How to Advertise and Build a Business on the Internet

With the Internet, the possibilities for promoting your business are endless! Discover new ways of reaching your target audience for your business without breaking the bank!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check out any free advertising websites and consider building your own.

2. You can also use a Myspace or Facebook account to promote your product, service or website.

3. When you do have a website, blog or other articles, be sure to promote them on all your flyers and business cards and other business materials you have.

4. Have clients, family and friends promote your company on their websites and within their businesses. Ask local businesses if you can put up flyers or display business cards.

5. Join social networking and bookmarking websites and bookmark your business.

6. Consider purchasing opt-in emailing lists to promote your products or services. This can make for a unique marketing tool. You could also send out a monthly email newsletter to keep present and future clients on top of your business developments and special offerings.

7. Check out your competitors online. This will give you a better idea of how to better promote your own business.

8. If you have a print ad of any type, be sure to list your website and/or blog in all of these materials. A website is only effective if your potential buyers can find and use it.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your website up to date. If you list pricing, or products be sure to start with "prices from..." That way you are not locked into a specific price.
• Always state "terms, conditions and pricing subject to change." If you have a checkout and shopping cart, keep that up to date also.
• Be cautious not to violate the terms of service of self-promotion on any website or social networking site.

[wimbley]

on 7/11/2009 Thank you for the tips. Without naming the obvious, here are some of those free advertising sites you mentioned. www.thecardboard.net, www.kijiji.com, www.local.com, www.oodle.com, www.superads.com, www.domesticsale.com

[adaoneh]

on 6/24/2009 Great article! In addition to driving traffic to your site (through social media, SEO, SEM, email), using a technology like www.ReTargeter.com will help you bring vistors back to your site and will also optimize all that time and money you have spent.

[MidniteWriter]

on 3/5/2009 Please don't click the quick guide, that's not my article!!

[Walkaboutangel]

on 3/15/2008 Great advice..... Angel

[MarlaineMarie]

on 2/28/2008 I'll be implementing some of these tips in my blogs and business cards soon! Thanks! What do you recommend for setting up digital download and payment for eBooks and photograph art?