I know it’s scary to think about getting your small business online. You’ve operated for years without it, and you’re worried than it’s going to take more time than it’s worth to deal with learning everything involved with designing and managing a website. While the fears are valid – the internet can be a time sucker if you aren’t careful and focused – the rewards are worth the expense if you do it right.

As it is right now, if you don’t own a website and aren’t listed in Google Maps – you’re likely losing business to others in your area. As cited in a recent article on Google Local Business Listings on the Expand2Web blog, others could be siphoning your business away. Whether this is intentional or a result of Google algorithms, the point is it can’t happen if you claim your own spot. Even if you don’t want to get involved with developing an active website at the moment.

Of course, you should be thinking about developing an active website right now. It’s really not as difficult as it sounds. If you’d really rather not be bothered with it, but would love to reap the benefits of on online campaign in your business – then the trick is to find someone who knows enough about web marketing to share their knowledge with you –which truthfully is not as expensive as it sounds.

As someone who has sold radio advertising and who has bought radio, newspaper and internet advertising – it’s really not much more expensive than a comprehensive marketing campaign in any media. It’s much less expensive than television advertising – that’s for sure.  And less expensive than a campaign in an average glossy magazine.

If finding someone locally with the appropriate expertise is difficult – you can find someone online who will be able to outline the project for you. Like me for instance!

I offer customized marketing plan for local businesses – but that doesn’t mean I only service businesses local to me. I can create a plan in most markets for any local business. Some of my clients over the years have been as close as down the street and while others have come from as far away as Australia.

If you’d prefer to work with someone locally, tune in tomorrow when I outline some hints that can help you find the right match for your business.