12 tips to jump start your online marketing

Biz Bytes 101 offers 12 gems for jump-starting your online marketing plan before the New Year. Happy Holidays!

Since the debut of BizBytes 101 in May, we've talked about ways to successfully use your websiteto generate buzz about your business online. Experts in PR, social media and technology have given online makeovers to local cash-strapped businesses looking for pointers on how to beat the competition during this tough economic time. As the year draws to a close, BizBytes 101 gives you an early holiday present: 12 ways to jump start your 2010 marketing plan before the New Year.

WIKI YOUR BUSINESS. Write a Wikipedia entry about your business or product. Wikipedia entries rank high with search engines, particularly Google. And they can garner extra exposure for your business in 2010. Considering there are more than 684 million Wikipedia readers on the Internet, it's a great place to create a presence for your business or product.

BOOST YOUR BLOG BUZZ. According to ComScore, a leading Internet marketing research firm, there are more than 346 million people around the world who read blogs. While it's essential to have your own blog, make sure that in 2010 you regularly read the top blogs in your industry. Post comments and helpful information with links back to your site on them.

FAN OUT ON FACEBOOK. With more than 200 million users worldwide, Facebook must be a key part of your online marketing strategy in 2010. If you haven't done it already, create a fan page for your business or product. Promote it with ads on Facebook, which are cheaper than those available through Google Adwords in most cases. Make sure all of your Facebook friends know about your page and ask them to promote it to their friends. Be sure to distribute informative content on your page that always links back to your website.

STAY ALERT. In 2010 make sure you're signed up for alerts through Google to find out what people are saying about you, your brand and your industry online. Find out what consumers are saying about your business in the social media realm on sites like Twitter and Facebook. You can't participate in the online conversation about your business if you don't know, in real-time, what people are talking about.

STAY FOCUSED. Don't try to be all things to all consumers. It's important that in the New Year you keep your marketing messages focused and brief. Pick the thing your business does best. Pick the product or service you sell the most and stay focused on getting the word out online about those things.

TAKE THE TIME. There are no magic bullets when it comes to marketing your business online. It takes time. In the New Year, don't rush to implement too many strategies at once. Take your time, make a plan and execute it logically.

MASTER THE WEB. Before you started your online business, you may not have thought of yourself as a webmaster. In the New Year, it's important that you do. Use the tools provided by Google Webmaster Central. Log on to the SitePro News websites for free webmaster tools that can improve your site. Don't forget to visit Bing Webmaster Tools as well.

BECOME A MEDIA MAVEN. In 2010, make it a goal to ramp up your media relations plan. Increase your media exposure by using Google News to find articles about your industry. Then, make contact with the TV and print reporters who write those stories and offer to be a potential source for their next story. Reach out to bloggers in your industry and do the same thing. Send out a press release at least once a month about your business or product, but make sure it's newsworthy before you do. Use services like Peter Shankman's Help a Reporter Out (HARO) or Pitchrate.com to find out about the stories reporters and editors are working on.

SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Expand your reach by installing a translator plug-in on your site. This will allow users who don't speak English to translate your website content into different languages, exposing your business and products to foreign markets.

ANSWER LIKE AN EXPERT. Demonstrate your expertise by posting and answering questions on Yahoo Answers or LinkedIn Answers. Both rank exceptionally high with search engines and will results in increased traffic to your website.

GIVE THE VIP TREATMENT. Treat your customers like royalty by soliciting their feedback, sending them special promotions via e-mail or spotlighting a Customer of the Month on your website.

USE VIDEO TO TELL YOUR STORY. You can create great promotional videos for your business using simple tools like Windows Movie Maker. Google loves videos. When you make them, upload them to YouTube, Metacafe and other video sharing sites for maximum exposure.

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