So how do you improve chances of making your email stand out from junk mail? (And I’m assuming you’re not sending out unsolicited email. If you are, shame on you.)

First, you want to make it easy for your subscriber or prospect to quickly identify that it’s from someone they know -- “you.”

--Make sure that your “From” line uses your full name rather than something generic like “Webmaster.” You want to burn your name into your prospect’s mind. A webmaster could be anyone.

--Never use ALL CAPS in your subject line

--Don’t use an exclamation mark “!” either.

Have you wasted valuable time and money on promotion that doesn't work? Have your announcements and releases been ignored? Have you been too quiet about getting word out how your product or service will help solve people's problems?

You have put passion and creativity into your business; now it's time to put passion and creativity into promoting it! Since no one really cares as much about your products as you do, then take time to learn this new, effective way to sell them. Know that World Wide Web audience wants and needs your information--your expertise, how-to's, your experience or entertainment.

If you are willing to take four-five actions each day to promote your products, you will have successful sales. Follow these steps to learn how to promote yourself on line and make big sales:

Step One. Promote yourself through writing. Create several short "how-to" articles, short stories, poetry or humor, anywhere from 75-800 words. Prepare several lengths of same article. For one eMagazine I submitted a seventy-five-word article on how to write a short article. For a top business Web site, I expanded it to 800 words.

Step Two. Take responsibility for Online promotion yourself. If other marketing has been weak and sales were disappointing, you can still create ongoing, lifetime profits. Online promotion is great if you are totally bashful or reluctant to "sell." You don't have to talk to anyone in person. You promote straight from your home or office. Now, that's convenience! Learn basics from teleclasses and seminars, from Internet, and from professional networking organizations.

Step Three. Develop Internet savvy. When you don't take this step, you will hang back, and stay stuck in fear. Action spurs you on. Take a free community college course, or visit your library for help. In just three hours, I learned about search engines, and other basics. If you are like me and are passionate to succeed, then hire a coach or virtual assistant from a local high school or tech school. Jump in and get yourself an email address and try out surfing. You won't need a Web site right away, but if you want to be a market leader, you eventually should have one.

Step Four. Visit top Web sites in your field. Without them, your product won't get much exposure. Many authors report only a few sales from their own sites. High traffic web sites are always looking for new material (your articles) to entice their visitors to come back, again and again. Notice their signals: "New material added daily." In turn, they will put your "signature" which includes product name or service and Web address where it can be purchased. It doesn't have to be your Web site.