I am about to venture into starting an online business and feel overwhelmed with all the competition out there… Any tips on marketing schemes….

The best way is to rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.

If you’re only going to read one how-to guide to get to the top of Google, the BEST and most comprehensive resource I found is WebmasterWorld.com’s Brett Tabke’s advice "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone" http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm

Other ideas:

1. Create the best content you can. Your content is your best advertisement - if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.

2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important — and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends.

3. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News. PRWeb and my website accepts free press release submissions, among others.

4. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. Here is a VERY COMPREHENSIVE list of sites that accept article submissions http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AqmzHU_wN2q8JvMJ6ttE0ewjzKIX?qid=1006022407481

5. Syndicate your content. Use blog or RSS feeds to distribute your content. Everytime you update your content, those who are receiving your RSS feeds will get the latest info from you as well. Here is a link to Resources for Marketing Your Blogs and RSS Feeds http://www.powerhomebiz.com/onlinemarketing/blogs.htm

Books, magazines, websites or any other source that can help me learn how to effectively market my business online.

The most effective way to advertise on the Internet is to first set up a website and publish its domain name on major search directories such as Google.com, Yahoo.com [at http://www.google.com/addurl/?... and MSN.com since 85% of Internet shoppers rely on these search directories to provide them with goods and services. In a sense, these search directories are a very large Internet Yellow Pages.

Nevertheless, should your website or opening webpage fail to contain "generic" keywords, then anyone using such "generic" queries will not be able to discover your website. Your domain name [URL] of your website, in a sense, will be invisible, undiscoverable.

You may want to consider some simple algorithms which, when observed and committed in designing of a website with placement of various critical metatags that can surely achieve a high search engine presence and increase Internet traffic to your website. These metatag strategies work well with published webpages at Google and Yahoo.

Design: Should you create an extensive Flash-based website, make sure to fill-in the property entries such as the Title, Description and Keywords. Failing to do so, leaves no hard HTML or ALT resource that can be readily indexed by search robots. Also consider the Internet audience and their incoming setup. For example, if they are on analog/dialup, Flash webpages take too long to load up and therefore analog users will likely lose interest and discontinue entering the Flash site. On the other hand, anyone on hi-speed DSL lines, will welcome Flash pages which load quickly. So before designing a pure Flash websitge, ask the simple question, "Who’s my end user - is he on dialup or DSL?" And if you had to choose between these two users for maximum marketability, then select analog users since 80% of most resident users are still analog Internet subscribers and pure HTML designed webpages is best for them.

A non-Flash-based website which relies on hard text, is far easier to be indexed by search robots. Limit the use of stylized text saved as .gifs since as a graphic, they are not indexable by search robots.

Avoid use of frames since any number of search robots are unable to properly classify textual material.

Placement of Metatags:

A ranking or search order does take place with Google and Yahoo and it begins with the "Title" metag which should consist of no more than 65 characters separated by commas. The "Title" should describe in generic terms, the goods and services, followed by a location from which the resource is located, i.e., city, state. The placement of a domain name which is not generic within the "Title" is not appropriate, unless your domain name is a major recognizable brand name.

The second metatag is the "Description" which is usually 25-30 words to form a complete sentence which best describes one’s goods and services.

And the very last category - "Keywords" are also somewhat limited to 15-16 words which can be plural and compound in nature. Again, avoid multiple entries which could be mistaken as "spamdexed entries" which is defined as the loading, and submission of repetitive words into a particular metatag category. "Spamdexing" when discovered on a webpage and reported to Google’s spamreport.com can result in the elimination of your website from their search directory.

Here’s an example of a very highly-placed website on Yahoo.com: Begin with the search query "pizza downtown los angeles." It will bring up some 1.4 million+ websites as results. Check out where "Pizza Next Door" is ranked. It’s in the Top Five! Again, Pizza Next Door’s high web presence was achieved by proper web design and placement of relevant metatags according to Yahoo’s publication guidelines.

Good luck!

Hi there, I just started my online business however i’m having a little trouble marketing it. Does anyone have any ideas or any programs you use that has helped you market your business more successful. Thanks for your help!

www.reignofgames.com

The key for your site is to build more links — it seems new with 0 Google pagerank. Some ideas to build links: create some articles (e.g. top 10 list) that you can share in bookmarking sites such as Digg and Reddit, write press releases, etc.

You can use pay per click advertising in the search engines to reach audiences looking for your products. You can use Google Adwords http://www.google.com/adwords or Yahoo http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com

Here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible:

1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement - if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.

2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important — and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more - that’s additional traffic that you get for FREE!

Recommend Site Scripts (various) http://php.resourceindex.com/Complete_Scripts/Website_Promotion/Recommend_Site/
Big Nose Bird Recommend this Site http://bignosebird.com/carchive/birdcast.shtml
CGI Resource Index http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/Website_Promotion/Recommend_Site/
Hostscripts http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Site_Recommendation/index.html

3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.

If you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com’s "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm

4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News.

http://www.prleap.com/sign_up.html
http://i-newswire.com/
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/cgi-bin/links/add.cgi
http://www.pr.com/press-releases
http://www.prfree.com/
http://www.clickpress.com/releases/index.shtml
http://www.theopenpress.com/
http://www.przoom.com/
http://www.prweb.com
http://www.newswiretoday.com/
http://www.free-press-release.com/

5. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. If 50 websites publish your article and it contains a link back to your website, then you easily get 50 links from a single article. The more links you have, the greater your chances for increasing your search engine rankings.

Here is a comprehensive list of where to submit your articles http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AhzreGmnCUicOoyedqypscUjzKIX?qid=1006022407481

6. Post a link to your site for free where it is allowed (always read the Terms of Use). Examples are:

Craigslist http://www.craigslist.com
Google Base http://base.google.com
Classifieds for Free http://www.classifiedsforfree.com/…
Text Link Exchange http://www.txtswap.com/
Recycler.com http://www.recycler.com/
Yahoo Classifieds http://classifieds.yahoo.com/
US Free Ads http://www.usfreeads.com/
Kijiji http://www.kijiji.com/
Local.com http://www.local.com/

I got an email about some company called ForeclosurenetworkUSA. I liked what they say but they wanted almost $1000 to join. I could probably borrow the money if I could make it back right away, but I don’t want to throw it away.

I am in Roadmap to Riches now, but I paid $999 to join. I am not getting rich, but I am averaging about $5000 a month. That $100 to start sounds like a great opportunity for people that can not afford the $999 up front.

I am thinking about joining ForeclosurenetworkUSA to increase my income. The training that Roadmap to Riches gives will work for any Network Marketing Business.

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http://achieve-your-success.blogspot.com
Email your intention to tan.bizonline@gmail.com

No soliciting nor advertising on this site, please. It is against the Yahoo!Answers TOS.

I am looking to get involved with a quality Network Marketing company but I want a mentor that is experienced with marketing there business online. I love meleluca but have heard that I would need 5000 in my downline to make it profitable….. dont know if this is fact though. Any network marketer out there that have a quality business and are experienced with online marketing systems and stratergies please tell me what ya got. Thanks.

Hi there, online marketing is definitely a great way to grow a business. I have a system that shows you step by step what you need to do to set up online marketing. I’d be happy to email you some information to look at regarding online marketing and choosing a network marketing company.

I want to get online Business marketing services.like marketing services like lead generation, market research and analysis, search engine optimization, product launch, product promotion- through print and digital medium, development of website, internet marketing services, e-commerce solution. Can any body give helpful sugesstions to me.

Good timing? I’ve extensively read everything about promoting my online store. I’ll try to sum it up for you.

1) do not waste money on buying books "internet advertising. (go to the library)

2) If you decide to advertise a "banner ad" Be sure to use the "Pay per click" method. (usually around a dime for each customer who gets directed to your store.)

3) if money is no object I’d have either Yahoo, or Google create an attractive ad campaign for your company. (big bucks very expensive)

God Bless You

Hoping to receive some tips as i have an online business and only use google and yahoo as a way to market my business. I sell video game by the way. Thanks!

http://www.spinsuccess.com/affiliates/id/7495_1

I’ve heard some companies take off from this?!

Umm…What sort of marketing are you pertaining too?

As far as buying ad space at myspace, I have no clue…

Marketing to your customers is very straightforward though! My website gains $300-$500+ in extra sales monthly thanks to myspace! Of course my target audience/customers are the gender/age group that use it the most…but it’s certainly a great tool.

Hope this helps…and while you’re at it, check out our myspace!

www.myspace.com/m4airsoft.com

I have an online business dealing with antiques, artifacts, and collectibles. What is the best way to get people to my site with little to no advertising budget?

SEO, and backlinks, do not spam…… Make sure you know just what spam is. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION is the best way, organic clicks. You need to SEO for your business…..