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January 11, 2013 at 11:00 PM
So you just finished another ho-hum year. Last year about this time, you threw up your hands and yelled, “Thank goodness the world’s ending in December 2012, so I don’t have to figure out how to sell my products or services in 2013!” Now you’re scrambling. Hey, we all are.
The Internet is more congested than a WalMart during a Black Friday sale. All your keywords rank in the top 10 most-searched words on Google (a sure sign that competition is stiff). There are going to be 35 percent more self-published books hitting Amazon in 2013. With all that competition, what can you do to set yourself apart?
People actually do succeed on the Internet. They successfully sell shoes, shirts, software, services, books, you name it. They succeed because they have the right tools. Without these tools, you’re going to have a hard time building anything. No audience, no network, no social-media following and no sales.
What tools do you need? Let’s start with a basic checklist:
1. A fully functional and engaging website. A professional website is to sales what oxygen is to a human being. Without it, you’re dead. Count on this formula: No website or bad website equals poor sales or no sales.
2. A solid PR foundation. Getting your message out there needs to be your top priority. You need to be the news. And once you have publicity, you need to put it to work for you by sharing it on your website and through social media.
3. A handle on social media. You can’t just go out there and post “Buy my book/product/service now!” to your social-media following. I assure you, they will not be 
4. Updated content. 
5. An understanding of the word “entertain.” The Internet used to be a place to read about things. Not anymore. Now, it’s where you go to watch things. If your site doesn’t have 