If you own a small business and you’re not yet online, that’s like leaving a whole lot of cash on the table.  It’s so common-place now to head over to google.com to search for whatever we want even if it’s in our local city or town.

 

Getting your marketing online is certainly not an optional thing these days, so here are my top 6 tips for how to market your business online.

 

1.    Create a marketing website that grows your list (not a brochure website)

A marketing website is one that invites the user to take action the minute they land on your page.  And the action you ask them to take requires them to provide at least their name and email address.  If your web designer does not know how to create a marketing website, shop around for one that does. 

 

A fancy multi-thousand dollar flashy website that has no marketing focus just isn’t worth it.  Remember, your website is not a business card; it’s a marketing tool that invites the user to take action and that is what grows your list.  And this is where point #2 comes in…

 

2.       Make an irresistible FREE offer to all your website visitors

For your website visitors to give you their name and email address, it’s important to provide something they truly want.  A free offer allows your prospects and visitors to get a taste of what you offer so they can decide if you’re a match for their needs.  The irresistible part is that your offer has to be closely tied into pains, frustrations, or burning desires of your target market. 

 

If you don’t know what that pain/frustration/burning desire is then you’ve got a bit of market research ahead of you.  My own irresistible free offer is my free audio and online video series focused on how to get more clients (the top question I get at my website).  Thousands have joined my list prompted by that offer.  You grow your list of prospects and you can follow up beyond that initial free offer.

 

3.       Follow-up online

So let’s say your website visitor takes your offer and signs up on your website.  Now what?  It’s time to follow up you’ll quickly have a cold list.  This article you’re reading is a follow-up system in my own business.  I follow up by providing answers to questions from my subscribers.  It provides ongoing value and it allows me to follow up without pestering. 

 

You can do a tip of the week, or something every other week, etc.  I wouldn’t go less than once per month with follow-up as it’s far less effective, and I’d highly recommend at least twice per month.  Don’t get complicated.  It can be a one-paragraph tip.  Keep it simple and focus on the questions you already receive from your clients.

 

4.       Market your expertise online with article marketing

While you’re reading this article, my assistant is putting out my previous article to a couple dozen or more websites all over the internet using an automated online tool at GreatSmallBusinessArticleSubmit.com.

 

By the way, when you go to that site, guess what? You’ll get a free offer in exchange for your contact information – just like you’d want to do on your own website. Once you get in, they’ll tell you more about their online article marketing system which is what I currently use.  It’s well worth it, especially since they also teach you how to do article marketing effectively.

 

My articles bring visitors back to my website.  Not only that, several times per month, someone puts one of my articles on their blog, website or includes it in their newsletter along with my credentials.  I get free exposure to their readers.

 

5.       Learn or outsource copywriting

If you’d like to sell your products online, then you’d want to invest in the skill of copywriting.  Online sales are dependent on your ability to put words together in such a way that your ideal prospects understand the value of your offer and become interested in purchasing.

 

6.       Online Social media marketing

With the millions of folks out there on the top 3 sites (Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In), we can’t ignore the possibilities for your business there.  That said, jumping into this blindly would only serve to confuse and frustrate you.

 

Remember, all of these social media sites are simply marketing tools.  Rather than sinking into social media overwhelm (which countless business owners have done), I’d highly suggest you get some help and education on how to set things up and how to create a social media marketing plan that works.

 

If you enjoyed this article, you’ll enjoy the goldmine of low-cost/no-cost marketing strategies you can instantly apply in your business.   You'll discover website tips, article marketing tips, and other client-magnetic strategies that work!