(7) Give your visitors at least 3 order links (e.g. 1/3rd of way down your page, 2/3rds way down, and at bottom). But don't stop there - turn some of your key phrases into hyperlinks that go to your order page. Here are some examples of phrases that you could link to your order page: "increase your sales", "take advantage of this offer", "try it risk-free for 30 days", "get following 5 bonuses", "the competitive edge you need", "this risk-free offer".

(8) Use purple (#990099, R=153 G=0 B=153) text - color purple (used sparingly) has been shown to increase sales.

(9) Give a time limit - most people are procrastinators.

(10) At end of your sales copy make a call to action: "Act now - don't let this opportunity pass by"

(c) 2002 by Michael Southon

http://www.hostfacts.com/resources/speed.php3

I use this tool whenever I'm looking for a new webhost.

(3) Once you've designed your home page anduploaded it to your server space, check to see what itlooks like to other people. What you're seeing may notbe what other people are seeing.

I once designed a home page I was very proud of - Ihad added a piece of JavaScript that gave day anddate. Then one day I checked my home page atAnybrowser.com. I was horrified to see that my homepage was invisible except for my company logo and thenavigation bar. For 2 weeks my home page had beenvirtually blank to most visitors! So take a minute andlook at your website through eyes of yourvisitors:

http://www.anybrowser.com/siteviewer.html

(4) If a customer asks you for a refund, give itto them immediately, even if you think it'sunjustified. You'll be out of pocket by a few dollars,but your name and your integrity will be intact. There are so many scams on Internet that your mostprecious commodity is your good name. Remember thesewords from Shakespeare:

"Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed." (Othello, Act III. Scene III.)

(5) Reply to emails quickly. Nothing impresses memore on Internet than a rapid response to abusiness enquiry. Try and respond within 2 hours, orat least within 24 hours.

(6) Never reply angrily to abusive emails.Remember: your reply could be passed on to otherpeople and used against you. An abusive email can bevery disturbing (I've had three in lastyear-and-a-half), but best thing to do is ignoreit. Better still delete it - that way you remove itfrom your life and you remove temptation to reply.

(7) Lastly, never give up. Most successes are due -more than any other factor - to sheer persistence:

"Nothing in world can take place ofpersistence. Talent will not; nothing is more commonthan unsuccessful men of talent. Genius will not; theworld is full of educated derelicts. Persistence anddetermination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, 'presson' has solved, and always will solve, problems ofthe human race." (Calvin Coolidge)

(c) 2001 by Michael Southon