• Maintain an active list of contacts within useful groups - private view invitations; press releases; invitations to your studio; to keep updated on new work; residencies etc.
• Research and keep copies of articles by writers you might contact in the future, building an idea of what interests each one
• Keep clear records of any sales of works. This is useful for your mailing list, insurance, and your ongoing catalogue raisonne
• Network in your peer group. Emerging artists will find private views at newer venues more useful than the Serpentine Summer party
• Have business cards with you at all times and hand them out freely
• Maintain a list of all possible CV contents so you can customise a CV for each opportunity
• Collect quotes about you and your work and gain permission from the individuals or organisations before using them
• Keep copies of all articles, reviews and catalogue essays about your work

Avoid doing the following:

• Don't send images or emails to strangers: their most likely to end up deleted or with a polite but negative reply, and may damage your future chances of making inroads later
• Other people's private views are not your opportunity to land a show at the venue yourself, but an informal 'hello' or chat with the curator / director can be followed up later

• self promotion
• networking
• selling
• getting an exhibition
• peer support
• meeting curators
• CV