Online marketing strategies for small businesses

Many small businesses have turned taken their marketing efforts online, and for good reason. More and more people are turning to the internet to look for products and services, so it makes sense to have an online presence.

If you haven't considered online marketing, here are a few reasons why you should:

• Cost. Unlike many other promotional strategies, internet marketing is comparatively low cost and does not require a large amount of capital to start up.
• Reaches more potential customers. Internet marketing reaches a larger, more global audience than other forms of marketing, and it does so immediately.
• Expectations. Most businesses use some form of internet marketing, so in many ways it is expected that you at least have a website.

The following are some tips for successful online marketing strategies for small businesses:

Get a website.
One of the first things a business should do is set up a website. Almost all reputable companies have websites because they know consumers and the general public spend a great deal of time online (an average of 2 hours online each day). Also, if an event is being publicized, it's a good idea to get a website in order to make registration or obtaining information easier.

There are a variety of internet hosting services you can get inexpensively. Businesses can set up a domain (or website) through these services for a nominal monthly fee, usually around $20 for a basic set-up. You can then design it yourself, or hire someone to do it for you.

When choosing the URL for your website, make it as simple as possible. Ideally, it should be the name of the company or event being publicized

Promote your website.
Once you have a website you'll want to promote it. The internet is a great promotional tool. Your small business's URL should be found on all the marketing materials you put out for your company, such as brochures, flyers, and business cards. If you are writing press releases, you should mention the URL or use it as a reference point within a press release.

It is also important that you keep your website updated. In order for a website to work as a marketing tool, it should not have outdated information, broken links, or mistakes. The website should be as professional and up to date as possible.

Use meta tags.
Meta tags help those browsing the internet to find the website. For example, the keywords meta tags for a tutoring business could include school help, tutoring, math tutors, or anything that has to do with tutoring or after-school help. Such keywords lead people to websites they may or may not have been looking for and are an effective marketing tool.

Ask for email addresses.
When people visit your website, have a space where they can enter their own email addresses for further information from. You can even go further and have them fill out surveys about products or services they are in. This way, you can continually market product information to them. Always include a link with the option to unsubscribe, and make sure you list a privacy policy.

The internet can be a great tool for marketing and can reach more customers if you know what to do. The above marketing strategies are great ideas for small businesses who want to promote their company through the Internet.