If so, I'll bet you've looked for guestbook, which is traditional place to communicate those thoughts. I don't know who started concept of guestbook on web sites, but it's a great idea. It is a quick and easy way for your visitors to leave a little comment (and sometimes a not-so-little comment) about your site.

Have you ever been to a site which elicited these feelings only to find there was no guestbook? If you are anything like me, you felt a little disoriented, perhaps even a bit angry. You just wanted to let someone know they did something good, and they have not given you a way to do so.

Some webmasters will tell you that guestbooks are not important. Others will claim they are a waste of time and effort. I've even heard some say "real estate (space)" on page would be better put to use promoting a product or something. These comments make me feel a little sad, as these webmasters prove by their comments that they don't really understand internet or web.

You see, internet is not about making tons of money (although making tons of money would be great). It's not about awesome storefronts, pay-to-surf programs or even newest technology. The internet is not about these things.

What internet is about is communication. Purely and simply, purpose of internet is to communicate. This morning, when I had to refill a prescription I jumped onto my favorite prescription web site and punched in my renewal instructions ... that's communication. Later in day, I researched some products ... that's communication. Tonight, I may even make a purchase from my favorite shopping site ... and that's also communication.

Those webmasters who make it easy for their visitors to communicate will find their sites prosper by whatever measure they deem important. Conversely, webmasters who impede communications will find their sites are not nearly as successful as they could be.

How does a guestbook fit into this? It gives your visitors not only a standard, globally understood way to communicate with webmaster, but it also gives them a way to communicate with all of visitors to web site. Your visitors can stop for a minute to congratulate you on your good works ... in public for all to see. This is communication at it's best.

A good guestbook script has following features:

- It must be very configurable, so that webmaster can leave plenty of things for his visitors to communicate.

This new article about writing income-generating Web copy is for your readers who sell products or services from their Web site. Thanks for considering it for an upcoming issue of your newsletter.

Yours,

Scott T. Smith publisher, 'Starting Point' newsletter 800.798.4471 | +1 406.585.0181

http://www.copywriting.net

(624 words)

'Writing Income-Generating Web Site'

Your Web site has a single motive:

To 'ignite' your visitors to take action.

This prime motive is behind every element of your Web site design and content. Start with idea that you have one chance to reach your customers. They will never return to your site unless you make it worth their while, and they will not buy unless you encourage/force/ask them to.

This will impact 3 prime elements working together in any excellent Web site ‹ mechanics, content, and design. Right now, let's focus on mechanics of writing.

Your Template for Success

Here is a simple template for a Web site which you can readily adapt to meet your needs. Use it as a jumping-off point for an income-generating Web presence.

The 3-Part Home Page & MUST-HAVE Button

1. Headline

A strong, enticing headline is most important element of your home page, because it is first impression you make on your visitors. Make it complete enough to provide real food for thought, and long enough for any graphics to load further down on page.

The secret to a good Web headline is that visitors want to read about THEMSELVES, not about you. Their first question will always be:

'What's in this Web site for me?'

That's what you need to tell them right away. State a benefit that clearly enhances their life, using power words such as 'Discover', 'Announcing', 'Breakthrough', 'Facts', 'New', 'Now', 'Save', 'Yes' ‹ all words that are active, grab attention of your visitors, and promise them something.