Most of us have fears: fear of water, fear of the dark, fear of flying. We know these fears can hold us back from enjoying life and accomplishing great things. We also know we're actually safer when we relax and let go.

As a copywriter, I find many business owners suffer from fear of selling themselves. They read the copy. They realize they sound great.

The secret of growing your internet business: Create a website that's more than a calling card. Use your website to create a list of qualified subscribers who agree to accept your email messages. Ideally, build trust by sending them messages regularly, typically through an ezine or podcast.

But as a new internet business, you might have just 5 names.

You've just received an email from a local business networking group. They want you to give a talk next month.

Your first thought: "A great way to attract clients for my professional service."

But your next thought: "How can I make this work?" Speaking engagements can be more powerful than simply attending a networking meeting.

If you're a career-changing Baby Boomer, you may feel like you've gotten lost with Dorothy in Oz. You've achieved success in your career. You've built skills and a strong work ethic. And now you're ready to move on...and it's not working.

Many of my own clients tell me, "I haven't had to look for a job for 20 years."

Twenty years ago, you probably didn't have a cell phone or an email account.

Your professional organization decides to send out a newsletter to the membership.
They need an editor. Should you volunteer? After all, nobody reads these things, do they?

That is what I thought when I was asked to edit a newsletter for the very first time. My group consisted of consumer psychology researchers and marketing managers.

"Just one thing," I said to the group's president.

A few weeks ago, I was going through a bunch of subscriber email questions. One question that kept popping up over and over again went like this:

"I'm just getting started in my new business. My friends suggested pricing below market to build my portfolio. What do you recommend?"

As usual, my answer would be, "It depends."

Some profitable service professionals have fond memories of charging low prices when they still checked off the "new business" box at networking events.

While catching up on my email, I found this query from an ezine reader:

Q. Cathy, I wear several hats: editing, creative writing, copywriting, and even some consulting. How do I combine these skills into one website? One business? Or do I need more than one of each?

A. This question gets asked often, even by me. Here's what I would recommend.

Service professionals create websites to attract clients. They want more than an Internet presence: they want Internet profits.

Your website will become a productive, profit-generating resource when you attract ideal clients who are right for you - those who contribute to your business growth. So your website needs to target those ideal clients and begin to establish a connection with them.

Copywriting is the single most important component of Internet marketing. You need copy that attracts clients and converts lookers to buyers. So when you hire a copywriter, you need to get the most benefit from your investment.

Many of my clients tell me, "I paid for copy and it is sitting in a drawer, not my website." Or they used up their budget for websites that do not attract clients.

I've always been someone who colored outside the line. Probably you have too. Internet business owners tend to attract fellow rule breakers, mavericks and rebels.

So I'm fascinated by websites that seem to break all the rules of copy - and their owners are doing just fine, thank you very much. They are attracting targeted traffic. They have great conversion rates.

If you're a service professional, you need a steady stream of clients -- but not just any clients. Your website needs to attract clients who are right for you - those who fit your working style and contribute to your business growth. The wrong clients will be worse than no clients: they cause misery and might even lead to financial losses. So your website needs to target your ideal clients and begin to establish a connection with them.