--------------------------------------------------------
Careful keyword strategy can get you top billing in the
search engines and skyrocket your traffic.
--------------------------------------------------------

I was worried. "With a hundred million web sites competing, how on earth can I get anyone to my site?

"Search engines," said my friend Dave.

"But what must I do?"

"Go for top positioning," said Dave. "Search engines are powerful. They'll drive heavy, interest-focused traffic to your site."

"But," I spluttered, "with so many sites competing, how do I get top positioning?"

"Select your keywords carefully."

That night I learned fast. And it boils down to this secret: your keywords.

In fact, your keywords can make or break you. So it is absolutely critical to select your keywords carefully.

[Read More!]

Consistent follow up is the second challenge you will face as a business man. Once you have solved the first challenge, that is: attracting prospects to our web site, the challenge lies in generating the most profit from the existing flow of leads.

The typical marketer usually sends out a single brochure or catalog, make one follow up call, or send out one fax, and then sit back and wait... He hopes the prospect will visit his web site, place orders, or e-mail with further questions. Even seasoned marketers sometimes neglect the crucial follow up activity. I've done it at times myself.

When you think of long distance phone and fax calls, and snail mail letters, then follow up can become expensive, but on line follow up through e-mail is extremely low cost, and could be considered the ideal follow up marketing tool.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO FOLLOW UP?
[Read More!]

By Sibyl McLendon

Graphics are to a web site what spices are to a good stew, they make it more interesting. Good graphics are essential to the successful web site. Few Internet surfers are going to stick around to read a lot of text on a web site unless it is broken up by good graphics (or unless they are specifically looking for articles to read). Few Internet shoppers are going to buy a product unless there is a picture of it for them to look at. You are going to need graphics.

But graphics can make or break a site. What is worse than waiting and waiting for a large graphic to load? [Read More!]

Copyright 2002 by Heather Reimer


We've all read dozens of articles on how to write spicier copy, snappier ads and grabbier banners.

But it's often the personal touch that seals a big deal –-that clincher phone call -- especially these days, when so many of our clients live in other states or countries and fewer deals are actually closed in person.

So the way you address a client through your spoken manner over the phone can be vital to finalizing a sale.

Want to learn how to humanize your human touch? Let's push the keyboard away, do a few vocal warm-up exercises and begin.
[Read More!]

by Candice Pardue

Choosing a web host is the first vital step you'll take toward having your own website. Your web host will provide space on the Internet for your site so that the whole world can view it. But, choosing a web host is not as easy as it may seem.

There are a few mistakes to avoid while choosing your host. I'd like to share these with you below, and explain why it's important to avoid these mistakes at all costs - especially if you wish to start an online business.

[Read More!]

**Editor's Note** One of the easiest ways to increase your web site sales (the fabled browsers to buyers conversion ratio) is by improving the navigation structure of your web site. Often fine tuning the navigation can increase conversions by a few points which in turn can boost sales from 5-500%! This issue we look at "Ten Quick Navigation Tips" to make your web site more effective. Enjoy... Mike @ Surf22

What is it you want your web site to accomplish?

Are you selling a product or service?

Do you offer information?

So Why Then Are You Hiding It?

==================== Make Your Site Flow! ====================

Every web site is different but there are certain rules of thumb you need to follow if you want your web site to be effective:
[Read More!]

by Candice Pardue

What are auto responders? Auto responders are the automatic responses you get when you send someone an email. There are many uses for these time savers that can benefit you and your inquirer.

Here are 5 Ways You Can Incorporate Auto Responders to Compliment Your Website:
[Read More!]

by Candice Pardue

I had to learn the hard way! When I finished designing my site, I discovered then that 85 to 90 percent of all Internet users view the Web using either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. I used Netscape Composer to design my entire website, as well as to view and check my web pages online for accuracy.

Little did I know that my website looked great on Netscape, but terrible on Microsoft Internet Explorer (MIE). [Read More!]

by Candice Pardue

Believe me, you want your visitors to stay as long as possible. This is the only way your site is going to succeed. Your site must be interesting, persuading, and easy to navigate.

First let me tell you a couple of misconceptions about how to design websites.
[Read More!]

by Candice Pardue


Why Tables?

Tables have helped me to do the following while designing my website:

1. Establish organization.

2. Create sections on my web pages that are neat and uniform.

3. Build a unique sales presentation with direction.

With tables, I've been able to build an effective site that gets results, and you can too!

Below are a couple of table tips to help you design a customer-oriented site for web success: [Read More!]

I used to spend hours every week in the public library, I also used to spend a fortune on books. My love for books continues but I no longer spend so much time in the library, or indeed so much money buying books. Some of my main interests are in areas of technology and we all know how fast technology is moving ... so what's the point of buying a book on a certain aspect of technology when by the time it is in print it is already long out of date. So I go to what my son calls the "BIG" bookshelf, the one that's hidden behind my modem. There on the Internet I can find information about anything, especially technology, and it's up to date! Often it is also interactive, more fun and generally it's cheaper than books.

But hey! Wait! Look again, I think that the Internet is starting to return to the vision encouraged by its founders. I see more and more real in depth content, (and software), being offered, not cheaper, but for free, and is being funded by other means like the much maligned "affiliate advertising" programmes. Free is again becoming the byword of the Internet. My vision of the Internet being the ultimate repository of human intelligence and endeavor is again returning!
[Read More!]

I'm not that old ... well not really ... but I still remember (and it wasn't so long ago), that commerce was confined to local shops and businesses. OK there was the odd entrepreneur who had set up a chain of outlets across the country, and even fewer who had gone the whole way and set up international companies, we all know them, they were and some still are household names. They had the ability to think globally, and they profited immensely from that ability.

With the advent of the internet the percentage of entrepreneurs that have that ability has indeed grown, however, there are still a large number of web masters, commerce sites, companies and entrepreneurs who just 'DON'T GET IT', that when they publish material on the internet it's like ... "HELLO WORLD!".
[Read More!]

by Irena Whitfield

There are many ways to establish your web presence. In this article I would like to mention one of the ways to start and establish a successful web presence. I am not going to talk about becoming a reseller but a fully, properly working, financially independent and successful netpreneur.

All of us are here on the Net to make money, and it is not that easy as you may sometimes hear. In fact, it is possible only with a certain kind of web presence.

I have one short advice: Be Original. Not Extravagant but Original.

You can, of course, start as a reseller, but there will come a moment and you will have to move on either to make money or to make more money. And here comes the question about your unique and successful web presence. Before you start, you should know what you want to do, make your researches and study what is necessary to learn and become an expert in the fields you will need. It is great to complement your product/s or service/s with back-end items like reselling items, of course, but do not make it your main web presence.
[Read More!]