businessblogging

I have a quote above my desk that says, “Any business not bringing in new business, is on it’s way out of business.” (author unknown) Now when I started my business I had X$ for start up and I dedicated $0 to my marketing budget. My first client found me, on the internet through a Google search and it cost me nothing. Want to know how, just keep reading!

• The first thing that I did (on the internet) when I started my business was to blog. I already had a personal blog so I started talking about my business on my personal blog.
• The second thing I did was to build a simple website using Godaddy Website Tonight
• The third thing I did when I started my business was to submit my business information to google maps. And that is how my first client found me.

You might now be thinking that there must be some cost involved in one of those steps and you are right there is. Setting up a website with Godaddy will cost you, $9.99 for a domain name and then you can build a website, for free. A hosted blog through blogger or wordpress wont cost you anything. But if you want to self host your blog (which I highly recommend for a professional blogger, or a business blog) you can do that with Godaddy too for as little as $4.99.

The other question lingering in your head right now is probably something like, how tech savvy do I need to be to build a website and setup a self hosted blog. Honestly, the easier of the two is using Godaddys website builder to set up your website. And setting up a self hosted blog isn’t that complicated, but it does take a little getting use too.

Paying a company like mine to design, build and host your website/blog could cost you anywhere from $350 to $3500 if your not careful.

Maybe you just want to wait on the website or blog until you establish clientele. I advise against waiting to establish an internet presence just because it is a great way for consumers to find you, but there are other things you can do to establish a presence that don’t cost you anything.

I already mentioned Google Maps which is easy to do, just be sure that you are by the phone that you are using as a contact. Google will call you to verify that you are real person and not a spammer.

Another no cost tactic, start making noise on other peoples blogs. Search for blogs that are related to your business niche, and blogs that cover topics you are interested in. Read them and comment on them, add your insights and your your ideas. Address issues that are being covered and always link to your site/blog (if you have one) or sign it with your name and business name.

Forums are another great method for making an internet presence without spending any money. Forums are typically a communication board, a place that people address issues, and discuss ideas. Find forms that cover your business niche, search for a problem that you can solve or a question that you can answer and add a comment. (most forums will require that you are a registered member before you can add any post, but its free to join)

The idea in using these two methods, the blogs and forums is to establish yourself as an expert. Once people see that you can provide answers or solve a problem they will continue to seek your advice. Because you have become an expert!

Another method I have really started to take advantage of myself and that I find very useful in establishing a presence is Article Directories. Article directories are sites that enable anyone to publish their articles, on any topic or subject they would like. It’s free to join these article directories and sometimes they even provide ways for you to make money by using them.

You may wonder how they are able to do this and the trick is advertising. Article directories do a lot of advertising on their sites and when you submit content that people like and read, you are also directing people to these adds that are strategically places on the sites pages.

Summary:

Starting a business requires a lot of work, a lot of effort, and sometimes a lot of money. It is good to know some areas where you can save a few dollars and still make an impact. And if you think that you need to put off the whole internet thing until you clear your plate, then you might have waited too long. These days the internet is a much more trusted resource then any other choice. Want to start your internet marketing for FREE try these steps first: (its the first 4 steps we take with any of our clients)

1. Google Maps
2. Blog commenting/ Guest Writing
3. Forum posting
4. Article Directories

Other articles of interest:

• New Businesses Should Blog
• Why Business Blogging

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