Internet Marketing for Small Business

by Debbie LaChusa, 10stepmarketing

One of the coolest things about marketing in the 2000's is that even the tiniest of businesses can compete for business internationally. The Internet has leveled the playing field in a manner of speaking.

A level playing field
Because all businesses, regardless of their size or location, have the same opportunity to create a web presence and market online.

How I first got started with Internet marketing
I actually created my first website back in the late 1990's. At that time I was just getting my feet wet in Internet marketing. My site wasn't optimized for any keywords but it was still a place I could direct prospects who were interested in learning more about me and my services.

And, having a website saved me the expense of having to print brochures, plus I could update it anytime I wanted.

My first attempt at email marketing
I also starting using email marketing way back then. At that time I didn't have a full blown ezine like this, but I did send out a monthly email directing people to visit my website for the latest marketing tips and trends. And you know what, even as basic as it was, it worked!

It supported my business even in the '90s
It kept me in contact with people. In fact, I believe those early "relationship marketing" efforts were largely responsible for my entire client base which came 100% from referrals.

Even still, I considered myself pretty much an Internet marketing newbie when I started 10stepmarketing in late 2004. So I've spent much of the past 2-1/2 years learning all I could about Internet marketing and applying this learning to my small business.

And one thing I've learned is, the more I learn, the more things keep changing. I've realized this Internet marketing thing requires constant attention.  Even still, it's the most effective and economical marketing strategy I use.

Are you making the most of the Internet to market your business? 

Here are 10 easy ways to market your services online and generate tons of new clients for your business.

(1)  Create a website
(2)  Optimize that website for your keywords
(3)  Publish an ezine or e-newsletter
(4)  Write and post articles on article directories
(5)  Use pay-per-click advertising, like Google Adwords (read my article on Google Adwords here)
(6)  Use autoresponder
(7)  Publish an e-course or special report
(8)  Create and sell information products
(9)  Create a blog
(10) Start podcasting

I use all 10 of these marketing strategies.

Low maintenance marketing
And the best part is, once you get things up and running, it takes very little maintenance and it begins to take on a life of its own. Pretty soon your little business has a great big web presence.

You can easily reach clients worldwide
Plus, it really is quite amazing when you think that from my little home office in San Diego I can easily reach and serve clients as far away as Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, Cyprus and the United Kingdom. And I do!

Perhaps you have a website but that's the extent of your presence online. If that's the case I encourage you to learn more about some of these other online marketing avenues and start using them to grow your business.

You don't have to do all 10
Okay, I'm a little obsessed with marketing ... but hey, that's what I do!  But if you can add even a couple of these strategies you could immediately start generating more clients for your business, for a whole lot less than you might think.

Because Internet marketing is not only a very cost-effective way to market your business, it also yields immediate results. So you'll know right away if it's working or not. That alone can save you a bundle.

(C) Copyright 2006 Debbie LaChusa

Want to use this article in your ezine or web site? You can as long as you include the following copy with it: Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to make marketing your own business as simple as answering 10 questions. Learn more about this unique, step-by-step system and get a free Marketing Mini-Course when you subscribe to the free,
weekly 10stepmarketing Ezine at http://www.10stepmarketing.com

Learn over 100 more small business marketing tips and techniques you can use to market your own business on a shoestring budget with The 10stepmarketing System. Click here to learn more about this unique, step-by-step, question-and-answer program that makes it easy to successfully market your own business.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to make marketing your own business as simple as answering 10 questions. Learn more about this unique, step-by-step system and get a free Marketing Mini-Course when you subscribe to the free, weekly 10stepmarketing Ezine at http://www.10stepmarketing.com

NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article as long as you make no changes and you include the "About the Author" information at the end.  Please let me know if and where you use this article by emailing me.

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