You've probably heard that you shouldn't have all of your eggs in one basket. That you should create 10 micro-niche websites that earn $1,000/month instead of one larger website that will earn you $10,000/month. In less than one hour of surfing 'net, you might be told to do this, do that, promote x and build z. All of it sounds good. All of it could work. Try to do all of it at once and you're going to be in trouble.

The key is to have a FOCUS.

Choose one thing and do it WELL. For example, if you have a content-rich website, you can also offer an ebook on same topic. You can capitalize on affiliate sales, or Adsense click-through's. You can build a highly targeted 0pt-in mailing list. You can incorporate an 'upsell' and backend sales into your shopping cart. You can set up your own affiliate program.

Basically, you want to build on foundation you already have - and make it stronger, make it bigger... make it more profitable! Sure you can implement all of these new methods and strategies that you learn. But don't set out to do something completely NEW when you have already invested time and energy into a project you haven't yet completed. Instead, focus on making it BEST.

Once it is running smooth on its own, and completely automated, you may want to build another - or focus on something entirely different. But if you're trying to build on 10 things at once, or find yourself working in entirely too many directions... it's time to take stock, go back to foundation, and decide how you can best finish building on that original idea of yours.

And that's it. That's ONE thing that YOU should be focusing on right now.

Good news releases are not written , they are re-written and re-written.

Make it easy to read. Maximum one page. Use easy to read font. Twelve point works well. Add a little spice by bolding key names - but sprinkle lightly. Italics draws attention but is hard to read. Use capitals and small letters - don't print whole thing in capital letters. That is extremely hard to read. Use many short paragraphs and short sentences. Double spacing is a very good idea.

Proof read before you send it. Journalists are especially sensitive to poor grammar and typos. It hurts to read garbage - so they won't.

The media will read your release thinking, 'Will this interest my readers, listeners or viewers and is it unique?' It doesn't have to be 'very' unique - just a little. Every January we get news about first News Year's baby. Because first one is unique at that time, second is not news.

Relate news to reader. Why is it important to readers, listeners, or viewers of media? Test for significance by asking, 'So what?'

Answer a reporter's key questions: who, what, why, where, when and how. You could even use these questions as sub headings - or as a summary. Use these questions as a quality test before you send it.

Quotes are good and more interesting. You might use quotes from company officials, community leaders or customers. When you use a name always state who they are, e.g. National Sales Manager, President and Founder, author of… Use quotes that evoke emotion, create controversy or present a position.

Don't introduce too many new names. This confuses readers. Talk about one or two.

Write name in full first time you use it. After that you can use only last name. If you want a name to be remembered use it several times in release.

AFTER THE RELEASE

The reporter(s) may call for more information or to arrange a photograph. Be available. If you are out of office check your voice messages often. The press has tight deadlines.

Don't expect to review reporter's article before publication. Occasionally they will run article exactly way you wrote it - but not often. Once you give them information they have control. It helps if you have read other articles from reporter and know their slant and hot buttons.

If they use your news release, send them a thank you note.

Keep and file all your news releases in sequence - even ones that did not get action. Clip and save articles that ran with release. Study them to find what works with whom and when.

See you in news!