Successful marketing on the Internet is not just about listing your Business websites on Yahoo or sending out thousands of unsolicited emails.
Develop a "Free" Service
Offer free information and tools on your site that can be used by your online visitors. It's one thing to say, "Come to our site and learn about our business." It's quite another to say, "Use the free kitchen re-modeling calculator available exclusively on our site." Make sure that your free service is closely related to what you are selling so the visitors you attract will be good prospects for your business. Give visitors multiple opportunities and links to cross over to the sales part of your site.
Start a Blog
A blog or weblog is simply a web page that scrolls chronologically like a journal and contains links to other websites of interest. Blogs, as creative online journals, have been used by technical specialists for a number of years, but business blogs are just now making inroads into the mainstream. As an alternative, low-cost (or even free) means of electronic communication, blogs can make up a significant part of your overall marketing strategy. Although b-blogs carry an inherent marketing focus not found in creative weblogs, their casual structure provides the opportunity to connect with readers on a more immediate and personal level than traditional websites and newsletters allow.
3rd Party Publishing
A great method of marketing your business is by publishing editorials in third-party e-zines, e-newsletters and on information-based websites. Just as editorials in offline media can help position you as an expert in your field and drive readers to your website, providing articles written (or ghost-written) by you to targeted online media can also drive traffic to your website, often with no out-of pocket expense. Just remember to include a short biography that outlines what you do and a link to your website at the bottom of each article you publish.
E-Mail Newsletter
Permission-based email marketing can be a low-cost and very effective component of your web marketing strategy. It can help to build a relationship between your business and target market, and can drive traffic back to your website. Email marketing can consist of direct email blasts and sales letters, personalized auto-responders, and/or email newsletters.
Offline Marketing
Never underestimate the value of using low-cost, offline marketing techniques to encourage people to visit your website. Ensure your website address is clearly listed on all of your marketing materials – that is, your business card, brochure, published articles, print advertisements, sandwich boards, your vehicle, etc.