So basically, what is a brand? Your business name can be your brand, but it must tell public exactly what you do. If it doesn't, you must create a brand, and feature that in all your advertising. It should be first thing people see when they visit your web site.

The web site - http://ListsAreUs.com - gives a good example of branding. On first page, without having to arrow down, you immediately know what web site is all about. All of their advertising, which is specific to market they wish to reach, carries this brand.

If you are to succeed in your online business, you must have a brand that will not only be remembered, but reinforces what you are trying to promote. But that is not all that must be done.

Newsletters and Ezines, specific to market you wish to target are an excellent way to reach potential clients. While your ads should be brief, as people scanning a publication may skip by your ad, it must be compelling. This is where your brand is so important.

A web site with a minimum of information however, will normally not obtain your goals. Face it, you got them to visit your site with your ad, and now they are looking for answers. If they don't find what they are looking for, odds are they won't come back. While your ad must be brief, here you can (and must) tell entire story.

Branding is critical to your business. Once you get "your" brand to be a household name for your target market, you are well on your way down road of ecommerce.

Solonews is alse free: http://www.solonews.com/index.shtml

Other Press Release services we've used are: Emailwire.com: http://www.emailwire.com/. They are mainlyfor corporate businesses, but check them out. Also Xpress, who distribute news releases by e-mail. (Their address is news@xpresspress.com). We have a press releases up there at: http://www.emailwire.com/cgi-bin/news/db.cgi?db=ads&uid=default&ID=1956&view_records=1 in case you want to have a look)) You can also use eNewsRelease.com

We have no connection with these news distribution services, but have found them all to be effective in increasing "hits" after a news release.

Use press releases to get word out about your web site, product or service. They DO WORK in bringing traffic, first step to ONLINE SALES.

Lastly, I don't think you need to be a writer to write good press releases. (In fact, it may work against us, as we do tend to "waffle on" a bit and sometimes I don't write in sufficient "business-speak".) My advice is just write in your own "natural" style - one in which you feel MOST COMFORTABLE... as I've tried to do in this article. Keep your press release short - simple! Make sure your format is OK, so that your press release looks good. (Layout is not one of my strong points, so more care required there, please, Craig!)

Finally, don't take life too seriously and have FUN writing your press releases.

Hope this may help you readers "out there" in cyberspace, as we at Eagle Productions and our associates learn something new about on-line and off-line promotion each day.

"Success is a PROCESS of sharing (knowledge, insights, wisdom and experiences) with others and not simply a matter of arriving at a destination."

Take pleasure in journey.

Craig Lock

Do not go where path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.- Ralph Waldo Emerson