Step Five. Run a search on top search engines to find top ten Web sites in your field. Alta Vista at: www.altavista.com or Google at www.google.com. Visit Web sites to see their layout and whether or not they have a regular ezine that needs tips, excerpts, or stories. If their site puts up new articles up regularly, your information has a chance to bring you increased product sales.

Here's a great shortcut I use: Instead of searching for "product marketing" or something that is very targeted, use keyword "business" without quotations. Type in "business" in blank "search for" box, then search. You will have several million Web sites that are about business. Now fun part: replace keyword "business" with two words: "submit article" then click on box just below "search for" box and click where it says: "Search Within these results" Now, do that sub search and you will be queued up to pages that allow you to submit business articles. You will hit business people who offer products and services and get a much bigger piece of pie.

Step Six. Submit two to three article a week to top ten Web sites. Include your article description, its category, your Web site key words, and an autoresponder link. This one technique will boost your Web site URL into top ten listed for all top search engines. This is a great way to optimize your search engine placement without any cost.

Step Seven. Place your articles on as many Web sites as possible. Now, you can be in control of your promotion, with far less effort, and get respect, support and sales you deserve. Delegate some of this marketing work to your computer assistant.

Step Eight. Organize your research. Start a file called "Web sites to Link With." If you don't keep track of your promotion contacts, you will not be able to follow up.

Professional people always follow-up. They develop relationships with people they want to do business with. Start a communication sheet for these people either on your computer or in a physical file. For instance, for publishing sites, list contact person (Web master or content person), their email and web site URL. Include your note to them. Keep track of what you offer, what they like, what they take. Date your communications. Not everyone will respond, but with persistence, many will! At end of your note, ask that they include a link back to either your site or other sites where your products and services are offered.

If you're like me, and not a technical person, hire a person who can do research for you. Remember, people who visit top sites are looking for information and entertainment. They will appreciate your articles, may even pass them on to friends and associates. Many will go to your site or other sites to check out your products—even buy them. Web sites want your information. It seems like a marriage made in cyber heaven.

2. Ask a Question.

Send a question related to topic area of prospective customer's website. For example: "I find your cooking Web site very useful. I was wondering if you know of any good Chili pepper recipes. Thank you". And of course, your signature block is automatically included at bottom of your message.

Would you consider a message that asks a question related to subject of your web site to be spam? I don't think so. Most web site owners will be so happy to have opportunity to answer your question that thought of reporting your message as spam will be furthest thing from their mind.

3. Send an FYI.

Find some information related to subject area of prospective customer's website and send a "for your information" message. For example: "I read your article about starting a catering service. I just wanted to let you know that there is an article on FTC web site about laws related to starting a food related business. The article is at following URL ... Regards." And of course, your signature block is automatically included at bottom of your message.

Would you consider a message that provides you with information related to subject area of your web site to be spam? I don't think so. In fact, you are almost sure to send a thank you note!

4. Give Freebie Advice.

In your message, provide a free sample of your service. "When I visit your Web site, I find text very difficult to read because of dark background. I think you would get much better response from your Web site visitors if you used a lighter background. Regards." And of course, your signature block, indicating that you provide Web site evaluation service is automatically included at bottom of your message.

Would you consider above message to be spam? I don't think so. In fact, if you were smart, you would realize that you have just received a small sample of senders service for free!

5. Ask Permission to Send Information.

Using this method, you do NOT include your signature block. For example: "May I send you information about my search engine optimization service? Thank you."

Would you consider this message to be spam? The message is just too darn courteous to warrant reporting it as spam. Most people will probably reply with message "no, thank you". But a few people who are interested in purchasing search engine optimization service will reply "yes, thank you."

Improperly sending mass unsolicited email messages will result in big problems for you. But there is a safe way to send a small number of friendly email messages to solicit customers. The scenarios described above provide you with legitimate reasons to send a personal message that just happens to automatically include your signature block. ----------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to mailto:bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com -----------------------------------------------------------