The thrill of starting fresh! The anticipation of creating new benchmarks and reaching new dreams! Oh, but wait, there’s so much detritus getting in your way. What would it feel like to get rid of it all so that the New Year is truly new?

It’s the time to take a good hard look at the steps you’ve taken toward reaching your goals. And I’ll bet you’ve made more progress than you know.

No one enjoys being in a situation where they don’t know anyone. Good minglers ask questions and listen, but, as Martinet points out, they also contribute to the conversation.

The holidays are a perfect excuse to get back in touch with those who have been helpful to you during the year. They’re an excellent reason to send cards with your artwork on them or small gifts that someone would treasure.

Think of your bio in terms of a conversation you are initiating with anyone who reads it. It might be their first impression of you. How do you want to come across when you meet someone new?

Do you know where you are online? Not only can you go to the Google Images site above and pull up your images on the Worldwide Web, you can also use Google Alerts to see where you might be popping up.

Adding your photo to your website puts a real person behind the images and words. You're trying to market something handmade. Show us the hands that made it.

Many, many people do not go to galleries or museums because they think they don't know enough and they fear feeling stupid. They often think original art is for an elite class and is too expensive for them.

What chores, tasks, or jobs do you find yourself delaying or ignoring all together? What do you dread so much that you neglect? Usually, sadly, it's the stuff that you really need to do--the stuff you can't afford to ignore.

They realize that in order to get ahead, they're going to have to get out of their studio and meet people. Other artists, curators, arts leaders, collectors, dealers. You have to come across them at some point in your career.

Do you give in whenever someone asks you to lower your price or says they just can't afford your work? Did you turn to mush when the art center asked you to teach a class but said they could only pay you $100? Then this message is for you: stand firm!

I urge you to save $200 (or more) when you're asked to pay to be part of a for-profit gallery stable. I'm not talking about co-ops or nonprofits. I'm talking about good, old-fashioned, "I wanna make more money" galleries.

Collect more email addresses by making your email, newsletters, and website irresistible. When people start talking about what you have to say, they'll flock to you.

Consider using a second name for your artwork that looks like another artist created it. I'm not saying it's the only way to go about it, but it is an option that might work for you.

If you think your song, art, design, or other creative expression is going to be exposed to the public in some form--and that your work is good enough that someone might "accidentally" be a little too "inspired" by your work (in other words: rip it off) --then the $45 is the best money you'll ever spend.

If you target your message, you have a much better time getting noticed online and in person. Your message is a combination of your artwork, the words you use to sell and describe it, and the promotional methods you choose.

Teaching is promoted differently than your artwork is. When you promote your classes and workshops, you're promoting a service rather than a product.

Teach! If nothing else, teach a technique to a child. Review what you read about another artist's life with someone who might be interested. Teach to remember. Teach to grow.

Self-promotion is a never-ending, ongoing process. You do it whenever you can, wherever you can. Branding your email is an easy reminder to recipients.

They represent purchasers, not artists. They are vastly different from artists' reps or agents in this respect. They have a number of clients who depend on them to find the best art for their budgets. They have the client connections already in place.

Update your résumé. Get the facts and details straight. Your résumé should have the most important information at the top. For most exhibiting artists, that is your solo exhibitions. For teaching artists, it would be your education and teaching experience.

If you want your work preserved in a museum one day, make a conservator happy. Get in the habit of keeping notes about your working materials, techniques, and intent.

Got a lot of ideas in your head? Or not enough ideas? Need to write a new artist statement? Or come up with more text for your blog and website? Journaling can help you with all of these.

Get with the motors. Set boundaries with the anchors in your life. If you don't, if you allow their negativity to get to you, you compromise your personal and professional growth.

In order to have a successful career--whatever that means to you--you must be able to define yourself and your art in a sea of untold numbers of artists. To do this, you must first find your style.

Write your farewell. This isn't intended to be morbid, but to make you think about how you want to be remembered. Use complete sentences or just make a list of words and phrases you'd like to be said about you.

Take time this week to add the names of reporters and editors to your database and mailing list. Whenever possible, make it a point to meet people in the media.

There are things you can do to tap into what might not be considered your "usual" audience. At the top of the list: offer options.

You may find need for something more comprehensive. Call it what you like: public relations notebook or just plain brag book. Either does the trick.

I confess that writing out goals isn't something that comes natural to me...That's why I hired a coach--to help keep me on track and to hold me accountable for my dreams and ambitions.

REMEMBER it's easier to make a reputation locally, and then expand into other markets. Almost every artist thinks life would be easier if they just lived somewhere else.

Speaking in public gives you a way to reach out to new audiences and define yourself. It brings your art to life and proves there is a real person behind the work.

The bottom line is that each opportunity comes around only once. You can sit back and see what happens or you can take charge.

As you visit places that might display your newsletter, ask for permission. Next time you print a newsletter, you'll be prepared with an entirely new list of sites at which to place it.

Email isn't necessarily better than snail mail, but it must be used correctly. There might be a place in your marketing for both email and print newsletters.

The most important rule as you are putting together a newsletter is that your art should be the reason behind the entire process. Everything within the content and design should reflect the personality of your art and enhance your reputation.

Writing and distributing a newsletter is one of the best ways to keep your name out there and update your audience on your progress. Good, solid content can help you make a reputation for yourself.

Pat Velte, my Web guru, has come up with "10 Common Mistakes on Artists' Web Sites." She's agreed to share them with you today.

When you neglect written agreements, you lose control. You might just be busy and not want to think about it, but, in essence, you are saying that the other person or the job is more important than you and your artwork.

There is no excuse for using less than first-rate photographs of your artwork. When you're trying to sell your work... your photographs must be as good or better than the originals.

I had so many inquiries that I didn't know what to do with them all. The stars were in perfect alignment, as far as I was concerned. And, then, I goofed. Here's what I did...

You've heard it said a million times: "It never hurts to ask." So, what are you afraid of? What is keeping you from asking for something you want?

Whether you're showing art in a gallery space or at your own open studio, here are ten ways to be a star host or hostess.

Wealthy people take risks. They know that they could play it safe and get by, but wouldn't reach their potential that way. So, I ask you: What risks have you taken lately?

Do you wish you had more time? No wonder. You have to make your art, promote your art, stay in touch with friends and family, exercise, eat right, and be there for those you love. There will never be enough hours in the day to do what you want to do.

Over the years, I've seen a lot of marketing mistakes from artists. One of the biggest mistakes is easy to correct if you take the time.

The first thing every artist must understand is that there is an ocean of difference between emitting confidence and bragging. I'm sure, deep down, you probably know this already. Perhaps it would help if I went over it briefly here.

What do you want people to say when they look at your art? Notice I didn't ask what are they already saying. I don't really care about that. I asked, what do you want them to say?

I hazard to say that the biggest mistake artists make in their businesses is not following up on leads and opportunities. It's only a guess, but it's based on numerous conversations with clients and class members.

Learn how to cope with criticism. Come up with your own process, your own questions. What do you say when someone whispers, "My six-year-old could have painted that" while looking at your work? How will you respond when the gallery dealer says your work doesn't fit in her gallery?

Blogging allows you to define yourself and your art more frequently and in greater detail than ever. Why would you ignore this powerful marketing tool?

Quit dreaming! Come back to reality and quit wasting your time. Plant both feet firmly on the ground so you can get your head out of the clouds. Good fine art agents do not exist. At least I have never heard a success story. Especially in the beginning of one's career.