So, how do you go about getting listed? Before you go straight to directories and try to get listed, take a look at your site. Does it offer secure transactions? This is paramount to getting anybody to shop online with you. With it taking average surfer two years to make a purchase online (Forrester Report), security is a must. Are you using shopping baskets? Do you clearly show your terms and conditions? Do you have a postal address for customers to contact? Have you been accredited by an assurance programme? Such as, Trust-On-Line.com or Web Assured. All of these points will greatly improve possibility that a surfer will get over their initial fears and take leap of faith that is tapping in their credit card number at your checkout.

After you've addressed these issues it's time to get listed in those shopping directories. You can find lists of them on Yahoo and all of other major search engines.

But what for future? Directories are going to get larger and larger with more e-commerce sites coming online everyday. This creates a problem in scale. The sheer volume of sites out there will mean surfers getting lost in a murky sea of cyberspace. As a retailer try to strike up relationships with directories, keep them informed about your web sites developments, products and special offers. The directory editor will be only too pleased to have a constant source of editorial at their fingertips, especially when they have thousands of shop-aholics waiting at end of an email just itching to spend their hard earned cash!

When you set up your tutorials at autoresponder, don't forget to put a couple points of interest about your site/business. You also want to make sure you have a little thank you note preceding tutorial. Introduce yourself, say thank you and encourage prospect to ask questions or visit your site for more information. This will help to build a relationship with customer and to build your reputation also.

After everything is set-up, next step is promoting your tutorials. This you would do in same way as promoting other things.

Email Signature:

FREE 4-day tutorial on painting furniture! http://whateveryoururliswouldgohere

Announce it on message boards & discussion lists (if allowed) Make sure you read all rules before posting. If you cannot post it, then add it to your signature. Announce it in your ezine and on your homepage.

Post it on appropriate announcement lists.

Add it to your ad swaps and free classifieds.

Put it on your business cards.

Add it to your resource box, if you write articles.

Post it to newsgroups.

Use your imagination and see how many different ways you can come up with to get word out about your tutorials. These tutorials will go a long way in building your reputation, your business and you!