These ways are important because you can match your marketing message to people you are looking for. A great example of this was on last season's Apprentice TV show. The contest was to sell most discount wedding gowns in one day.

One team handed out flyers on streets of New York. They drew a measley number of customers. The other team bought an email ad from theknot.com wedding website and had customers lined up down block. And they sold 5 times amount of first team. You can use this technique to draw customers too, either to your website or directly to your business.

3. Set your website visitors hair on fire.

You may have heard this before. It means, give them a reason to ACT NOW. When a website visitor says to him or herself "I'll think about it," and clicks away, you know THEY ARE GONE. They are busy in their own lives, thinking about everything else but your business and your offer.

How do you get them to act now?

Make a limited time offer. It can be a discount, but it doesn't have to be. For example, you can add an online coupon that visitors can print and bring in for a free gift with purchase. If you're in knowledge business, offer a free support information, such as a "Checklist for Your Home Addition Project", but only if they act now.

Revamp your salesman in cyberspace to attract potential customers, make case that you are what they want and show them why it's in their best interest to get up and go get it NOW.

You can’t use their name, unless you have some weird sort of business that only applies to people called Kevin or Angela. But you can identify them in other ways. You can identify their situation, problems they have, way they’re feeling, thoughts going through their heads. And more closely you identify these things, more likely you are to get their attention.

One way you can do this is by using rhetorical questions. These are really powerful for two reasons. Firstly, they force people to respond in their heads. It’s hard to ignore a question, we’re programmed to answer. That’s why so many public speakers use them to engage their audiences.

Secondly, they identify people you’re talking to. For example:

“ Are you a solo professional, running your own business with no – one else to help you? Do you seem to spend more and more time every week on admin and less doing what you really want? Are you getting frustrated by amount of time you’re losing, submerged under paperwork? Do you wish there was some way you could break out from it and spend your time doing what you’re best at? “

This approach can break into a person’s thoughts because it taps into them. If you get it right, it’s like saying, “ Is this who you are? Is this what you’re thinking? Is this how you feel about things? “ As person hears questions, he thinks, “ Yes, yes, yes, that’s me, that’s exactly how I feel! “

Not only does this get people’s attention, but it also shows that you understand them perfectly. That can have a tremendous impact. It immediately gives you credibility.

Of course, you do have to get it right. If you ask wrong questions, you’ll miss mark and person you want to speak to will think, “ No that’s not me “ and they’ll switch off again.

This depends on how well you’ve identified your target market and how thoroughly you’ve thought through their problems and concerns.

So, have a look at any written material you use for marketing. Think about what you say when you talk to people at networking events. And make sure you have a message and a delivery that will really get attention of people you want to speak to.

Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your time talking about your business when all they’re thinking about is sausage rolls!

Alan Matthews is a Marketing Coach, Trainer and Speaker. To receive a copy of his free report, " Why Isn't This Working? How To Get People Interested In Your Business " email mailto:attractclients@getresponse.com