I am often boggled by the large number of small business owners that are content to stay offline when it comes to marketing their business. Online marketing is inexpensive and effective and a perfect stepping stone into other effective local marketing tactics.

Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive and if you’re spending $300 or more on marketing per month, then it is more than worth your time to consider adding online marketing to your arsenol so you can get the best value from the advertising that you already have out there.

Yes, darn it, I am biased towards online marketing with good reason.

IT WORKS!

Oh it doesn’t work as expected 100% of the time. Some ideas I’ve had haven’t met expectations BUT they’ve always at least broken even.

I can’t say that has worked with every media method I’ve tried (I’ve tried a few but word of mouth is still my top attraction with online marketing coming in a close second)

If you don’t want to hire a professional like myself to take care of all the technical details and project management – then please – at least follow the advice of SEO Expert Rae Hoffman.

You can do this for less than $100 if you do it all yourself.

It takes more time that way of course, and you’re not likely to get a truly professional result when it comes to the graphics or writing – but it will still work!

If you are going to get involved with online marketing, you have to understand that the basics always remain the same – but the tactics and tools change often.

One of the benefits of hiring someone to take care of your online marketing (and in some cases your offline marketing) is that you don’t have to keep up with the latest trends, tips and techniques if you hire out.

I haven’t done a formal poll of web designers (yet,  a survey is in the planning stages) but I know I spend an average of 6 hours a week just keeping up with trends and finding new ways to increase returns for my clients.

However, if you simply don’t have the money to invest…then it’s well worth your time. Web developers are not magicians and you can do everything on your own with a little training and possibly some guidance.

(I’ll be setting up online & teleconference lessons on web development soon! Please sign up for my email list to stay updated on the latest details of that realease…of course I’ll announce it here on the blog, but sometimes I get busy and the blog gets neglected for a few days)

With all the templates available, there is no reason anyone who wants to can’t have a website up and running within a month or two if you can devote between 15 and 30 minutes a day to learning.

It will take longer if you have less time available or if your computer skills are a little rusty, but it can still be done.

In any case, the point is…you can build customer loyalty and value to a local client base with very little effort when you consider the rewards.

This kind of online (and offline) marketing strategy is currently starting to work for some Whitecourt small business owners.

Isn’t it worth it to look into it for your local small business?

Whether you’re local to Whitecourt or not – if yourclient base is defined by geograpy then you should have an effective website.

Which brings us to what is an effective website?

For me the simple answer is one that is making you money.

Or to put it another way –If it’s costing more to maintain than it’s bringing in  revenue, it’s not effective.

You can learn more about how to know what to look for in an effective site and how to ask for it when you’re interviewing potential web developers for your small local business website in my new book coming out in mid-March.

Again, just join my newsletter list if you want the first scoop on that release. Just fill in the form on the right hand side of the screen with your email address and name. You’ll get an email asking you to confirm your interest and every Tuesday,  I’ll be sending you information and tips on getting started with your online marketing and other important marketing tips for promoting a local business. Plus you’ll be the first to know (and get discount rates) on seminars, training sessions and books as they come available.