You run a brick and mortar business that caters to local customers, and you have decided that your business doesn't need a website. Will internet advertising do you any good? The answer just might be "yes"! Don't get excited just yet, though, because not every business can benefit and some businesses just have to face the situation and invest in a website. This guide will help you decide if, and where, you should advertise your business online.
Is Online Advertising Right for You?
Online advertising can work but, without a website, you are limited in your options. A website gives you the ability to explain your business and services - most Internet users need tangible motivation to pick up the phone or get in the car and drive to your business.
The only time that you should rely on online advertising without a website is when a website couldn't benefit your customers. Somebody who is looking for a lawn care expert likely won't look through landscaping websites to find a pro; they're going to treat the internet like a phone book and look for your contact information. Contact information is easy to share without a website. The same goes for discounts and sales.
Where to Advertise Your Business
What kind of advertising do you want to do? If you want to advertise a huge limited time sale, you'll want to go somewhere that visitors will expect topical and timely information - like the online edition of your local newspaper. If you want to advertise your services, look for any online classifieds related to your city and surrounding areas. If you simply want to help interested customers find your business, make sure it finds its place on every online business directory that allows free listings.
You won't get much benefit from pay-per-click advertisements. Without a website it's difficult to find a place to point your advertisement toward - most people like to click on advertisements to read more; the billboard model just doesn't work on the net. If you do truly want to advertise a specific product you might be able to sign up for a website that hosts coupons that interested customers can print out and use at your location.
We highly suggest going with an online advertising agency. An online ad agency knows how to target local consumers, can create press releases, can set up relevant advertisements, and track the effectiveness of the outcomes. You will learn a lot from watching an online advertising agency help your business grow. These agencies can also set up temporary web pages (often called splash pages, sometimes landing pages) to help you generate leads or conversions without the budget of a full site. The resources at an advertising agency's disposal are much more potent than those that are available freely on the web.
Can online advertising help your business? We hope that, whether you decide for or against online outreach, that your decision suits you well. If you're the "big fish" in your local market pond, you might not need the net at all - but if you're a small fish with room to grow, you shouldn't let the size of the online pond prevent you from achieving your goals.
If you're currently looking for a reputable online marketing agency to help with your business promotional needs, make sure to visit: http://www.webfirm.com/
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