You only have 7-10 seconds to capture an online reader's attention. Because so much information is available on the internet, users are in a hurry to get to the next site. I've learned several of the following 7 tips the hard way. Hopefully they will help you create an effective internet marketing presence.

1. Get clear about your strategy by writing it down.

Having a roadmap of your internet marketing strategy ensures you have the resources and budget for each tactic you want to implement. You also save time since you won't have to do a lot of last minute scrambling for resources, ideas, etc. Keeping in mind what will work best for your clients and potential clients,identify which tools, and what content will be most effective in getting your message out. There is no reason to blog if your market doesn't read blogs.

2. Coordinate and leverage offline and online marketing strategy.

Keep a consistent look and feel between your online and offline marketing materials. If your stationery, business cards, and post cards are blue and yellow, then your web site needs to continue that theme. Leverage your online activities by promoting them offline. For example, promote your ezine with a brochure you can distribute at networking events.

3. Know why you're communicating.

Whether it's a blog, a web site or an email, each communication with your reader needs a clear intention. That intention can be a call to action like contacting you or signing up for your newsletter. It can also be to show off your expertise and educate your reader. Whatever the communication, before creating it, know what you want your reader to do after they receive it.

4. State the benefits of your communication as soon as you can.

Whether it's an article, a newsletter or a web page, the visitor should have no doubt within the first few sentences that the information is valuable. Tell the reader what's in it for them right from the beginning. Be as concise as you can while still getting your message across.

5. Connect with your reader.

Make sure you are creating an emotional connection with your reader. As a service professional, you probably find that easy to do in person. It may be more difficult for you in writing, but not impossible. You can make the connection by the way your web site looks, and your style of writing. Write to your reader as if you are having a telephone conversation. If you wouldn't use a word in conversation, you probably shouldn't use it in your copy either.

6. Get feedback before publishing.

I learned this lesson the hard way. Have someone else read your article, your web site copy, or your ezine before it goes out. The benefit is not just in proofreading for spelling but also to make sure the subject makes sense, reads well and is consistent with everything else you do.

7. Make reading and navigating your website easy.

Online visitors are usually looking for information to solve a problem and they are in a hurry. Your navigation bar should be easy to find. Navigation page labels should be clear so the reader can move quickly and easily between pages. Using more than three colors, or a background other than white makes reading online more difficult.

Nancy D Waring, Internet Communication Strategist and owner of OnPoint Communication Solutions, assists coaches and other service professionals more effectively manage their internet marketing so they can spend more time on their business. For more information about solutions to expand your business using the web, pick up her special report athttp://www.onpointcommunicationsolutions.com