by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: October 20, 2007

BUILDING AN ONLINE PRESENCE

In earlier ages, business promotion means advertising. Print ads, radio and television spots, direct mail campaigns, and other traditional means fit the bill. On-site promotions meant handing out materials and placing displays at your location.

All that has changed.

The explosion of cyberspace has reshaped the way marketers operate. With the world, quite literally, at our fingertips, we must rethink the way we publicize our professions.

Do you have a business to promote? Here are some guidelines, to get you started.

OBTAIN A DOMAIN

First, you must have a website and an email address. Your web and email addresses must reflect your business. If they end in AOL, YAHOO, HOTMAIL, or another popular domain, then the world will assume your organization is not ready for prime time.

Build a website. This can be simple and neat, but it must be professional. Your home page should provide an overview of your business and capabilities. Include your company name, address, telephone, email, and other essential contact information.

NETWORKING WORKS!

Join an online networking community. In fact, join several. Choose those communities that fit the demographics you wish to target for your marketing.

Begin blogging about your business, your company news, your products and services, and anything else you wish to promote.

Become active on the forums or bulletin boards. Include a link to your website in every posting.

Within each online community, join groups or clubs that relate to your business. Start new topics, and reply whenever you can. Again, include a link to your website.

Be careful to avoid any semblance of spamming, as this can result in your being blocked or banned from a site. Your participation must be relevant to topics at hand, not merely promotional.

GET READY FOR ACTION!

As you drum up all of this cyber-attention, be sure to staff up to respond to the inquiries you are sure to generate!

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.