If you can't seem to make it work or you're short on time, you can use a free icon converter like Image Icon Converter to convert your graphic to an icon or use an icon editor such as ImageAuthor to build your icon from scratch.

4) You're nearly done! Now, take your completed icon and save it as "Favicon.ico". This is default icon name that web browsers like Internet Explorer and Netscape look for. If you want to be really clever, you can even create a customized icon for each page on your site - instructions for this can be found at www.Favicon.com.

5) Take your .ico file and copy it into the root directory of your web site (the main directory that contains all your HTML pages). Now every time a visitor bookmarks your site, your icon is copied into their cache file and displays whenever that visitor returns.

6) To test your finished Favicon, get a friend or colleague to bookmark your site and then open a new browser window. You can bookmark your own site but you generally only get one attempt at this so it's best to save it for when you are sure you're happy with your finished Favicon. Alternatively, dump your cache and open a new browser window between tries.

If you did it correctly, you should see your shiny new Favicon appear in your favorites list next to your site listing and also next to your URL in address field of your browser.

That's it, you're done! You now have an eye-catching icon representing your web site in favorites list of all your visitors. A professional impact for very little effort.

Copyright © 2004 by Kalena Jordan. All rights reserved under U.S. and international law.

Article by Kalena Jordan, one of the first search engine optimization experts in Australia, who is well known and respected in the industry, particularly in the U.S. As well as running her own SEO business, Web Rank, Kalena manages Search Engine College, an online training institution offering instructor-led short courses and downloadable self-study courses in Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing subjects.

9. Offer a free online service from your web site. Have visitors fill out their contact information to sign-up to free service.

10. Ask visitors to sign your guest book. Tell them they will get a free gift in return.

11. Offer a free affiliate program for your visitors. They will have to sign-up in order to receive marketing materials and commissions.

12. Allow visitors to submit a free classified ad on your web site. Require them to give a valid e-mail address in order to post an ad.

13. Give people who visit your web site a free course sent via autoresponder. Just ask them to fill out their contact information to receive free course.

14. Offer your visitors free software to download. Have them sign-up to get an access code to unlock software.

All 14 steps above seem really easy. It's one thing to read and go "ahh" and another thing to read those steps and actually take solid action. Use what you've learned. Convert more of your visitors into subscribers and establish your online presence.