Keep in mind that website owners may get several link requests every day. To make yours stand out - and to convince him that you're not spamming - be sure to personalize your link request.

Include site owner's name. Comment on something you've seen on her website. This shows that you have actually visited site and taken time and effort to look around. Personalized requests are far more likely to get a positive response.

PASSIVE LINKING METHODS

You can also take a passive approach to reciprocal linking. That is, you basically sit back and wait for others to approach or link to you. This passive approach gives you an obvious time advantage. Some ways to encourage passive links include:

= Put a link on your site that says, "How to Link to Us". Provide text, banners, buttons, and HTML to make it as easy as possible for someone to think to you.

= Offer a content-rich site. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how many websites link to you just because they like what you have to offer.

Personally, I prefer passive approach, as I'm sure most of you do. I only actively request links when I happen across an excellent site that I know my audience would appreciate.

But like with all things online, there isn't one "right" way to do things. Success depends on doing a combination of things well. Reciprocal links are one way to steadily build targeted traffic and add value to your site.

So once you get your ad copy written, where should you advertise?

Ezine advertising is affordable, fast and effective. It allows you to get your message in front of your potential customers quickly and easily, wherever they are in world. Ezine advertising should be high on your list of advertising methods.

On other hand, email advertising (spam) is becoming passe'. This has resulted in overflowing inboxes across globe, and essentially means that your e-mail message is competing with hundreds of others to gain attention of reader. Most people simply hit their delete key as fast as they arrive. Others, myself included, filter out majority of spam automatically, and it is never even seen.

The best use of e-mail is to respond to a prospect's request for information, follow up with former clients or contact your existing customers. Former and existing customers are normally your warmest market.

You can write articles in your area of expertise, and send them to your own list of ezine editors. The articles should be non-commercial, and not be simply ads for your business. Most publications however, allow you include your authors credits at end of article. This again, should not be blatantly commercial, but can invite readers to your website or to send you an email.

There is another effective technique that can be used in emails. You should create and use a signature file to go at end of every email you send. Most email software allows you to do this automatically.

If you post to discussion boards and forums, include a "sig" file on your postings. It should always include your URL and be no more than four or five lines. The cardinal rule is that your "sig" file, should not be longer than your posting. One line postings with a six line "sig" file, will quickly draw ire of others in group.

Being "Loose as in Goose" might be acceptable when conversing with a friend, but if you hope to attract people to your offers, you must get your act together. If you don't, you will quickly "lose" your prospects interest.