Using a combination of Pay Per Click (PPC) , Email Newsletters and Social Media will add that extra boost to your marketing plan.  After your business has good internet visibility with Local Directories and an SEO enhanced Website, there is a long list of other marketing ideas that can be applied.  The three most popular for small businesses are PPC advertising, email newsletters and some social media.  Each service provides a different tool for a different purpose.   Some solutions work better then others depending upon your type of business, competition and marketing budget. 

Pay Per Click Advertising

Paid placement advertising is buying very targeted advertising space to drive customers directly and quickly to your website or is some cases directly to your business.  The most popular type of paid placement is Pay Per Click (PPC). 

Pay Per Click is best known by the sponsored ads shown on the Search Engine Results Page and on other web sites.   PPC advertising provides targeted ads directly to potential customers searching for your products or services in your local area.   PPC is flexible in controlling cost, where and when your ads are shown; more precise and measurable then conventional advertising. 

PPC advertising is a very popular marketing tool since it reaches potential customers, highly targeted customers, very quickly.   You can see increased traffic almost immediately.  PPC advertising can also be very ugly; with this marketing technique you have to do well or don’t do it at all.

See details below and more in-depth information within the PPC resources area.

Email Marketing

Email marketing helps provide customer retention by building stronger relationships with customers who already know you.   Many of your customers today want to know that your business is still available when needed, what’s new and any helpful tips you may want to provide.  An Epilson  <<www.epilson.com >>   brand study by Forrester Research reported in 2008 that 57% of respondents stated that their “impression of companies from which I purchase products/services is positively improved when I receive email from them” and that 84% of respondents stated that they like receiving email from companies when they have requested the email. 

Email Marketing is a form of direct marketing using email to communicate your message to clients that have requested the message.   Email Marketing is especially beneficial for small businesses that rely on local customers.  Email Newsletters are extremely cost effective, provides a great return on investment when generating new business and can increase the conversion rate when combined with regular direct mail marketing. 

• Helps keep your customers coming back
• Great for monthly newsletters and discount offers
• Low cost, Fast delivery
• Personalized
• Anti spam protection

See details below and more in-depth information within the email marketing resources area.

Social Media

Social Media comes in many forms; Facebook, Blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube and many other social networks and online communities.  Social Media Marketing is the use of these social networks for marketing, sales, PR and customer service. 

Blogs and Twitter are currently the best Social Media tools available for business, including small business.  Since a website is the heart of any Internet Marketing Plan, a blog which is associated with a website promotes communication with current and future customers.   This communication is interactive and works 24/7. 

Twitter is a micro-blogging service that will promote your business to potential customers interested in businesses local to them.  Its amazing how many of your friends and neighbors are on Twitter.  Twitter helps keep your brand in front of local customers.  Twitter for marketing shows the power of conversation, to get and keep people talking about your business but it must be subtle.

Social Media Marketing costs vary and are best combined with other services over an extended period of time.