How to Land New Clients Fast You've just launched your business, but without clients it's going nowhere fast. Use these nine tips to reel them in.

If you've just launched your business, chances areyou've come to the following realization: You've got toland some new clients fast--or else!

I've been there. And I've discovered some secrets tolanding business in ways that are free, fast and downright fun!

First, set your attitude toward success by doing threethings:

• Be bold. Don't take anyone's advice about notdoing something that will make people pay attention to you (as longas it's legal, of course).
• Be creative. Startup time is your most creative. Infact, when business owners who've been around awhile ask mewhat they can do to add new zest to their businesses, I ask them totell me what they did when they first launched-and do itagain.
• Give up your fears, doubts and insecurities. You'lllove yourself better when you do!

Next, take action:

1. Make a website that gives you credibility your prospects willappreciate. For tips, visit my website at www.websitecopywriters.com.
2. Dash off to a quick printer for fast business cards. Don'tworry about making something perfect.
3. Unless you're hiding from the law, add your photograph toyour business card. It tells prospects you're for real. Have aprofessional photographer take your photo, because you need to lookyour best.
4. Create a verbal "30-second commercial" that sayssomething powerful about your business. As an example, here'smine: "I'm Pete Silver, and I'm in the business ofhelping small businesses get new clients fast without blowing lotsof money on unnecessary expenses. As a former journalist, I knowhow to use free publicity in the media for my clients, and I writewebsites and other materials that persuade prospects to BUY. Mywebsite is MarketYourBusiness.com."
5. Distribute your card everywhere you can: bulletin boards atsupermarkets, universities, public libraries and anywhere elsepeople congregate who possibly could be your clients.
6. Contact local groups and offer to give a free 20-minuteinformative speech, and guarantee them you won't try to sellyour service or product--and stick to it. Merely by not selling,your audience will be interested in getting your card, and usingthe next technique I will give you, you'll get their names forfollow-up.
7. Tell members of your audience that you're going to have afree drawing. They should all put their business cards in a box,and you'll draw the winning card. If they don't havebusiness cards, they can write down their names, e-mail addressesand phone numbers on a blank card you supply, and then the drawingtakes place. It could be something you normally sell. If that'snot possible, offer a bookstore gift card.
8. Practice the art of "give a card, get a card" witheveryone you meet--except double your odds. First, ask them for twocards and say that if you run into a prospect for their service,you'll give out the extra card for them. Then offer them threeof your own cards and explain that since you're a startup,you'd appreciate the same favor in return!
9. Read your local newspaper and see who writes about newbusinesses. Write up as complete a backgrounder as possible aboutyour business and deliver it to that person--along with yourphotograph. When it appears in the newspaper, quickly reprint it todistribute as a flier everywhere you can.

Pete Silver is a homebased entrepreneur who's launchedseveral successful businesses from his home over the past 20 years.He's also a creative marketing specialist and author whotravels widely as a speaker and seminar leader. To find out moreabout Pete or his coaching service, log on to www.MarketYourBusiness.com.

The opinions expressed in this column arethose of the author, not of Entrepreneur.com. All answers areintended to be general in nature, without regard to specificgeographical areas or circumstances, and should only be relied uponafter consulting an appropriate expert, such as an attorney oraccountant.