I am looking for the "best bang for buck" to promote and attract customers in a small web services business - web site, blogs, flyers, phone book ad, etc. The business would consist of web page design, computer repair, and networking. Owner would be MSCE and have the skills needed (previous network administrator) -- Just looking at what is NOT a waste of time and gets results for the energy put into the promotional areas. In other words what works and what does not. Area is a 70K population with maybe 6 or 7 businesses to compete with. I understand that "word of mouth" is by far the best -- but need to get customer base enlarged.
2006-07-21 08:41:40 · 8 answers · asked by littlethimble2003 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Advertising & Marketing
Try here for marketing your site http://ld.net/?jul04
Best wishes. Dont give up!
2006-07-25 03:41:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google
A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:
1) Create a blog pertaining to your field
2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!
3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.
4) Advertise on Craiglist
Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.
I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:
* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson
Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
2006-07-22 07:06:43 · answer #2 · answered by TM Express™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compared to offline businesses, the investment required to start an online business is minimal. A popular way of earning money on the internet is by providing information and services. This can be monetised by advertising or charging a subscription. You can also make money online by selling products on auction websites like eBay or through your own website. More information available at http://tinyurl.com/syw6m
2006-07-23 01:07:01 · answer #3 · answered by lalraniusha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're trying to promote these types of businesses you should at least be able to build your own website. If you don't have that expertise you shouldn't be promoting the other. You can use simple programs like: "Site Builder" through Yahoo hosting. Anyone can build a good site using that.
2016-03-16 03:05:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many web sites offering the answer you seek. One site I recently discovered addressing e-commerce best practices that you may be interested in was http://www.webmarketingplus.co.uk/index.html. Of course, this is just one but, you get the idea and can find many cash saving, tested and proven methods to help with on-line retail.
2006-07-21 11:25:39 · answer #5 · answered by Milo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should check out http://www.merchantcircle.com
they are new but offer a free account to help promote small businesses.
it's worth a look
hope this helps
2006-07-21 15:41:27 · answer #6 · answered by Ry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many ways you can market a Web-based service business. The best of course is personal referrals and recommendations. If you could get someone to refer you, then that would be great.
On the Web, here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible:
1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement - if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others. If you will have a website showcasing the services you do, you may want to add some how-to articles - more content can mean more visitors to your site; plus it shows potential clients that you know what you are talking about and you'd be viewed as more reliable.
2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important -- and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more - that's additional traffic that you get for FREE!
Recommend Site Scripts (various) http://php.resourceindex.com/Complete_Scripts/Website_Promotion/Recommend_Site/
Big Nose Bird Recommend this Site http://bignosebird.com/carchive/birdcast.shtml
CGI Resource Index http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/Website_Promotion/Recommend_Site/
Hostscripts http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Site_Recommendation/index.html
3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.
If you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com's "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm
SEO for Google http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/google.htm
SEO for Yahoo! http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/yahoo.htm
SEO for MSN http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/msn.htm
Tying It Together: SEO For The Big Three http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/seo.htm
4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News. My website (see my profile) accepts free press release submission (no strings attached!)
5. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. If 50 websites publish your article and it contains a link back to your website, then you easily get 50 links from a single article. The more links you have, the greater your chances for increasing your search engine rankings.
Here is a comprehensive list of where to submit your articles http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AhzreGmnCUicOoyedqypscUjzKIX?qid=1006022407481
6. Improve your conversion. Getting visitors is one thing; getting them to buy your products is a whole different story. Read the article "10 Ways to Convert Visitors to Buyers" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/072005/conversion.htm for tips on how to improve your conversion rates.
7. Post a link to your site for free where it is allowed (always read the Terms of Use). Examples are:
Craigslist http://www.craigslist.com
Google Base http://base.google.com
Classifieds for Free http://www.classifiedsforfree.com/...
Text Link Exchange http://www.txtswap.com/
Recycler.com http://www.recycler.com/
Yahoo Classifieds http://classifieds.yahoo.com/
US Free Ads http://www.usfreeads.com/
2006-07-21 08:46:56 · answer #7 · answered by imisidro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yahoo! Search Marketing
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/
let customers search you!
2006-07-21 09:29:00 · answer #8 · answered by gk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got great scores with adWords
2006-07-21 10:47:34 · answer #9 · answered by carlos 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋