Hello all:
I've been doing custom industrial-control-type software in the MS world for
a few years now.  For the last couple of years, I've been playing with Linux
in my spare time.  I wouldn't call myself a guru, but I've had lots of Unix
experience in the past so I think it wouldn't be a real steep learning curve
to get back into it.  The trouble is getting an initial (paying) Linux
contract in order to get that crucial real-world experience.  I've been
looking into various schemes to promote my business on the Web, but it's
hard to separate the useful stuff from the hype.  I know this group has all
types, so I assume there must be a fair number of  independent contractors
and/or in our midst.  So I was wondering:
-Do any of you have any experience with paid Web advertising?  For example,
slashdot and its related sites sell advertising.  Don't know if that would
be the right target audience, though,
-Have any of you tried the Yahoo Business Express service?  I didn't mind
the idea of paying $199 to get in, but on reading their terms, I understand
that they can reject your site if they don't like it but they still take
your money.  And their FAQ claims that if any of your links are broken,
they'll reject you, and you only get one "appeal" (which they can still
reject.)  That truly sucks.  Anybody come across any alternatives?
-I've submitted my site to several of the "free" directory projects but I
understand it could be _months_ before it gets into any of them.
-I've heard of referral sites that take a cut of the proceeds but I'm a
little leery of this.  For example, I had a subcontract relationship with an
individual where I signed a contract to only go through his company for this
particular client.  But he also demanded the rights to any clients I got
indirectly through the client, even when he wasn't particularly interested
in pursuing them.  So I think that this is something I'd do again only if
the person or agency is highly recommended.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have,
Vaughn Treude
Nakota Software, Inc.