5 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR YOUR ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGY

Whether you have just got your first website up on the internet or you have a long es- tablished site, its doing no good if no one is looking at it, and even then, its doing no good either if its not attracting new business for you. Here are 5 simple but powerful things to think about if you want your website to start working for you:

#1 Great Design
If your isn't easy to navigate people will be less inclined to use it. Websites should be well laid out, attractive on the eye, interesting with interactive elements and be in- formative without being too wordy. First impressions count, most people visit a web- site several times before deciding to become a customer so don't let poor design turn them off on their first visit!

#2 Modest Effort - Big Rewards!
Building your website is the beginning not the end of your online presence. All your site's readers including the search engines like fresh content and new things to at- tract them back to the site over and over. Invest your time and effort wisely - you'll be amazed at how big an impact just 2 hours a week can have on your business.

#3 Plan Ahead
Successful marketing campaigns ALWAYS attribute good planning to the basis of their success. Setting realistic goals and measuring your achievements are key factors in constantly improving and refining your marketing. Don't be afraid to change your goals as your business evolves. Set up a mailing list early, make it easy and attractive to your clients to join - there's no better client than an already satisfied customer!

#4 Spread The Word
Research shows that people use your website not only because they have found you through search engines and the like, but because they have heard about you else- where. Don't ignore the obvious marketing tools like word of mouth, business cards, van signage etc and ALWAYS list your web address. Modesty is a virtue but its never crass to be proud of your own business.

#5 Step Out Of The Ordinary
Marketing today holds more opportunities than ever before with a vast range of on- line methods that don't involve expensive printing or postage. But it can be daunting with so much tweeting, blogging, digging and facebooking, so get some expert advice BEFORE you start and embrace the technology to show your enthusiasm for your busi- ness so that it rubs off on your prospective clients.