That’s why I recommend publicity over advertising. Do things like createingan event or a stunt that will get you noticed in your niche. Get busy on social networking sites where your customers and clients hang out, including the top 3 Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Having said that, there are reasons and places to advertise online that will pay off without spending a fortune.

Here are some tips to “advertise”:

List your online business in free directories such as Google (http://www.google.com/local/add), Yahoo (http://www.listings.local.yahoo.com) and Bing (http://ssl.bing.com/listings), DMOZ, The Open Directory Project (http://www.dmoz.org/) and ZoomInfo (http://www.zoominfo.com/). By the way, if you do list your site in these directories be sure and only list once because you could get banned for multiple listings of the same company. You can also show videos and photos which can be added to your listings.

In addition, list your business in LOCAL Directories such as YellowPages http://listings.yellowpages.com, City Search http://myaccount.citiysearch.com, AOL Local Search http://localsearch.aol.com, Local.com at http://register.local.com and Merchant Circle at http://merchantcircle.com.

When you list your business above, use keywords to describe what you do using benefit words (eg. “24 hour turnaround” or “loose weight or you don’t pay”) rather than vanity words (like BEST, AWARD WINNING) – people don’t believe that anymore and they don’t search for businesses that way.

This will take you less than an hour to set up and about 10-15 minutes a month to maintain.

Find sites that sell to your audience that compliment what you do and see if they will either sell you space on their site, list you in their links or if they have a newsletter that goes out to your target audience see if they do ads. Most of the time these ads are innexpensive and you can test for very little money. BTW, one insert is not a test. You need to create a campaign and keep your ad in for a minimum of 5-6 issues to see if it is going to work. Remember that it takes that many impressions before people begin to recongize your company. It also builds credibitly.

And remember to add social networking to your marketing plan. I know so many people who just hang out on SN Sites but don’t really know how to effectively use them to get attention for their businesses. Before you waste a lot time check out what those you admire are doing and model them. Don’t copy them, learn from them. See what they are doing and what is working for them. See how you can adapt to your own situation.

As you can see, I could go on and on about this topic. Let’s just say there are many ways to advertise without breaking the bank and many of them are FREE. The price you pay is TIME which by the way IS NOT FREE. Once its spent you NEVER GET IT BACK. So use it wisely.

#4 ~ Add photos. Photos add “life” to a blog, personalize it and make it more interesting. That does not mean EVERY post should have a photo it just means that readers will appreciate if you “mix it up a bit.” Share bits of you.

Let readers into your life by showing your personal side. On my blog Success and then Some, I often post pictures of me networking. Not only does it get people to “see you” in person it also makes you more real. More human. And if they see you as a real person, they are more likely to follow you.

Some great place for Royalty FREE photos include: Fotolia, Fotosearch and Dreamstime. There are also a whole host of free sites from which you can grab photos. A great list of free sites such as Flickr can be found at http://pstutorialsblog.com/44/free-stock-photos/. You can also “google” the photos you are looking for to get some great photos. Be sure you check the licensing from any of these FREE sites before using the photos.

Tip #5 ~ Add Videos to your blog posts. Some of the most popular posts on blogs are the ones that include a video. But don’t just post a video, be sure you also post a commentary about the video. And the video doesn’t even have to be one you created. It can be one you found on YouTube or other video-sharing site. The people who post videos to these sites appreciate the added “publicity” when bloggers refer to their videos and share them with their readers. You can also create your own videos to post to sites such as YouTube, Google Video and Blip.

I created a video about flowers, using Powerpoint, music and Camtasia Studios.  You can see it at my blog Tulips Talk.

My good friend and mentor Terry Brock regularly posts videos to YouTube and in fact has one called Marketing with YouTube ~ How to do it.

Robin Goode has a great list of tools you can use to automatically post your videos at the top video sites at http://tinyurl.com/6bhlre.

And if you’d like to research a great new tool, check out my friend Penny Haynes new site Commercial Creation Center. She has tons of resources. Free training and more. In fact, Penny will be my guest on April 23^rd at 1pm EST for Cashing in on Videos to promote your Products. You can find out more at: http://www.quirkyoffer.com/LiveCallsInstructions.htm

Tip #6 ~ Promote your blog on social networking sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. And niche social networking sites that cater to your target audience. I belong to several other social networking groups such as Boomer Diva Nation we help one another promote our “stuff” all the time. For instance we have our own Twitter Tuesdays and every Tuesday we help one another spread the word about our blog posts, events, products and services and more. There are tools and plug ins for most social networking sites that allow you to automatically post your blog articles as they happen. For instance, use Tweetfeed to post to your twitter account. And you can update your profile with videos from YouTube on Facebook, LinkedIn and more.

These tips and others will help you draw more attention to your site and increase the chances of others becoming loyal followers. Stay tuned for my next post when I talk about blog design, connecting with other users and checking stats to increase blog followers.

If you want to have an audience, you have to market your blog. You have to let people know it exists. Most people don’t write for themselves, they write for a consumer, a fan or someone(s) who has similar interests. Having others read what you write affirms that you have information worth reading. And if you have ever received comments on your blog you know that feeling that someone does take what you have to say seriously. Even when they don’t agree with your stand, they took the time to respond.

If you want to increase your readers and get more feedback from them (comments) you need to create a plan. And there are “little” things you can do every day to make that happen. In fact, I created a list of 15 tips to get your blog on the radar of your target audience and am sharing 3 tips today. That means I have content to span 5 blog posts. Maybe more if I decide to add to it. Here are those 3 tips:

Tip #1 ~ Create good content. Many blog consultants will tell you that content is king and that you need lots of it. I believe what you really need is strategically created informative or entertaining (and best if it’s both) content that interests readers and gets visitors to become followers. Writing posts strictly for the search engines may get you better rankings in the short term, but in the long term could hurt your credibility.

If you are having trouble coming up with content, start with a list of something in your genre or niche. Lists are very popular with readers and often lists get picked up and referred to on other blogs. On my blog WE Magazine for Women, I compile a quarterly list of Women Bloggers to watch. It is by far the highest visited (and commented on) post of all the blog posts we write.

Write a 99 Ways to article. Or 33 steps, or 47 tips. Break those tips down into bite-sized pieces and do a series. For instance, the 99 ways could be broken down into a series of tips over a period of time such as a few days or weeks. Similar to what I am doing here with 15 tips shared over 5 posts.

For more ideas about what to write on your blog read How to Write Great Blog Content by Darren Rouse of Problogger at http://www.problogger.net/how-to-write-great-blog-content/

Tip #2 ~ Many successful bloggers have increased their following and built a loyal base by creating an online community on their blog. You can create a forum, a social network or a simple chat room. In fact, most blog software these days allows or has plug ins that will help you establish your community. For an example of how one person did this, check out JamieOliver.com. Keith Ferazzi (author of Never Eat Alone) has a great mix of website, blog and community to take a look at as well.

If you are not sure if you should include a “community” for your readers, check out “Should Blogs Have a Forum?” at Blog Herald

Tip #3 ~ Create a Directory on Your blog. The Directory can include resources your readers would value and want to visit often. By including the directory link you increase the likelihood readers will return (provided the content is good). You can start compiling your directory content based upon your blog posts.

For instance, if you write a technology blog and offer the latest and greatest gadgets in every post. The gadgets could then be compileed and referred to in a directory of recommended sites that your visitor can refer to often. A directory could work with almost any type of blog. A parenting blog could list parenting resources, magazines, books, experts, educational sources, etc. A social media blogger could create a directory of social media sites, social media tools, resources, plug-ins, experts, etc. You get the idea. One of my favorite blogs BlogHer has a directory of other female bloggers on their blog. It is one of the most popular and respected blogs in the blogosphere.

The point is a directory can increase readers because if the content is good, your readers are likely to refer to the directory on their blogs and in their newsletters and emails. After all, if they find a great resource, they too will want to let their readers know about it. Why not be the “it” they refer their readers to?

Tip #1
Determine why you want to start a business

Tip #2
Decide what you want to sell by surveying the marketplace, determining if there is a need and desire for your product or service

Tip #3
To win customers you must stand behind the quality of your products and services

Tip #4
If you sell what everyone else sells, you must offer a wider selection, a better price or superior service ~ note good service is just the starting point to level the competitive playing field. You must offer superior service to stay in the game

Tip #5
If you sell a product, make sure production can meet demand

Tip #6
Write a mission statement for your online business. Include what you sell, why you sell it, to whom you sell, and what makes you different from the competition

Tip #7
Know your startup costs

Tip #8
Learn how to market your business online AND offline

Tip #9
Be consistent in your online and offline marketing efforts. Keep what’s working, get rid of the rest

Tip #10
Protect your customers privacy. Do not rent, sell or give away your mailing list without their permission.

Bonus: Communicate with your customers the way they want to be communicated with in all your marketing endeavors whether it be mail, email, telephone or in person

Be sure to check out the Internet Business Success Report for the 21st Century for more ideas to Start and Grow and Online Business.

Excerpt from Promoting Your Business on the WEB Special Report.

Internet Radio. Internet Talk radio has taken cyberspace by storm.. There are literally thousands of Internet radio stations in the United States in the U.S. alone. And they are looking for experts to interview on their shows.  This has created untold opportunities for small business people to promote your expertise to a targeted group of listeners who are there to hear what you have to say.  Internet radio, like its counterpart can help increase an individual’s credibility and brand awareness. Every one of those shows need guests. And the best news is that it’s free.

In addition to getting interviewed you can interview others that your prospects would be interested in learning more about. Start your own show using Blog Talk Radio, Ubroadcast.com, Live365, or TalkZone.com, and Growing Bolder to name a few.   

Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB  TODAY!

Excerpt from Promoting Your Business on the WEB Special Report.

Getting eCommerce Ready…

When it comes to eCommerce, it’s not too early to start thinking about how you are going to prepare for the holiday season. You don’t want to put everything about your whole business and everything you offer on your home page. Have landing pages for separate items. When you give  people too many choices, they become paralized and will leave without buying. Showcase your number one items or best sellers or the one, two or three items you want to move on your home page. Here are 13 more tips to prepare for the holiday rush:

1. Make sure you have precautionary measures in place.  Where does your business get hit the hardest during the holidays?  Is it local deliveries, customer service, shipping? Focus your attention on getting those parts of your system ready for the holidays.

2. Get help.  Taxing your regular help during the madness that can occur during the season, can do more damage than good. Consider outside help to get you through the holidays.

3. Automate anything and everything you can. This reduces labor costs and streamlines processes and in most cases helps the customer get quicker service.

4. Reduce time by auto-processing credit cards.  That includes auto settle and authorizations.

5. Manage Inventory. With the economic uncertainty of the upcoming holiday season, it is good to keep a low stock inventory as long as you can order and get a quick turnaround on products you need when the time comes.

6. Consider drop shipping orders to cut down on inventory. Use softeware that automatically forwards those orders to your vendors for fulfilment.

7. Rely on someone else’s I.T. Staff by using a software service provider.  They have the compliant issues in place and they may be more able to have a quick turnaround if a proble arises.

8. Personalize your marketing offers. Use your cusotmer database to increase revenues by creating a 1, 2, 3 touch approach to remind them you are there to assist their gift-giving needs. That could be a postcard, email and telephone call or any combination of tactics to get them to order from you.

9. Send emails wisely and prudently. Don’t innundate your email database with messages. They will get mad and ask to be removed. Remember everyone is vying for their business right now. Create email templates or edit and reuse those  that have worked in the past. Saves time, and creative talent to work on other high-priority projects.

10. Automate your gift certificates.  Gift certificates have gained in popularity and every year the % of people who buy them increases.  Many people actually prefer receiving them too.  If you don’t offer gift certificates online, think about adding this feature to your website.  Its a new source of revenue and there is nothing to ship.

11. Make use of multiple stores like ebay and Amazon or Yahoo to test products, to sell overstock items and move last season’s inventory.

12. Consider a “membership” program such as a flower of the month or book of the month club program.

13. TEST, TEST, TEST. Make sure your ecommerce site works properly, is easy to understand and seamless. Do pages load quickly or do they take more than 5 seconds?  Do you have lots of flash?  Do they inhibit buying with obtrusive popups or automatic sound? Invite current customers to do a ‘beta’ test, and Offer discounts to them for their feedback.

The best time to think about next year’s holiday season is when this one is over. You can plan better when records are within your reach and everything is fresh in your mind.

Happy Selling!

Before you hire a search marketing firm, you need to know what they can do for you.  Here are 20 questions to ask before spending a dime with any company (according to DoubleClick Performics Inc.):

1. Is your paid search solution full-service? If yes, describe what you consider full-service.

2. What technology supports your full-service solution? How often is the technology updated?

3. Does your technology have direct API integration with the top engines?

4. Do you use API data or referral data for reporting purposes?

5. Is the technical support team separate from my account team? Do you have 24/7 support?

6. Who will manage my account on a daily basis?

7. Is the account manager responsible for bid, keyword, copy and landing page management or do separate teams manage these efforts?

8. What is your methodology for search campaigns including bid management strategy?

9. What resources does my account manager have?

10. Do the account managers have vertical expertise? Which verticals?

11. What is the typical launch timeline?

12. How do you optimize my campaign once it is launched?

13. Which metrics do you use to define success?

14. What is the typical account manager’s background?

15. Is your search team certified by the engines?

16. What is your relationship with the top search engines?

17. How has your company shown leadership in the search marketing space?

18. Will I have opportunities to network with other clients?

19. How will you align my search campaigns with other online marketing efforts?

20. What other digital marketing solutions do you offer?

Once you are satisfied with the answers and that the firm you are considering can meet your needs, then you can hire them.

Excerpt from Promoting Your Business on the WEB Special Report.

Give something away… such as a book, tips, special report, white paper, free membership. You do this to build credibility and also to give people an idea of the quality of offers you also have to sell. Give-aways build word-of-mouth and drive traffic to your site and ultimately build sales.  You can partner with others to increase your database by giving something away on their sites and in their promotions (see Cross Promote below for more ideas).  1000 Great Giveaways is a good example of promoting your products and or services on another site.  Check out an ebook I wrote called “Your Marketing Calendar 2008” to see how we capture the leads.

Include Your Website URL on Everything; on stationery, cards, your vehicles and other printed material you distribute to your prospects and customers. Make the best use of your signature with your name, Web Site Address(es) your Company Slogan, Additional Information and a give-away.

Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB  TODAY!

Create an Affiliate Program. Here’s how it works: an affiliate program pays a commission to other sites whose links to the retailer result in an actual sale. Your goal is to build a network of affiliates who want to make money by promoting your offers to their own prospects and clients.    By doing so, you increase your own circle of influence using their circles.  Setting up and managing an affiliate program is easy, once it has been installed. It does take work, both on the creative side and on the technology side.  Once set up, an affiliate program is one of the best and least expensive ways to increase sales and achieve more targeted traffic. Affiliate marketing can be extremely profitable and effective, because you only pay for performance, not for traffic.  That means a sale has to happen or no one gets paid. One of the most successful affiliate marketers I have ever met is Rosalind Gardner. She wrote a book called “The Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 Last Year Selling Other People’s Stuff Online,” which I highly recommend.

Join the WECAI Dollars Affiliate Program and Earn up to 50%

Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB  TODAY!