Online Advertising Methods

Business today isn’t done the way that it was done just a few short years ago, but some of the basics of the business are still the same. If you want your business to grow, you need to make sure that people know about it. And if you want people to know about it, you need to use every tactic you’ve got to make sure that you’re spreading the word. This used to mean advertising in print and in person … and it still does mean that. But in today’s world, you also have to make use of online advertising if you’re really going to grow your business.

Here are the basic online advertising methods that every single business should be using:

1. Email. This is the basic method of staying in contact with clients and potential clients. Make sure to collect email addresses of everyone who might be interested in your product or service and to keep an updated address book in your email account. Make maximum use of that email by advertising through your online signature which should always include your website as well as any promotions that you’re offering.
2. Website. Every business should have a website. At a bare minimum, it should contain your basic product or service information and your contact methods. More elaborate website can incorporate online advertising in ways which include keyword-rich SEO writing, blogs, videos and interactive communication tools such as forums.
3. Link exchange. Get your website up as a link on as many other relevant sites as possible. This online advertising method gets the attention of people already on sites that are similar to yours and directs them to your site. For example, if you have a dog walking business, get sites like those for vets, groomers and pet supply companies to link to your site. In some ways, this is the online equivalent of word of mouth advertising.
4. Write articles. Articles are one of the biggest chunks of the Internet out there. Write interesting, informative, original articles which make reference to your product or services and repeat the name of your company. Get these articles published on other websites to spread the word about your work.
5. Pay-per-click advertising. You put your ad on various websites and you aren’t charged anything until someone clicks on that ad. This means that you’re only paying to advertise to customers that are actually checking out your site. That’s better than newspaper or print advertising!
6. Banner ads. You can pay to place banner ads on various websites. Of course, these don’t always get the attention of potential customers so you should track them carefully to make sure that they are worth their cost. For information on other types of “rich media advertising” that can be used online, see this Wikipedia article.
7. Social networking sites. MySpace, YouTube, Digg … these are all sites where users can network with other users. You have to not only be on them; you have to network. The real world equivalent is attending a convention – if you go, hand out business cards, and make personal contacts, you’re going to generate a lot more business than if you just hang out in the corner.
8. Affiliate programs. There are many sites that allow you to be their affiliate; Amazon is a commonly used one. You promote certain companies and get a return back on customers that they get in exchange for being known as one of their affiliates.
9. E-newsletters. These are part of your email advertising but are distinct in that you write them up regularly and send them to all of your contacts. You can do more direct marketing in this manner, offering promotions, information about your services and other items which generate interest in what you’re doing. Always be sure to include an option for unsubscribing to your newsletter; it’s good online advertising business practice.

The key to online advertising is to stay on top of the game. After all, the web changes as fast as you can start to write about it. Keep abreast of new trends (for example, video marketing is popular at the current time) and figure out how to creatively incorporate those into your online advertising plan.