Small Business Marketing - Online Presence is Essential!

Small businesses have significant challenges in 2010 and 2011 as the political atmosphere changes, new policies and legislation are put into place, and the economy waffles.

More and more, small businesses seek cost-effective ways to "get the message out there." With the advent of online social media, blogs, and instant messaging, businesses need to be in the game. Period. It is free, prolific, and if we play our cards right - effective.

One of the first things I suggest to clients is to dive into social media. Many don't get it. Even if they cannot commit to a "Social Media Coordinator," a presence online is expected for businesses. Consumers and clients want to find you quickly, easily, and at their convenience. We will look on Twitter and Facebook for you. If not you, then we will find someone else. If your business is not represented online, it can be viewed as “old school” and that perception can reflect upon your services or products.

At a minimum, it is suggested that a small business should explore these online options:

• Company website
• Company blog
• LinkedIn
• Facebook (business page)
• Twitter
• YouTube

Develop a plan for each of these. What are your objectives? What do you expect to get out of the time and effort? A plan for the basics can include:

• Your branding (titles, user names, etc...)
• Your design look (matching your logo, marketing materials, web site?)
• Your voice (friendly chat? industry knowledge? promotional? all?)
• Your message (coordinates with all your marketing messages in brochures, ads, website, etc...)

In addition, a company e-policy is important so your staff knows the company information and activities that you approve. Is it just you? You still need this plan. A company e-policy can include:

• Blog guidelines
• Video policies
• Social networking guidelines
• Email and messaging policies
• Confidentiality requirements

There are many valuable social networks and online methods to promote. The important take-way is to start something, even if it is small.

Marketing these days takes a village, a network, cheerleaders, opportunities, friendships. ingenuity, creativity, consistency, and focus. Use your time wisely. Guard your dollars. Be successful!

Be sure to read my IndieCEO marketing blog about online marketing for the artist/crafter community.
For fun reading, see GalleriaLinda's jewelry blog...

17 Ways to Get Readers to Your Blog - Eyeballs are Everything!!

It can be discouraging to put your heart and soul into starting a blog with shiny new content, only to find that it has been viewed by three people and two of them are you! There are many avenues to generating traffic to your blog. Here are a few for you to start.

1. Use Twitter to announce your blog post. You can schedule a few tweets about it, spacing them out over a couple of days. www.hootsuite.com is a great utility to do that.
2. Post your blog entries on your Facebook page - both personal page and business page. You can schedule automatic postings to both Twitter and Facebook with Twitterfeed.
3. Find blog or online business directories for your industry and join. Most have basic listings that are free.
4. Join social and professional networking sites relative to your industry. They will always provide opportunities for you to post your blog.
5. Join blog rings - do a search on Google and see how they work.
6. Put your blog URL in your email signature to everyone.
7. Start a business/store e-newsletter and always add your blog.
8. Join forums specific to your industry to network with others and always put your blog URL in your signature and profiles.
9. Every place that you join has a profile – photo sites, social networking, professional networking, directories, etc. Don't forget your blog URL.
10. Give-away something small of value on your blog and use those who leave comments as your drawing base - promote this give-away on your forums, boards, and e-newsletter.
11. If you purchase online advertising, be sure to add your blog URL.
12. Volunteer for industry calls for a variety of things, such as designing a page for a calendar, give-aways, or co-promotions. Always include your blog URL.
13. Your blog URL should always be on your business cards.
14. Do you have business brochures? Add your blog URL.
15. Promote your blog on your own web site.
16. Ask other web site owners that you know to post your blog on their web site and you do the same for theirs.
17. If you qualify, take advantage of blog owners who put out calls for features. Often blog owners will ask for interested parties in forums and on boards.

This is not an exhaustive list but is a list of things you can do NOW. Remember, a journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. Make this your first step to your online future!