A client recently asked me how her website could be as successful as others she had seen. It takes advertising and publicity to get your name in the minds of the public.

There is no magic campaign that will work every time. It requires a lot of trial and error to find an effective marketing voice. Let your imagination and ingenuity capture the audience's attention.

Regular contact with your audience is essential to keep your name in their mind. A February 23, 2006 article in the Publicity Times jokes about the number of advertisements we are exposed to every day. Most quotes range from 1500 to 4000. If there is any merit to these statistics, there is a lot of competition for your attention.

Write an article for your local newspaper. Contribute online in message boards. Get your name in the public's eye. Not every venue is amenable to a sales pitch. Get your name out there, and when possible, associate it with your business. You will be deemed an expert, people will recognize you and your work, and you will make more connections.

So perch your fingers on your keyboard and start typing. There's not a minute to lose. Few excuses trump taking care of your business.