But that was then.

Now we have Information Super Highway. Finding information, or anything else for that matter, is simply an act of entering in correct keywords at your favorite search engine or directory.

Keywords are 21st century equivalent of Yellow Pages and they are necessary to find whatever it is that you seek online. But, not only do you find things with keywords, they are also what others will use to find you.

The keywords you use on your website will determine exactly how your website will perform in search engine and directory searches made by potential visitors.

This can have a huge positive or negative effect on exposure your website receives from global audience of Internet.

Traffic is essential for success of any website.

It does not matter what purpose of website might be. Without traffic, then you are creating a website that will never be seen by anyone other than yourself.

For those of us attempting to do business online, proper use of keywords can make or break you.

Here are a few important points to consider:

1. Choose Proper Keywords.

If you are selling fresh fruit online, it will not do you any good to use words that describe auto parts. The keywords you choose must be closely related to that subject or topic which will be found on your website.

2. Good Use of Keywords.

Not only must you choose correct keywords to describe your website, but you must also make use of those keywords throughout actual body of text of your website.

3. Excellent Use of Keywords.

Many people go to trouble of researching keywords to make their web site as attractive to potential visitors doing searches but fail miserably at most important element of entire process by naming Title of their website Homepage.

Many of us in agency/marketing services world relied upon LookSmart's directory in early days; especially as an offset to Yahoo's "my way or highway" attitude when they became 20 pound gorilla in marketplace So, it's sad to say, but LookSmart appears to be morphing to just another portal with little marketing awareness of how to work effectively with tens of millions of SMB companies that have rapidly embraced a web-centric business model. Their overall terms of services are geared for big companies and their SMB programs appear to be an afterthought at best! One of core issues that frustrates many small businesses is difficulty in getting a listing that actually describes their company, products, and/or services accurately - to add insult to injury, you have to pay in some cases twice to have your listing upgraded. Apparently, LookSmart's editorial staff can't keep up with demand, or is so pressured to maintain some internal quota their descriptions suffer accordingly.

LookSmart's new Small Business Listings program is simply not "small business friendly." It is a complex program with lots of important details buried in an FAQ and there are some "gotchas" in small print - including being forced to wait up to 90 days for return of upfront deposit of $150. and paying a setup fee for a listing; but having it deactivated when you exceed dollar amount of your "monthly click limit." I can understand their dropping listing once you exceed your budget, but it does not seem equitable to charge $49. to setup listing in first place - your in essence subsidizing LookSmart's cost of doing business.