“Hang on, I thought this was about computers or something?”
Yes it is!
There are lots of different ways to promote your business on-line, most of which are free and very easy to use.
Social media – there is no reason not to
If you are trying to promote a business or your own personal brand, then social media can really help you spread your message.
Now, most people are on one or other of the social networks, but why limit yourself? It’s free, so there are no overheads apart from learning to use a different system. Not all social networks are the same either, so being on one does not mean you won’t benefit from being on another.
Here are some of the common ones and reasons why you should be using them all.
- Facebook
The largest social network in the world. It would be foolish to ignore it. Chances are you have an account on Facebook, even if you don’t use it much. Facebook’s strength lies in its ability to connect family and friends. If you see a Like from someone you know, you are more likely to trust it than from someone you are not familiar with. - Google+
The new kid on the block recently turned 2 years old. Google+ offers so much value due to integration with everything else Google (YouTube, Gmail, Docs, Search, Maps, Android… etc.) that its importance cannot be overstated. Combined with that it has some great offerings of its own including the power of Circles (how you organise and connect with people and brands), Hangouts (10 way video conferencing and chat), Google Authorship (recognition for your on-line content tied to your Google+ profile), Communities and more. - Twitter
Used by millions, Twitter uniquely limits you to 140 character tweets. Perfect for short sound bites, which the media in general love. Twitter is a great resource for broadcasting information and gaining a following. - LinkedIn
If you are a professional, LinkedIn is the place to be. Think of it as an on-line CV mixed with social elements. LinkedIn’s strength is in its ability to connect you to other professionals via introductions from your existing contacts.
The thing to remember here is that all of the above are free. So, what is stopping you from being in all of them?
Directory sites
Directory sites encourage you to list your website with them. Most are free or are free for basic entries.
You may find the sites that offer paid for versions of a listing will turn up the sales pitch as soon as you register with them and give you the hard sell. So be prepared to turn them away.
While the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) benefits of directory listings can be debated, there is value is getting links back to your site. You get more value from links on reputable sites though, so feel free to be picky. Links from disreputable sites may even be detrimental to your website’s own reputation, so be careful.
Summary
As well as being free, all of the options above are simple to get to grips with and only take a few minutes to register with each. If you are promoting a business or personal brand, take whatever opportunities you can!