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Getting Buzz Going For Your Website…with little to no money
For small business owners, social networking sites is the equavelent to the water cooler, giving them 24 hour access to people around the globe. It’s 21st century marketing with a twist, because the entry price is free.The key to internet marketing is unbiquity: making your business’s presence known across a multitude of web sites and discussion forumns. With perseverance, you’ll be able to create some buzz, and soon people from other sites may be referring to you and sending people your way.
Here are some of the ways to help kick off your own online buzz.
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Blogs: not just idle chatter
Blogs are often known as online essays. I recommend once you have a web site, add a blog to it. Make posts to it 3-5 times per week to keep people coming back. Then, create hyperlinks to your blog on other site discussion boards. Next, join some social networks. Join a network of like minded individuals on sites such as Facebook or MySpace. Soon you will start seeing strangers recommending your thoughts and your web site to others.
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Some of the social networking heavyweights
Fackbook, Friendster, MySpace,and Plaxo.
Each of these social networking sites allow you to connect with professional groups, chat with friends, and post personal or business pictures and videos. Find some groups and start chating about your interest and business. You will be suprise what traffic starts coming your way.
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Online Digital Towns: Second Life
Another great site for small businesses can be second life. This allows it’s users to socialize with each other in different online environments that
resemble towns. Businesses can meet up with employees and promote their products and services by creating shops witin these worlds that anyone can visit.
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Join in on the Conversation
With Twitter and Tumblr, members can follow someone’s activities or allow their activities to be followed by others. Post, what they are up to, whether business or personal and let other’s keep tabs on you. Tumblr allows users to post videos and pictures as well.
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What’s Happening?
Social bookmarking sites such as Digg, Delicious, Fark, Mixx, Newsvine, Reddit and StumbleUpon allow you to nominate and bookmark web pages that they think are worthy of attention. You can also comment on others’ choices, while adding a plug for your own business.
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Video your small business in Action
Youtube is the de facto web site for posting homegrown videos. Small businesses are using YouTube and similar sites to post videos of product
demos and information. They then link to their own sites getting massive loads of traffic. Video watchers can also interact with a community of other users, trading thoughts and ideas about the clips they’ve seen.
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Professional Online Networking
LinkedIn and Ryze offers professionals a place to congregate, find friends, link up through recommendations of others and search for jobs and employees.These are just a few of the places that any small business can use to get massive loads of traffic. While you might have to spend some time every week updating your internet presence, it will not cost you a dime.
Right Size Your Business by moving Home
When times get tough, costs are rising why not cut your small business costs by moving your office home. Becoming a home based business lets you reduce or eliminate the cost of:
- Office or Store rental
Instead of paying rent, you can get a tax deduction for your office space.
- Commuting
Auto expenses drop dramatically when you can walk to your office.
- Business related travel
Some travel to and from your home becomes deductible.
- Food
Coffee breaks and lunches are far less expensive at home.
- Insurance
Riders or endorsements on your homeowners insurance policies may cost less
- Personnel
It is relatively easy to become a virtual company with your personnel working from their homes.
- Taxes
Possible deductions include a portion of homeowners’ dues and real estate taxes, furniture, converted to business use and a portion of the cost of entertaining business associates at home.
By moving to a home based office usually allows companies to lower their costs and continue to maintain or even increase margins.
In addition, working from home is eco friendly which is a definite plus for most companies and an added value in the eyes of most customers.
One final thought, get legal advice before making the leap to a home based business to make sure you can operate a business out of your home legally. There are a lot of issues to look at such as zoning restrictions and more before taking the leap.
