If you are a non-techie like me, you may not have heard of what a "sticky" Web site is (it is stuff that lures visitors back again and again). But we do know we want that!

Forget getting to top of search engines. Let your Webmaster do that. Instead, try out some of these low- maintenance ways to bring 'em back to your Web site for more.

1. Upload new, original, and useful content often. Do not think of your Web site as a virtual brochure. Avoid blatant ads such as banners, which turn visitors off. Give them information only they can't find anywhere else and give it free. People want and need how to's, especially.

Always think benefits when you post some new article. Helping your visitors get what they want will bring their trust and respect as an expert, and eventually, bring you profit from your book, other products, or service.

2. Update your Web site content regularly and often, perhaps daily or weekly. If someone visits your site and finds nothing new, they will disappear into cyberspace and spend their time on other sites.

If you don't want to write articles, copy and paste other people's articles or tips from their ezines or Web sites with their permission, of course. Keep pieces under 1200 words. Common lengths are anywhere from 75-1000 words. You can include a tip list, past feature articles from your ezine, an excerpt from your book, poetry, a heart-felt story, or a character sketch from your fiction book.

3. Publish your own ezine. Make it short and sweet. Start with a monthly, then see if you can do it bi-weekly. If you don't stay in regular touch with your possible buyers, they will forget you and your book's message.

People want to know you better, so they can trust you and think of you as an expert in your field. Your free information, tips and resources will keep them as subscribers. If they like your eMag, they will recommend it to others. The opt-in eNewsletter tops all other ways to drive traffic to your site, and it can be mass mailed free, too. Check out www.topica.com.

4. Include a recommending service on your site. Your repeat visitors create new traffic. Check out www.Recommend- It.com. It's free, fast, and versatile. Each time someone recommends your site, they are entered in a contest to win a Palm V reading device and a chance to win $10,000.

The term 'opt-in' should already be familiar. Briefly, it's when an interested party exchanges his/her name and email address for requested information (a free report, a free mini-course, monthly ezine, etc.). By 'opting-in', or volunteering their email address, a person has given you permission to send them additional information and offers via email.

However, and this is key, to build a strong opt-in list, you must offer your prospects something of value. People are too busy these days, and they are being bombarded by information constantly. To break through clutter, your information must be perceived as important and timely. Position your product or service as a solution to a current problem, concern or pain, and you have a much better chance of creating a life-long customer.

Spam - The 'Dark Side' of Internet Marketing

ONLY SEND EMAILS TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN YOU PERMISSION TO DO SO, by responding to a legitimate opt-in offer! To not do so is to spam, and risk sudden suspension of your web site and ISP account. In a word, don't.

That said, you must think creatively for ways to capture those golden names and email addresses. Include fields for ezine sign-ups on every page of your site, or add a simple form that will automatically capture name/email addresses. If you offer free information in exchange, connect these sign-up opportunities with an autoresponder (capturing names into a mailing list) and your prospect can be sent requested information instantaneously, saving a lot of time and hassle.

Here are some more ideas for building your opt-in list. In exchange for prospects giving you a contact name and email address, you could:

*Offer to notify them when updates happen on your website, or when there are important changes in your industry or its resources (becoming THE source of targeted information for your clients)

*Offer to contact them when a special promotion runs on a product or service

*Offer a daily tip/weekly/monthly or quarterly newsletter (this is an extremely popular and effective, since you are providing people with free and valuable information. It also establishes your credibility as an expert in your chosen field)

*Provide a special report (or series of special reports or a series of 'mini-courses') on a topic of interest

*Register your ezine with ezine directories: manually, at http://www.freezineweb.com/more-directories.html or with automated ezine submission software at eZineAnnouncer (http://wetrack.it/eza/af.citi?514)

To bring in off-site traffic to build your list, you could:

*Write a testimonial for your favorite product, in exchange for your name and link to your website being noted at bottom *Write an article and submit it to other like-minded ezines to publish, including a compelling 4-6 line resource box at bottom stating your name, credentials, and web site address

*After your list is large enough to calculate your conversion rate/return on investment (ROI) - around 500 mark - you could purchase additional traffic at co-registration sites. Some to investigate: http://www.list-builder.com, http://www.zmedia.com and http://www.sparklist.com

Remember, The Gold Is In The List!

Once you have built a targeted, opt-in email list, you now have a pool of prospects to market to. Always respect your list, and treat it like goldmine it is. Vow to only provide quality and value, and you will be on your way towards building a profitable business on Internet!