11. When you purchase a product and it exceeds your expectations e-mail business a testimonial. Make sure your statement is detailed. Give them permission to publish it on their web site if they link to your site.

12. Create a directory of web sites on a specific topic. Give people option of adding directory to their web site by linking to it. Put your business ad at top of directory's home page.

13. Exchange content with other web sites. You could trade articles, top ten lists, etc. Both parties could include a resource box at end of content.

14. Allow people to download software at no charge from your web site, if they link to your web site. The software could be freeware, shareware or demos.

15. Trade other forms of advertising to people that link to your web site. You could trade e-zine ads, print ads, autoresponder ads, classified ads, ebook ads, etc.

16. Give away web space to people for free. Since you are giving it away for free, request they link to your site by placing your ad or banner to site.

17. Join or create a web ring. A web ring is a group of web sites on a similar subject agreeing to link together. To find a web ring to join type keywords "web rings" into your search engine of choice.

18. Create an online club or association. Tell your visitors what's included in membership and what it costs to join. Offer them a free membership if, in exchange, they link to your web site.

19. Allow people to use an online service or utilities from your web site if, in exchange, they link to your web site. The online service could be an e-mail account, search engine submission, web page design, copywriting, proofreading, etc.

20. Offer a free e-book to your web site visitors. The ebook should be related to your target audience. Allow them to give e-book to their own web site visitors by linking directly to your web site.

Some possible dark horses in race may include Clusty and Accoona. Clusty has some nifty clustering technology that can provide different categories while Accoona has search abilities based on artificial intelligence. Accoona also has a large customer base in China where internet population is biggest in world surpassing that of U.S.

This author’s take:

Despite its pronouncements, Google will need a large customer base to be able to provide “more personalized searches”. Providing 2GB free email is first step, from which it can harvest a lot of raw data which many privacy advocates are strongly oppose to.

Google’s plan to digitize all books in major libraries may lead company into a legal quagmire of copyright issues involving publishers and authors.

Maybe, emergence of some “intelligent” browsers with in-built artificial intelligence capabilities which can bypass search engine servers altogether – instead these agents would apply filters or weights according to wishes of individual searcher.

Google typifies successful upstart – self-assured, confident and secretive, causing dismay to analysts and fund managers. During its recent IPO (Initial Public Offering), Google bypassed traditional route via underwriters and brokers thus denying them a share of spoils. This slap on wrist would not go down too well with these lords of financial world. Should Google face some difficulties or stumbles, this publicly traded company may give new meaning to expression “When it rains, it pours”.

Expect mergers, takeovers to be norm. The real leader of internet would evolve from diverse parties and it would include Ebay-Paypal component. We live in interesting times.

Stan Seecrets’ Postulate: “The imminent war for world domination will be fought between gods of internet and gods of finance.”

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