Welcome and congrats on getting your degree, and also for committing yourself to your art.
I would focus on building a mailing list, both email and real addresses so you have people to promote to, more and more as the years go on. This is how I started, and back before there was an internet! I handmade little newsletters and sent them through the mail.
Every time you promote, you'll probably get some bite back on some level. You learn to get creative with promoting and your newsletters: special offers, featured pieces, payment plans, and stuff like this.
Most important is to produce and work your butt off. Always be working, always be creating, and always be promoting. In reality, you'll be promoting as much as you'll be producing.
You are building a career, so don't get impatient. Remember that year by year you are concocting something substantial and that every body of work under your belt is yours forever and never wasted - even if you do not sell it. Every accolade you amass, every show you exhibit in goes on your CV and it stays there, including your degree. It's all part of your life's work and every bit counts for something. Then, before you know it, you'll look upon it and see that you have accomplished a lot and that sales are not everything (Not that you aren't going to sell - you will - but there will be tough times and you should know that you are building your career not just trying to acquire money).
Be brave, take risks, listen to your own counsel, don't be a wimp, devote yourself, and work your ass off. BE an artist.
That's my .02
Good luck!
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