Alas, the exhilaration and, at times, sheer terror of hanging out your shingle. Will I land that big client? How the heck do I write a business plan? You want it when? Cash or accrual? I don't have a clue. Hmmm ... I wonder if I should incorporate? Will I be able to pay the rent next month and maybe even eat on occasion? We've all been there.

There are lots of reasons to go off on your own. Some of us did it with lots of planning, others simply fell into it. Whatever way we got here, we often share the same doubts, questions and concerns at the beginning. That's what this new section of Creative Latitude is all about.

Neil's Newbies (sorry, but I just love alliteration) will focus on the finer points of getting your practice up and running, as well as promoting the heck out of it. You'll be seeing articles from myself and guest authors. I invite you to email me with questions and topics you'd like to see covered.

To start things off, here's an email I recently received about creating a marketing strategy.

"I am in the early planning stages of starting my own web/graphic design firm. I am finding that developing a marketing strategy is one of the more difficult aspects of creating a successful business. I want clients that will enable me to be somewhat experimental and edgy with my design. Of course I don't want to limit myself, so appealing to a broader market is necessary. What, in your opinion, is the key to developing a successful marketing strategy? Any insights you have will be appreciated."

Click here to read my response.