I spend a lot of time writing to the owners of other websites inviting them to consider joining QFLEA.com. I have a fairly standard letter that gives them the basics, invites them to review our site, is friendly, courteous and most important, short.

The types of sites that I recruit are those that would best fit into one of our flea market neighborhoods and I try to recruit to the ones that have the most room. I invite those that fit into our terms of service, but I'm also looking for some specifics. Those sites that have unique items have first priority in my recruitment. I like the idea of including items that are new or different. I also look for the "About Us" feature on the site. I like to know a little about the individuals I invite before I invite them. I also look for a sense of humor.

I probably send out about fifteen to twenty invitations a week. Sadly, I only get one or two responses, which suggests that maybe my letter is either not being read, or believed. With so much junk mail and spam clogging up people's boxes, it's not surprising that the results are as light as they are. I have tried many different versions of the letter but the results really don't vary much. Of those responses, maybe half actually join the QFLEA group.

Recruitment is an ongoing activity at QFLEA because there are always spaces made available by those current businesses who close each year. For 2007, we will continue to recruit in such a manner so that we can always maintain that we have "400 of the best small businesses on the Internet".