The key to growing your clientele is by having a huge friend circle. Speak to people and learn to strike up conversations. This will help you expand your network and gain experience interacting with people.

You can also advertise in newspaper classifieds or on local cable channels. Leaflets are also a good way to spread the word. But remember to keep the advertising focussed on your vicinity. People won't want to travel too far for consultations.

You could also get wired with vernacular media, as they often require to quote astrologers in their articles. You can gain a good amount of publicity if your name appears in local newspapers.

Brush Up Your Knowledge

Never think of picking up a book on astrology from Crossword and teaching yourself. It just doesn't work that way! There is a lot you will learn through a class that you won't through a book.

However, the books are not entirely useless. Astrology is a science that requires you to mentally store tons of data. So going through a good book once in a while won't hurt. 'Elements of Vedic Astrology' by Dr. Charak is one good book to read. You could also buy DVDs, VCDs or mp3 files on the subject.

Another way to avoid your knowledge getting rusty is to join a discussion forum of astrologers. It helps you get comfortable and make yourself known too.

What You Should Do

• Always follow a code of ethics. There is no formal code of ethics but you must draw up one for yourself. For instance, there is no harm making good money from a career in astrology. But if someone comes to you in distress, let not your main goal be to extract money from him.
  
  
• Never make a person dependent on you. You might think that this would jeopardise your business but if you are a good astrologer it won't. If someone comes to you asking you why his son is sick, don't tell him to do a list of things and come back to you for further advice. Instead tell him everything he has to do up front and to let you know later how things work out.
  
  
• Avoid Predictions. Don't look to predicting the future for someone. Instead try to counsel him. For instance, if a girl asks you when she is going to get married turn the question around to why she is unable to get married and address that problem.

(With inputs form Raj Rao, Business Head, Astrolife)