How to Promote & Advertise Your Business Online

Learn how to promote your business online correctly yourself. The pros are paid to do it, so do it yourself! Cheap Online Advertising Tool...

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Internet Access
• Willingness to Succeed in Business

1. As an Advertising Exec., I take pride in researching information, trends, usage, and help average business owners become successful. These are a few of the good places to attract new customers...
   
   Google AdWords
   AdWords helps you target local online customers by setting the key words or phrases that pertain to your business and what you offer. The pay-per-click ads appear only when people search a particular city, state or region. There's no minimum spending requirement, so your daily budget is up to you. Google advertises itself a lot and so should you!
2. Yahoo! Local Listings
   Local Listings will promote your business to customers looking for information in Yahoo! Local. This is the 2nd largest search engine behind Google. Many options including free blogs are good places to start.
3. Craigslist
   This is my favorite for any kind of business. From Real Estate to Exercise Equipment, you can find it here locally. Craigslist gets an estimated 10 million unique visitors per day. With an online classified ad format organized by region or city, Craigslist connects buyers and sellers in more than 300 communities. Most postings are FREE.
4. YellowPages.com
   YellowPages.com is a largest online local directory site featuring city guides and advertising solutions. They have low price bundle packages that do not include a pay-per-click. Good way to attract local at a low cost! ROI is great as well...
5. CitySearch
   CitySearch offers online advertising tools to easily open your account, manage your daily results and receive ad placement on MSN, Yahoo!, Google and Ask.com. This is similar to the idea of pay-per-click advertising. CitySearch offers two easy paid plans.
6. Ask.com's AskCity
   This is becoming more popular as the company get new network partners. On one screen, consumers can map a route, make dinner reservations, purchase movie tickets and e-mail plans to others. Pricing for advertising on Ask.com varies.
7. AOL's CityGuide
   AOL has a name and legacy that is strong! AOL's CityGuide specializes in providing local entertainment information to AOL service members. Advertising with AOL allows marketers to target consumers specifically by lifestyle and market.
8. MerchantCircle.com
   Fairly new - but this free site offers a local business listing service that allows you to better manage your online reputation and become more visible in search engine results.
9. Dotster
   Everyone's on the web so you MUST have a website. Dotster is a web domain registration and hosting company offering a local web advertising package called "Local Site Promotion." You set your monthly budget and Dotster will make your ad visible on all the major search engines. They do all the work for you!
10. Local.com
    Local.com is gaining ground for local searches in comparison to those large search engines. Advertising on Local.com will give you access to their 10 million-plus monthly customers. Choose from a free basic listing or pay-per-click options.
11. Froogle Local
    Here's Google again... Google's shopping search engine allows users to search for specific products by location. It's a great way for users to find retail stores regardless of whether you use e-commerce.
12. ReachLocal
    This is an alternative to spending all your time, energy, and money on promoting your website and contact information. This site provides a central location for businesses to set-up, maintain and track local search advertising campaigns. Pricing varies.
13. RegisterLocal
    Having your website you must also promote it. RegisterLocal is a service, costing about $200 per year, that allows you to create a master profile they submit to search engines and directories on your behalf.
14. TrueLocal
    Unless you don't want local custmers, this is a place you can not skip advertising. This local search engine features full-text searching and offers advertising opportunities for businesses. Currently indexing more than 13 million local businesses, TrueLocal starts at just $1 per month.
15. Web.com's MyEzClicks program
    One stop shop if I can call it so... MyEzClicks lists your business on more than 30 major search engines, including Google, Yahoo! and MSN for a monthly fee.

Tips & Warnings

• List your business as many free places as possible
• Choose your paid advertising carefully
• Promote your business in different mediums: print, online, TV if possible
• Ask for email addresses so you can send your special promotions
• Ask for referrals!
• There is no guarantee in business
• This is merely a tool to help develop your marketing plan
• Always review all contracts and terms/condition on each site