25 Free and Low-Cost Online Marketing Ideas

Marketing your business is the most important aspect of your getting your business off the ground and keeping it there.

There are many free and paid advertising options available to work at home moms (WAHMS) online, but do your research before you buy any kind of advertising space. Find out the number of people who will be exposed to the ad, what kind of search engine ranking the site has, how long have they been in business, etc. And don't forget to talk to other moms through message boards and discussion lists to ask them what kind of advertising they have had success with.

To get you started, here are 25 free and paid advertising ideas to promote your business:

Free Advertising: Online

1. Link exchanges.
2. Ezine and newsletter ad exchanges.
3. Post your ad in the appropriate section on message boards and forums.
4. List your link in website directories.
5. Submit your site to search engines through the “submit a site” link. (Usually located at the bottom of their homepage.)
6. Banner or button exchanges.
7. Write business articles and include your bio at the end with your business name and website address. Submit them to reprint websites so others can use your article in their newsletter or ezine.
8. Write a press release and submit it to free press release distribution sites.
9. Barter your products or services in exchange for advertising.
10. Host an online party on websites that offer free party rooms.
11. Join a network group that focuses on WAHMS. They usually have a day on which you can post your ad to the group. This is also great for meeting other moms in business and making valuable contacts.
12. Sign website guestbooks and include your business name and information.
13. Classified boards and directories.
14. Plug boards.
15. Post your comments in blogs and include your website address.
16. Message boards/forums.

Paid Advertising: Online

17. Buy ad space on a related website.
18. Buy a shopping mall ad.
19. Website submission services.
20. Newsletter classified or solo ads that target your market.
21. Banner or button ads on other websites.
22. Buy a virtual table at an online party hosted by many websites.
23. Pay-per-Click ads.
24. Sponsored listings in search engines.
25. Advertise on an Internet radio program such as WAHM Talk Radio.

Begin right away to use these simple, doable tactics to promote and build your business online!

Article © 2007 Heather Quarnstrom. All rights reserved worldwide.

Heather Quarnstrom is a writer and creative designer with decades on online experience and the owner of Bishop's Corner, an online/catalog shop offering hundreds of quality gifts, home decor items, toys, housewares, furniture and more with nearly 1,000 products under $20. Visit her online store today at http://BishopsTN.com.

NOTE: Feel free to use this article in your ezine or on your website provided you leave it entirely intact, including the resource box above. A courtesy copy to is appreciated.