Christian Fea - a business/JV coach - and being a coach, we got into a conversation about business and he asked me, "How much time do you spend every day prospecting for new customers"?

Good question - probably not enough! My goal for 2009 - spend AT LEAST one hour per day 5 days a week dedicated specifically to growing my business.

But here is a list of things I have successfully done on slow weeks, to drum up more business - and I would love to hear what YOU all do to get more business:

1.) I contact past clients who have been happy with my services and ask if they need anything done for them.

2.) I Tweet on Twitter about projects I'm working on - people see it, ask about my services, and often order from me.

3.) I run a WSO

4.) I write a good blog post, post a link to it on Twitter, retweet several times throughout the day - and again, people on Twitter see what I'm doing and often order services from me.

5.) I let some of my friends know that I have some free time and ask if they know anyone who needs my services.