Search engines use a variety of ever changing factors to determine listing order including site content, website architecture, source code referred to as meta tags, and number of links to your site from other related sites. There are companies that generate majority of their revenues providing Search Engine Optimization services. For many smaller companies cost is prohibitive. However, even if you are a very small company you can be sure content on your site includes key words you want to be listed under. Linking to sites of businesses that are complimentary to yours and asking them to link to you can also improve search engine ranking.

Pay for performance options such a Google Ad Words or listings on Overture offer another relatively inexpensive option for driving traffic to your site. The “sponsored site” listings at top or down side are companies that have purchased key words in order to appear in prime locations when someone searches on that word.

There are hundreds of sites that you can post content to in form of articles. These articles can be picked up and used by publishers of on-line newsletters – large and small. Writing articles related to your business and posting them to these sites can generate a tremendous amount of traffic and costs only time it takes you to write and post articles.

So you’ve got a great website and you’re generating traffic. Now what? How do you assure that you are capitalizing on traffic you are generating? First you must determine what action you want visitors to take. Do you want them to sign-up for your free newsletter, purchase a product, fill out a contact form or request additional information? To determine action you want a visitor to take, look back at role you want your site to play in your overall business and marketing strategy.

The three key ingredients for a website that helps you promote and grow your business are: •design and content of site •driving traffic to site •getting visitors to take action

If any one of these ingredients is missing your results will be less than optimal.

The internet has had greatest impact on how companies market their products and services and offers most potential for new and innovative marketing strategies of any promotional vehicle since invention of television. And, at least for now, internet provides a more level playing field for small companies than other promotional tools. How can your company capitalizing on power of internet?

< Julie Chance is president of Strategies-by-DESIGN, a Dallas based firm that helps businesses from professional services firms to specialty retailers Map A Path to Success by developing more leads, turning those leads into loyal customers, and obtaining a greater return from their marketing investment. The firm provides marketing consulting, training and skills based coaching. For more information or to sign up for their free marketing tips newsletter go to www.strategies-by-design.com or call 972-701-9311.

© 2004 Strategies-by-DESIGN. May be reprinted with credits and contact information.

There are very inexpensive cassette recorders that will hook directly up to your telephone and create a very good quality sound. There are also services on Internet that will record interview digitally which will save you time and expense in end.

Be careful when recording that you don't lose concentration as this will "deaden" an interview.

Listen carefully to what is being said and be sure to understand answers to your questions.

If you don't understand an answer ask your interviewee to clarify their answer.

If a person is evasive to a question or doesn't give an answer, ask question in a different

way and at another point in your interview.

If someone gives "off record information" turn recorder off. Respect their right of

privacy.

Always guide interview process, but don't dominate it. If person strays too far from the

subject at hand, then quickly guide them back.

Always keep recording on file in case someone should ever claim they have been misquoted.

If interview is likely to be in any way contentious recording should remain in your file for

at least a year or two.

Using photographs of interviewee:

There are times when you may want to use a photograph of a person for project you are

working on. Photos of person being interviewed make your sales page (if you are planning on

writing a sales page for Internet) much more personal.

TIP: If you use photographs, always get a signed agreement before using them and as a safeguard for yourself have them sign a Model Release Consent

form. There have been cases when a person's photo has been used without his/her prior

consent and person has sued for modeling fees, invasion of privacy, or for various other

reasons.

Note: For a variety of personal reasons some people may not want their picture to be used on

the Internet. Always respect their request if this is case.

Ask open-ended questions:

Asking open-ended questions instead of ones that invite a yes or no answer will give more interesting responses.

These questions usually begin with who, what, when, where and how, and cannot be answered with a straight yes or no.

Example: "When did you get into writing?" "what made you decide on this particular area of writing"? etc.

This type of questioning sets framework of interview and is a useful tool when digging for significant information. (also you will have plenty of useable material at end of interview).

Write up any information within hours of interview if possible or at least within a day or so. You want to have interview fresh in your mind.

As a courtesy, offer to send person you have just interviewed a copy of your article or url to your web site and send them a free copy of your finished ebook or recording.

To learn ALL secrets of doing successful telephone interviews and profiting from them click on link below and get yourself a copy of "Other People's Info". You won't regret it and you have absolutely nothing to lose. It's guaranteed! http://www.nichexplosion.com