Web site maintenance, website management and web consulting services

Just when I think I’m starting to get the hang of the latest Internet Marketing fad, another one replaces it. This seems to happen about once a week at the moment.

But there are a number of Internet Marketing tools that just keep on working, no matter how the Web evolves. Here are 5 goodies micro businesses can, and should be trying out:

1. Pay-per-click advertising. Not everything on the Internet is free. Then again, not everything has to be expensive either. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a simple way to manage an online advertising campaign, irrespective of the size of your budget. The best service to start you off with online advertising is Google Adwords.
2. Content. No matter how much money you spend on fancy graphics for your website, it’s the content that gets visitors to do business with you. So the next time you decide to redesign your site, hire a good copy writer first. If you have any money left over you can spend it on graphics.
3. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Of course you can write all the content in the world, but if it isn’t properly optimised for search engines, you’re wasting money. SEO takes some time and patience, but it pays off in chunks once you’re at or near the top of the search engine rankings.
4. Email marketing. If you’ve been in business for a while, you should have a house list of email addresses for your clients. If you don’t have one yet, start compiling and using a house list today. And if you’re new to business, you need to concentrate on building a house list quickly. Email marketing allows you to push your message to people who are willing to hear from you. It’s a proven fact that marketing to people who already know you is far easier than trying to sell to someone who doesn’t have a clue who you are.
5. Online directories. There once was a time when adding a link to your website onto thousands of online directories would skyrocket your search engine rankings. Of course, Google is more clever than they used to be so this isn’t quite as lucritive as it once was. That said, you can’t ignore the fact that a few hundred inbound links from high ranking directories will send traffic your way. Note: Every Friday I post lists of free online directories for you to try out, and it should only take you 20-30 minutes a week.
   

So there you have it. Don’t worry about the latest social media tool or the brilliant, if somewhat questionable tactics many Internet marketers are recommending just yet. Start with these basics and you’ll have a good foundation for your website for years to come.