DO use mailing lists or mailing services that are verified "opt-in." ("Opt-in" means that the people on the list have *specifically* requested to be on the list and are willing to receive messages of the type you are sending.) However, be very careful with the lists you choose!

DON'T use mailing lists or mailing services that claim to be "opt-in" but cannot prove it. (They must be able to demonstrate that the only way people have gotten on the list is through an affirmative act on their part.)

DON'T post a referral solicitation to Usenet newsgroups, message boards, or Web-based discussion sites, EXCEPT those specifically designated in their charter or by their operators for postings of a purely commercial nature. (Even for locations where commercial messages are *explicitly* authorized, postings may still be a violation if they are excessively cross-posted or posted more frequently than necessary.) You MUST be 100% sure that you can post your ad before you do it. Just because there is a newsgroup named "microsoft.public.money" it does not mean that it is meant for advertising! (It is in fact discussing a program that Microsoft is developing, but they have major problems keeping it clean from spammers!)

DO mention Nethosts in holiday cards, letters, or on your Web site. Also consider printing your website address on the back of your business cards.

DON'T print out flyers and stick them on car windshields or distribute them where doing so constitutes trespassing or otherwise violates applicable rules, regulations, or laws.

DO think of new and creative ways to gain new referrals.

DON'T act on those ideas without first considering whether they might be inappropriate or prohibited. (When in doubt, ASK FIRST!)