Everyone loves to watch Super Bowl commercials– those funny, quirky, amusing ads that seem to not only catch our attention but also catch our wallets. While this is a great form of advertising for large corporations, it isn’t an option for small businesses as these prime ad spots cost millions of dollars. Small businesses are somewhat limited in their advertising options– most small businesses can’t afford TV ads, billboards, or even print ads.
For years small businesses have relied on one main source for their advertising– the yellow pages. While this has worked for decades for some businesses, the yellow pages are becoming more and more outdated. Over 80% of people searching for a business no longer use the yellow pages, but instead they use a search engine. It’s important for small businesses to realize this change and make the transition over to internet marketing to help drive new customers.
So why use internet marketing for small business? The main reason is because you have to. Nearly every company has a website these days, but the old saying “If you build it they will come” is no longer relevant for websites. With the millions upon millions of websites out there, many of them offering the same product or service you offer, it’s important to differentiate your website from the others and properly market your website to attract new business.
Internet marketing for small business incorporates search engine marketing, which includes SEO, organic marketing, and pay per click marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, video marketing, web design, and online special offers. While most small businesses can’t afford all these services, selecting just one of these services can have a dramatic impact on your company’s bottom line. Most people think they can’t afford internet marketing for small business but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact–internet marketing for small business can cost as little as a few hundred dollars per month, but can yield an enormous increase in new customers.