Fifth, get to work turning your Web site for product into a magnet for folks searching for something like what you've just released. Brainstorm generic keywords by which people would search for your item and include as many of them as possible on home page and throughout site. Register your site or new product page not only with major search engines but also with specialized industry directories and submit your link at industry portals. Include customer or expert testimonials for greater credibility, and add links to media coverage when that starts coming in.

Whenever possible, link timing of your product release to a holiday, season, current events or a trade show to increase its newsworthiness.

Most specialized magazines feature selected new products near front of each issue, often with a product photo. You needn't send product samples or photos everywhere to get such coverage, as editors will call for those if intrigued by release. The more lively and reader-friendly writing in your release, more likely a busy editor is to choose your item from candidates received.

After half a year or so has passed, your product will no longer count as "new." By upgrading item in a relevant way, however, you can consider it a new edition and start cycle over again.

If you'd like to test your connection for vulnerability to attack, log on to http://security1.norton.com and run various diagnostics. I would strongly advise anyone connected to Internet through DSL or cable to get and use a firewall to protect against unauthorized access.

Infected with "Spyware?"

Previously we talked about unauthorized access to your computer. But a growing problem online with people watching you and your activities involves using programs you willingly place on your computer.

Commonly called "Spyware," this refers to any program that transmits information about you to someone else without you knowing exactly what gets sent. The main purpose of Spyware involves tracking your surfing habits so advertisers know which targeted ads to send you.

Most Spyware basically comes onto your computer bundled with other software applications, as a standalone program, or as modification to HTML on a web page.

Regardless of how you get it, you need to understand exactly what information gets transmitted about you so you can decide whether to keep or uninstall software. Plain and simple, these Spyware programs can potentially reveal extremely sensitive information about you and your online habits.

If you have concerns about Spyware and whether or not your computer currently carries any, log on to www.lavasoft.de and check out free PC software that will scan your system for known Spyware.