I'm sure you've heard saying "First Impressions, are lasting impressions". This saying is very true. Every time you meet someone for first time an impression is made. Things are no different on internet. Even though you, as a person, can't be seen, your site says a lot about you once it is visited for first time. What type of impression are you leaving?

In our online experience we've clicked on many sites. We have developed first impressions on numerous occasions. Here are a few impressions a site may leave:

The Immediate Sales Site How would you like it if you went to purchase a new computer and upon walking into store salesperson met you at door with a computer in hand and escorted you to cash register? You would turn around and walk out wouldn't you.

Well some sites are like that. As soon as you click on URL you are immediately hit with a sales pitch. You don't know who site owner is and you're not familiar with brand of products being offered. They may be offering type of product you're looking for, which is why you're at site but you need more information before you make a decision and it's just not offered. Like computer example, you'll probably leave that site.

A good salespeople introduce themselves, ask you what you are looking for, allow you to browse around if you want, give you directions to specific areas of store that may interest you and are there for you when they're needed. A site that doesn't have an immediate hard sales pitch, is user-friendly and introduces owner of site leaves a good impression.

Flea Market Site This site occurs as a result of associate programs wave. I'm all for associate programs. I have signed up for a few also. The problem with flea market site is everything is being offered on same page. It's to cluttered.

When you first walk into a flea market you're presented with everything you can possibly think of. People are selling used items, collectibles, some new items, and everything else. Nothing is neat or orderly, it's a flea market. You’re there to find bargains and no more.

Somewhere online someone gave out impression that because we can click on a link and be transported to a site in an instant, that starting an online business would be same way. Unfortunately, starting an online business, or any business, does not move as fast as DSL. It takes time.

If you were to bake a cake from scratch, you wouldn't expect to mix all ingredients together, put cake in oven and 30 seconds later take it out and presto, it is done. It takes time.

NEWSFLASH: Time is not a four-letter word.

Most things that you have accomplished in life have taken time. It took time for you to learn how to walk, talk, and eat by yourself. It took time to get through school and get a J.O.B. It's going to take some time to get your business going. If you haven't arrived at success yet, it's ok.

I've read a lot of articles, books and tips on starting an online business. I've put most of them to use in my business. Those strategies make up most of ingredients to your online success. You submitted your site to search engines, submitted to FFAs for link popularity, placed free and paid classified ads, used banner ads and other suggestions offered. These ingredients to your success should be used on a consistent and persistent basis. But if you leave out patience your success is liable to come out flat.