1. CGI Scripts

If you have access to your own CGI directory, I recommend LnkinLite, a small yet powerful CGI script that tracks clicks to your site in background. Get it at http://www.dtp-aus.com/cgiscript/lnkinlte.shtml

LinkinLite is best free click-tracking software I have used. Another CGI script you can try consider is Prolinkz ( http://www.prolinkz.com ) but it will set you back by $45.

2. Online Tracking Services

Online tracking services count clickthroughs through their own servers. The service is usually free. Some require monthly fees or you have to upgrade to paid versions for advanced features.

Here is a list of free online click tracking services:

Hypertracker http://www.hypertracker.com

Linkcounter http://www.linkcounter.com

Here are paid ones:

Statcruncher http://www.Statcruncher.com

Adminder http://www.adminder.com

Roibot http://www.roibot.com

The clickthrough rate for banner ads usually range from 0.5% to 3.0%, 3.0% to 5.0% for ezine ads and between 1.5% to 10.0% for text links if strategically placed.

Regardless of which tracking methods you ultimately choose to use, you need to track your advertising results. It is one of crucial steps to marketing success!

Chee Wee is a widely-published marketing consultant. He helps small and medium-size businesses to market successfully online. Learn how a startup site gets over 200 million pageviews monthly without spending a penny on advertising. For FREE info, email him at mailto:publicity@internetmarketingfocus.com

The list of web masters gives you a good start on which to keep building your community.

2. Mailing list.

Join a discussion or mailing list.

These are communities that already exist and discuss topics of interest by e-mail.

The Internet discussion groups may be mailing lists, newsgroups, message boards, chat rooms or IRC type chat channels, to name just a few possibilities.

Seek out moderated type lists as they are loaded with target rich people. And you do not place ads in such groups, you participate.

However, a 2 or 3 line signature on posts is allowed. Some groups even allow larger signatures.

Here are some FREE Resources to find and Join Free Discussion or Mailing Lists:

Liszt - The Mailing List Directory: http://www.liszt.com/

Search The List of Lists: http://catalog.com/vivian/interest-group-search.html

CataList, catalog of 46,902 public LISTSERV lists! http://www.lsoft.com/lists/listref.html

3. Your Signature.

NEVER underestimate power of your signature.

During a one week period, my signature was ONLY form of promotion I used and in just five days we got over 1000 visitors to our unadvertised web site.

How To Use Your Signature: http://emailexchange.org/sig.html

4. Ezines/Newsletters.

Whatever your interest, there probably already exists a network of publications that tap into your community.

Tap into these publications, a few at a time, and you will get an instant pulse on happenings online.

Top 100 Online Newsletters: http://emailexchange.org/newsletters.html

5. Start Your Own Mailing List.

Email is foundation of global communication on Internet.

It is essential to begin your own mailing list of people that AGREE to receive your email.

Perhaps once a week, with a word of interest, you send out a mailing with info directly related to your common interest.

It is important to keep lines of communication open with your community of people.

This gives you a basic "Blue Print" to follow to either begin to establish yourself on Internet or expand on whatever you have already accomplished.

Once you know WHY you want to contact people, then you will know WHO it is you need to communicate with and for WHAT reason.

The basic resources outlined above will give you a strong foundation to discover WHERE to reach that special niche or target audience of yours.