There are obvious choices when it comes to promoting your business
online. You've got to have your keywords and description tags in
order. Submitting your site to Google and Yahoo! is a MUST!

Other online ventures include link swapping, virtual networking and
newsletters.

Link swapping is just that. You swap your link with someone else.
It's best to find someone who would complement your business and ask
them for a reciprocal link. (It would be smart to have a LINKS page
off of your home page!) An example would be a dog breeder swapping
with a dog food company. They are not competing, but they can help
each other out. One will result in business for the other.
Advertising on cheap sites and newsletters can bring in customers,
too.

Virtual Networking is a somewhat new concept. Recently large
websites such as Ryze (www.ryze.com) and Friendster (www.friendster)
have caused quite a stir. While joining the local Chamber of
Commerce is a great way to network, so is virtual networking.
Joining a common network of entrepreneurs can benefit your business
with referrals and clients. You can view our webpage at
www.ryze.com/go/techlh

Newsletters are another great online (and offline!) way to promote
your website. What better way to stay in touch with customers and
possible clients than to provide a once-a month or so update about
your business. Make sure to provide some tips and ideas that help
their business or they will have no reason to sign up. Make it
interesting. Also, make sure you have an archive of your past
newsletters on your website, in case someone wants to read through
them.

Offline promotion techniques include clubs and organizations,
advertising, and guerilla marketing.

Joining the local Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Kiwanis, or
any other organization can be a good way to put a face to the
business, and pass out business cards. A casual acquaintance today
may refer a customer to you in six months. You never know.

Advertising offline in local publications can reap results.
Bartering your time or expertise in exchange for flyers placed in
local restaurants is a great way to get your site known. Recently I
gave Papa John's Pizza some advertising in exchange for 2000 flyers
attached to their pizza boxes!

While I don't have much time to go into Guerilla Marketing, I will
attempt to briefly explain. Guerilla marketing is, in short,
marketing your site in 'odd' ways, sometimes to the point that
people don't realize you are even promoting yourself.

During a recent city watermain break, streets were closed and
traffic was a mess. A local diner offered free food to the workers
fixing the line. He also called the media and made sure they knew
what he was doing. The ensuing press and attention boosted his
sales significantly.

Offering an outrageous deal may work, too. A steakhouse in Texas
offers a 22oz. steak FREE to anyone who can finish it. Word spread
quickly about that deal and the customers came in.

Have a few minutes? Go to your local library and find books related
to your business. Put business cards in the pages for the next
reader.

However you promote your website and business, do it with the utmost
care. Remember, you may be at Home Depot yelling at your kids when
a possible client sees you in the plumbing aisle. They may make up
their mind about you depending on what they see...
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Recent Security Issues Force Upgrade of Client's sites

If you are a client of Lighthouse Technologies and have a feedback
form on your site, we've recently upgraded your mail script. While
this will not affect your website addresses in any way, we
considered it necessary to report to you.

The security issue is found in a script that we use called
FormMail. We've updated to the latest version of the script and
have implemented them on your site.

While the change is transparent to everyone, if you notice anything
odd or different, please contact us immediately.
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As always, I hope you have a great day today. Good luck in your
business ventures, both online and offline!

Will Hanke
Lighthouse Technologies
www.techlh.com