Small businesses often lack the financial stability to launch massive advertising campaigns or to spend the majority of their budgets on marketing. If small businesses were forced to rely on those types of promotions to succeed, they would be overrun by bigger corporations with larger budgets. These days, every business can promote itself across the globe using the far-reaching power of the internet. Marketing is about establishing a presence, using technology wisely, and networking. Using available online tools, which are often free, can increase a business? visibility and enhance its promotional efforts without much of a hit to its wallet.
Small businesses must have a website if they are going to stand out. Websites offer a virtual business location that is open around the clock. Customers can access company websites at any time and from anywhere, making websites a prime location to advertise new promotions and offer valuable information. In 2010, the National Small Business Association conducted a survey and found that more than three-quarters of small businesses in the United States have websites. Websites initiate a relationship with prospective customers. If a customer cannot find information about a company?s products and services without picking up a telephone or driving to the location, that customer is more likely to go to a more accessible competitor. Creating a professional website is affordable. Many web designers have reasonable rates, and small businesses can often create professional-looking websites online for free.?
When it comes to website content, people remember much more of what they see than what they read. Once customers can access a small business online, they should also be able to locate the physical location. Business locations should be added to sites such as Google Places.
Another budget-friendly way to use technology to one?s advantage is by using digital business cards. According to the performance management group BPM Forum, the majority of business leads are lost, ignored, or thrown away. Digital business cards provide up-to-the-minute information and are easy to store. This makes every networking opportunity more meaningful, and new business acquaintances are more likely to follow up on their leads.
Keeping the online world updated on current events can keep customers interested. Small businesses can share press releases online or submit articles to distribution services on the internet. The more quality information that is available online, the more likely the business is to rank higher in search engines and be noticed by potential customers.
Creating a virtual space for a business is just as important as the physical location. Using the internet wisely allows businesses to promote themselves, to network and to disseminate crucial information. Online marketing tools drive customers to businesses while allowing business owners and managers to spend more time ensuring that all the other aspects of the business will succeed.
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Bio: Jessica is a specialist in business cards and online printing. When she is not writing for Print360.com, you can find her cooking up a storm in her kitchen.
Source: http://calvermarketing.com/5-tools-to-market-yourself-online
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