Each time online form asked for a lot of personal information, and on more often than not, my birth date was requested.

Having a keen eye for a marketing opportunity when I see one, I'd also assume that websites asking for information from me and about me plan to *use* some of information for their own purposes, whatever those may be.

So I was really surprised that, of all online retailers I have told about myself, ONLY TWO sent me a birthday wish and only one of those two thought enough to include a special offer this past 24th of August. Yes, only ONE!

Sad isn't it?

It's not surprising to me that DOTCOM companies are disappearing faster than flies at a frog convention.

Most will spend many times amount of dollars in advertising for each dollar they net in sales in 2000, and then they will sit there with red ink all over their hard copy accounting notes and wonder why they are struggling financially.

Here’s some advice- a clue, for clueless who are running their E-net businesses like garage sales. Instead of spending a cool million on that next banner ad campaign, hoping to squeeze a 1% or 2% click-thru ratio out of it, they should consider a simple friendly business strategy that nobody else on net seems to be using.

"Branding Yourself" is application of certain techniques which will help you gain popularity on Internet by making yourself well known, maybe as an Expert in your field. When people recognize you as an expert you will gain popularity by means of more free publicity than you can imagine. Picture seeing an article written mentioning your name as an authority on Marketing or mentioning you for nothing more than quoting something you said. The point I'm trying to make is that you are seen as an Authority or better put, a "Personality". Now, try to fathom thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people seeing you in same light. This is what successful Self-Branding is all about. You don't need to necessarily be an expert. You just need to be seen, heard and talked about.

How do you Brand Yourself? There are many techniques and methods, but it can be as simple as a hidden personality trait, a nickname (maybe something like "Wild Bill"), or helping others by consultation or assistance. You must look for ways to literally become a Celebrity in eyes of world or at least a small, select part of it. It could be by getting your name known as "guy/gal who had answer or made comment". Is that all there is to it? Of course not.