One of the problems with bookmarks is that it seems people don't revisit them often. I'm going to tell you about a little known feature in Internet Explorer version 5 that will help your bookmarks stand out from the rest using your own distinctive icon.

It's not hard to do. Here is how it works.

Lets start with a example and then I'll tell you how you can make one of your own for your website.

If you have Microsoft's Internet Explorer version 5 visit the following page. Make a bookmark, then check your favorite places to see my custom icon. You will see my custom icon that is different from all the others http://www.smithfam.com/

It's not hard to set up for your website, here is how you do it.

If there is a file named favicon.ico located on your server Internet Explorer will display your custom icon on every page that is bookmarked.

• Internet Explorer 5.0 expects the favicon.ico file to reside in the directory of the page being bookmarked. Put one in every directory on your site.

• The icon itself must conform to the following specifications.
       a) Use not more than 16 colors
       b) The icom must be 16x16 pixels in size
  
• Usually you will need to create the actual icon with a an icon editor software tool.

  Here is software you can download free.
        http://www.fh-sbg.ac.at/%7Ehwieshof/english/icon32.htm

• Save your icon as "favicon.ico" and upload it in binary mode to your primary web directory.

I you want, you can even track your custom bookmarks from your server logs. For every reference to the favicon.ico file you will see an entry in your server's error log, it means that someone accessed your site via a bookmark using Internet Explorer 5.

You can even monitor your bookmarks by using a different favicon.ico file on any directory on your server. You can even use a script to track your bookmarks.
     http://www.nihongo.org/snowhare/utilities/favicontracker/

One possible problem is some servers like Geocities do not allow icon files, this limitation can be handled on most servers. Here is what you do.

After making the icon file rename it to favicon.gif upload it and rename it again back to favicon.ico. This method will work with most servers.

I learned this tip and a ton of others from the Internet Marketing Challenge private site. I don't consider myself a Internet guru, on the contrary I spend at least 3 hours a day educating myself. I don't know if it's even possible to achieve success on-line without spending at least 20% of your productive time in training.

In addition to subscribing to over 100 Internet marketing ezines, newsletters, and discussion groups I have reviewed every marketing course I have found to date. I have earned something valuable in each course.

Find a brief summary of the best courses in order at the following URL:
     http://www.smithfam.com/!education.html

The Internet Marketing Challenge has turned out to be the most useful and the best value to date. Visit the public site, view the testimonials page. It reads like a who's who of internet marketing insiders.
      http://www.marketingchallenge.com/home/smithfam/

• The site is constantly updated with the newest marketing information.

• They are the first to offer multimedia like movies and streaming audio in addition to the huge private marketing website and insiders discussion lists.

• See free marketing tools like a keyword generator. My average page views have grown from 3900 to over 5000 a day already, that's only one reason I'm confident it can help you.
  • You'll find the insider tools and tips on every aspect of Internet marketing including.
  • bulk emails
  • opt-in emails
  • free classifieds
  • paid classifieds
  • e-zine classifieds
  • BBS
  • bulletin boards
  • news group postings
  • article submissions
  • banner ads
  • affiliate/reseller programs
  • network marketing
  • online malls
  • joint ventures
  • press releases
  • give-away contests

• The most profitable adfiliate program on the Internet. Remember the product is updated all the time. But don't just consider the adfiliate program. Build your business using the step by step marketing plan.

Marketing on-line has grown so much in the last year I doubt that it's even possible to be successful without specific training. Trust me, this course and private site is worth your even if it's a stretch for you right now. At the least take a minute to visit my website, you can have full access in 5 minutes.

Best Wishes

Bob

You can reach him by phone at:(541) 689-1847 PST, and by email at. mailto:bob@smithfam.com

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