Both small business and big business still have a long way to go to understand the value of Internet Marketing. Neither really understand that Internet Marketing that is an integral part of their overall marketing plan. Using a website as a sales tool rather than a brochure has yet to be part of their promotion strategy.
Most entrepreneurs don't recognize their tactical advantage over their larger competitors. The larger business may have more money but the smaller business is generally quicker to react to changes in the market because their information is not "filtered" through a sales force. Online marketing allows a small business owner to use this information and respond quickly via the internet. Yes, the trade off is a time or money issue, but trust me, the time spent now will reap big rewards later.
For small business owners, a better approach to Internet Marketing is to acknowledge that it is no different than those methods used to build their business offline " through relationship networking with referral sources and customers. One way to do this is through email marketing to an existing list. Email is something that everyone understands and is comfortable with. This may give the small business owner a better marketing perspective than other forms of internet marketing which seem to be a black hole as far as understanding.
Over time, more avenues for promotion will be necessary. Internet Marketing is about much more than email. Some of the other activities would include:
* Complimentary services may provide the opportunity to place banner ads
* Optimize the website for specific keywords
* Maintain a presence on consumer forums
* As mentioned in the above paragraph, email is still a very effective way to build communication with prospects and other businesses.
* Forums are expected to become even bigger than they are today. Business owners should consider starting their own forums on one of the free tools available.
* Gaining expert status online is much easier that offline. Consideration should be given to writing articles and posting them online.
There are many more ways to promote a business online but all of them require a relationship with clients and a demonstration of expertise in a given field. My advice is to take just one of these recommendations and perfect it.
There are many sources for more information on Internet Marketing. One I use is http://www.getwebwired.com/internet-marketing.htm - 15254
Most entrepreneurs don't recognize their tactical advantage over their larger competitors. The larger business may have more money but the smaller business is generally quicker to react to changes in the market because their information is not "filtered" through a sales force. Online marketing allows a small business owner to use this information and respond quickly via the internet. Yes, the trade off is a time or money issue, but trust me, the time spent now will reap big rewards later.
For small business owners, a better approach to Internet Marketing is to acknowledge that it is no different than those methods used to build their business offline " through relationship networking with referral sources and customers. One way to do this is through email marketing to an existing list. Email is something that everyone understands and is comfortable with. This may give the small business owner a better marketing perspective than other forms of internet marketing which seem to be a black hole as far as understanding.
Over time, more avenues for promotion will be necessary. Internet Marketing is about much more than email. Some of the other activities would include:
* Complimentary services may provide the opportunity to place banner ads
* Optimize the website for specific keywords
* Maintain a presence on consumer forums
* As mentioned in the above paragraph, email is still a very effective way to build communication with prospects and other businesses.
* Forums are expected to become even bigger than they are today. Business owners should consider starting their own forums on one of the free tools available.
* Gaining expert status online is much easier that offline. Consideration should be given to writing articles and posting them online.
There are many more ways to promote a business online but all of them require a relationship with clients and a demonstration of expertise in a given field. My advice is to take just one of these recommendations and perfect it.
There are many sources for more information on Internet Marketing. One I use is http://www.getwebwired.com/internet-marketing.htm - 15254
About the Author:
Charlotte Bothey's commitment to Internet Marketing for small business owners has earned her a well deserved reputation as a online promotion guru. Charlotte frequently writes articles and advice for small business owners which can be found at Internet Marketing
