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Are you interested in getting involved in paid search marketing but don’t know where to start? If so, this post is for you. Pay per click advertising can be extremely effective, but it’s very complex and you need to make sure that you have the right pieces in place or you’ll be doomed to fail before you even start.

The Prerequisites

Before you can operate a successful PPC campaign, you need to make sure that your website is appealing enough to keep people interested once they arrive. It needs to be aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. I recommend using specific landing pages for each of your ads that takes the user to the page they’d be interested in. For instance, if your ad was for dress shoes, I’d link it to your dress shoes page rather than the homepage. Once those pages are in place, you’re ready to move on.

Make sure you’re ready to commit to AdWords management for at least a few months before you decide it’s a good medium for you or not. I noticed a lot of small businesses getting frustrated that their ads aren’t converting customers within the first few weeks and giving up completely. Give it some time, Rome, as they say, wasn’t built in seven days. Three months should give you enough data to make some decisions about your campaigns, but it’s never too soon to seek professional advice on how to make your campaigns better.

Keywords 101

The first step you’ll want to take in creating your ads is getting together a solid keyword list. These are the words that searchers use to trigger your ads. The best place to start thinking about the keywords you want to use is your company website. You’ll quickly notice what words are used most often, once you’ve picked them out make sure you add variations of those words into your keyword list. By variations, I mean that if your website is for PPC services, you’ll want to make sure you use PPC, Pay-per-click, and pay per click services as keywords because they all mean the same thing.

When choosing keywords, make sure you add your brand. These clicks are generally cheaper because they’re more specific than the broad terms you’ve found on your website.

If your particular industry uses quite a bit of jargon (like the PPC world), put yourself in the customers shoes and think about keywords that they would be searching for if they weren’t as knowledgeable on the subject. Would your customer be searching for pay per click management services? maybe, but they might also be searching for help with Google ads or help with online ads.

At this point you should separate your keywords into different groups based on the services or products they represent. Not only does this make it easier to manage them, but Google scores your ads based on relevancy in your ad groups, and if you have keywords for baseballs and keywords for kitchen aprons in the same group, your quality score will be lower. The higher your quality score, the less you’ll end up paying for your clicks and vice versa.

Use Your Keywords Wisely

Now that your keywords are separated nicely into their own groups, you should create ad groups on the AdWords platforms, import those keywords and write your ads. Make sure that your ads use your keywords frequently, as that improves the quality score, resulting in more clicks at a lower price. And don’t forget that you should constantly be on the lookout for new keywords that can help convert sales, make sure to set aside time every now and again to do more keyword research and keep those clicks coming.

Trace Ronning is the social media coordinator for WordWatch PPC Management. He blogs about small business and paid search at WordWatch.com/blog and you can follow him on twitter @WordWatchPPC.

SimplifyThis is web appointment software that helps solopreneurs and small business owners simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

As a business owner you are likely bombarded with stress on a daily basis. Here are five wacky ways for you to reduce stress and lighten the mood.

Stress can seriously hinder your productivity at work, diminish your ability to manage your employees and have a very detrimental effect on your health if it’s allowed to continue for a significant amount of time. Often we are so caught up in what we’re doing that we don’t even realize that we are suffering from stress. If this happens, you need to do something that distracts you.

1. Leave an anonymous note or treat

It feels good to do something for someone else, no matter how small. Whip up a batch of cookies, or even buy them at the store, scribble a nice note to someone and drop it by their house. Except don’t wait for them to open the door and welcome you in. Leave the plate on the doorstop, ring the doorbell and run like the wind. Find a good hiding place and watch the smile on their face as they find an unexpected treat/note on their steps.

2. Spontaneous romantic act

Whether you are single or in a relationship, nothing can distract you from your regular daily stress than doing something romantic. If you are married, bring your spouse flowers or a special treat when you come home. You could also get a babysitter and surprise your significant other with a dinner date. If you are single, be bold and go ask that person you’ve had your eye on for months to go on a date with you.

3. People watching

Take a break from your own thoughts and head out to the mall or your local airport. Find a bench in a prime location and sit and watch the people walking buy. Whenever you see someone interesting, make up their life story. Bringing a friend on this type of outing can double your fun. Be sure to be as extravagant as you want when telling someone’s fake life story.

4. Bus tour

I’m not referring to an actual bus tour to a tourist site, but to hopping on any city bus, whether you know where it’s going or not. Take a seat and enjoy the ride. You might find new and interesting areas of your hometown that you had never noticed before. If you feel like it, say hello to the people next to you. If you are feeling really stressed and want to completely distract yourself, wear a mask or some other kind of costume while you ride. Watching people’s faces when they see you will be priceless.

5. Walk in a park with no shoes

If it’s winter, this may not be a good idea, but if it’s spring or summer, retreat from stress to the outdoors. Find a local park or less crowded spot on your college campus, pull off your shoes and meander around. Focus on the feeling of the pavement or grass under your feet. It’s a very pleasant sensation and sure to help you feel rejuvenated and relaxed.

Natalie Clive is a staff writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers is an excellent tool for those looking to complete their college degree and attend one of the best online colleges.

Leading a business is one of the most rewarding challenges many people will undertake. Good business leadership requires a combination of education and instinct. Business leaders at all experience levels are well-served by remembering five essential tactics for business stewardship.

1. Do not get stuck behind a desk

Many business leaders get bogged down in the details of correspondence, financial reports and other desk work. Of course, good executives take care of these duties. They also spend time with employees and customers to get a multifaceted view of operations. All leaders should stay in touch with the individuals who keep a business afloat.

2. Engage employees in business planning

The individuals who do mundane business tasks on a daily basis often have a good grasp of what works and what does not work in a given business. Ask employees to contribute to business building and planning activities. Invite them to occasional planning meetings. Employees may offer innovative ideas. Even if they do not, employee morale will be greatly improved.

3. Read leadership literature sparingly

Some executives become obsessed with reading a variety of books and articles on leadership. While some leadership advice is good, too much leadership advice can be counterproductive. Executives must choose a leadership style and practice it consistently. Too much variation is seen as weakness by both customers and employees.

4. Keep a business diary

It is easy to dwell on failures and forget successes. Cataloging business successes is a good way to find motivation in rough times. Keeping a daily business diary can help any executive retrace the steps that led to a failure. It can also help leaders retrace the path that led to outstanding business success.

5. Solicit candid evaluations of leadership practices

Most employers evaluate their employees on a regular basis. Performance evaluations are nerve-wracking for employees. Receiving a performance evaluation can be a humbling and useful experience for many business executives. Leadership boards of large organizations often evaluate executives. They look at the bottom-line and identify specific successes and failures. Employee-generated evaluations can help any executive understand what leadership strengths and weaknesses contributed to those successes and failures.

Successful business leaders are not afraid to change. They can adapt to difficult work situations and economic climates. Their endurance comes from carefully cultivating leadership practices. Steering a business is a life-long learning opportunity. Business leaders who practice humility and mindfulness often find the long-term success that others will never achieve.

Bio: Chad manages his own business, and speaks from experience. His company helps people sell used vehicles.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool that helps solopreneurs and small business owners simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

If you’re a small business owner, then you are probably fully aware of the importance of having a good reputation. Customer goodwill can make or break a small business, so it’s important to find ways to keep your customers happy without having to spend a lot of money.

One of the easiest ways to add value is to make your customers feel special. Keep them informed about what’s going on with your company, and engage with them via social media. Keeping up with all of the social websites that are out there can be difficult, but this is one area where outsourcing can help. Hiring a reputable social media agency, or even a digital marketing agency that understands how social media works can do wonders for your business.

Engagement vs. Advertising

One area where many companies go wrong is that they think of social media as a form of advertising in its purest sense. They assume that if someone likes them on Facebook, follows them on Twitter, or subscribes to their YouTube channel, it means that they’re giving the company permission to advertise at them incessantly. That couldn’t be further from the truth for most users.

Social media is about engagement. It is about swapping information, exchanging messages, and occasionally dropping a little advertising in. A good social media agency understands this. If you go too heavy on the promotion side of things, people will either block you or unfollow you, and they’ll always remember you as a spammer.

Support via Social Media

Some companies use social media to chat with the most avid of fans, and other companies use social media for support. A good example of this is T-Mobile, who has a dedicated advice stream on Twitter. Customers that are having problems can get in touch with T-Mobile via Twitter, rather than having to use email or telephone for a quick query. This is a great way to instil a sense of goodwill in your customers, and get some free advertising along the way.

If you have someone on staff that understands how social media works, then you could delegate the handling of your Facebook and Twitter feeds to them, however it can be a lot of work to keep up with requests if your company is a popular one. If you have more than a few hundred followers, it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a digital marketing agency to manage your accounts for you.

This post was written by James Harper of Boom Online Marketing. James writes on subject relating to business and technology.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool that helps solopreneurs and small business owners simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

Little things like printing costs can add up over time

Keeping business costs down is an important part of managing your small business’s cash flow. Keeping a tight rein on your small business expenses is crucial, and printing costs are no exception. In a struggling economy, little things can mean a lot when it comes to saving money for your business. Here’s a list of six things you can do to save money for your business.

1. Do it Yourself

The printing services you might see at your local copy shop are certainly convenient. However, they can end up costing a lot over time. Invest in a high-quality color office printer that can do all of your everyday printing and as much high-end printing as possible. For the occasional large print job or specialty color printing, you are likely to be better off using a service rather than investing in a high-end printer that doesn’t get used often.

2. Compare Costs

If you need to outsource printing services, do your research and compare the ones in your area that can meet your needs. For example, if you need to print 500 tri-fold color brochures, check out each company with that capability and compare them side-by-side in a spreadsheet. You will be shocked to learn that there is a huge difference between the lowest and highest price. Hint: When using the Internet to search for a printer, the first name you see isn’t necessarily the best. Dig deeper and compare.

3. Choose Different Paper

If you have a range of printing needs, it might be beneficial to use different quality paper for each need. For instance, you need high quality paper for your brochures or flyers, but everyday office printing can be done on cheaper paper. If you have a printer that has multiple trays, use the default tray for everyday paper and another tray for high-quality paper.

You don’t need to have envelopes pre-printed with your logo anymore. Many printers have a special setting for printing on most standard sizes, including the number 10 envelopes, the most common size for business use.

4. Reset Your Printer

The newer laser and inkjet printers have a multitude of settings to adjust the printing quality. For example, the printer’s draft mode helps conserve the amount of ink used and produces perfectly readable printouts for everyday internal use.

If you’re just printing a hard copy for review offline, print multiple pages per sheet and/or on both sides of each sheet.

5. Use the Bank’s Checks

The convenience of your bank’s bill pay service can save you the cost of printing checks. Most banks offer this free service for your regular bills and for the occasional expense, too. By using this service, you no longer have to worry about forgetting scheduled payments or looking for stamps. If your bank offers the service, sign up and let them print out the checks and mail them for you – free. Additionally, consider online invoicing as a way of cutting down on unnecessary printing.

6. Print Less

Yes, it sounds obvious, but it’s amazing how much unnecessary printing is done on a daily basis. In addition to thinking before you hit the “print” button, many printers also have a setting to include a leader page. This is used to separate printouts from different departments or employees when using the same printer. Make sure this setting is turned off. You save paper and ink.

Finding ways to save money is hard when your budget is already at its limit, but utilizing even a few of these tips will save your company money in no time.

Jessica is a specialist in online printing. When she’s not researching new printing technologies, you can find her in her kitchen baking up a storm or walking her dog outside.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

Now that Google+ has debuted its brand pages many people are scratching their heads, wondering what advantages they offer. Why do businesses need yet another social platform? Can’t we just stick with the company Facebook page?!

I want to highlight the top five benefits and features of Google+ Pages that make the platform ideal for businesses:

1. Search Rankings

Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, recently confirmed that social signals (public activity on social platforms) are a factor in search engine rankings. Since G+ is part of Google, it stands to reason that increased activity and engagement on pages can help significantly. While it’s not anything more than my own anecdotal experience, I have seen a significant jump in rankings on my personal Web projects since creating pages for them.

2. Direct Connect

Internet users demand easy access to social services and features, and Google has provided a brilliant shortcut to page owners. All you need to do is type “+” and a brand/business name into Google search, and it will take you immediately to its page — if there is one. No other social platform can provide that.

3. Local Pages

“Hyperlocal” has been a buzzword for a while now, and with good reason. Pages can be set up to show where your brick-and-mortar location is, providing Google Maps integrations so that customers can easily find you online and off.

4. Segmented Audiences

Circles are one of my favorite things about G+ pages. When you post to your page, you can either do so publicly, which is visible in search, or to one or more of your circles. It starts off with a basic set: Following, Customers, VIPs, Team Members, Incoming, and Notifications. This is fantastic! You can post a special offer only available to long-term clients by simply posting it to your VIP circle. You can communicate with your team using that circle. And you can create as many circles as you need in order to refine your message-targeting. This is very useful for businesses with an array of offerings and audiences.

5. Bringing It to Video

Hangouts are the integrated video-conferencing feature on G+. You have the ability to talk to up to 10 people at once. The customer support applications of this one should be obvious. Just like updates, Hangouts can be made public or only to particular circles. I’ve used it to conference with team members in three different time zones at once, and it worked smoothly.

All in all, Google+ pages can be an asset for any brand, no matter what social platforms you’re already engaged in. While the user base is still small compared to Facebook, it’s growing at an amazing rate, partially fueled by the fact that Google is integrating all of its products together. If you use Gmail or Google Docs, for instance, there are Google+ notifications on your screen at all times.

Google’s sheer ubiquity will continue to drive growth and attention to Google+ for a long time to come. And those are two things every brand wants.

George Williams is a professional journalist for firstSTREET, a leading provider of computers for seniors. George blogs about technology and social media for seniors on the firstSTREET blog.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

A client asked me if they really needed a website for their business. With all the social media channels that are available, a person could theoretically setup a page on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to maintain contact with potential clients.

My first impulse was to say, “YES!” to the question. I stopped myself to think critically about the alternative possibility. What would my business look like if I did not have website? A better question: What does my current website achieve for me, and can that be replicated solely through social media. Let’s consider.

A website has several typical functions:

The brochure site

I call it this because it is simply there so offline clients and random visitors can see a good-looking online presence. There is no intention to optimize for search engines or draw attention from an online audience.

Can this be replicated through social media?

Yes. You could create a page on Squidoo that has all the information for people to see. Need something a little more personalized? A Facebook fan page will do the trick. Nobody will question a Facebook or Twitter link on a business card.

Lead generation machine

This function is more intentional than the brochure. This site is drawing traffic in to create conversions. This is coupled with advertisement, seo tactics and offline networking. Getting clients to convert, both free and paid, builds a list that you can use over and over again to create recurring income.

Can this be replicated with social media?

Yes. Custom form builders that could be integrated into your Squidoo or Facebook page. Twitter and linked in could be used to drive people toward these pages for conversion.Using free directory listings can help increase your presence on search engines.

Customer engagement portal

This function seeks to get other people engaging on the site. The more they contribute, the larger their commitment to return is. Characteristics of this site are forums, niche blogging, productivity tools, etc.

Can this be replicated with social media?

Yes. Most social networking sites allow discussions and private group messaging. Twitter is a good place to have conversation.

Barring any sort of e-commerce, it appears that one will not need to have a website to achieve the same things a website can offer.

Wait! Before you go off and cancel your web hosting plan, consider this:

Although social media has many integrated tools and functions that can match a website. Remember that most clients value consistency. Ensure that whatever social media channel you use has a consistent base station: A place clients can go for the latest information. If it’s your email, let it be that. If it’s your Facebook page, keep that. If it’s your Twitter or Linkedin profile, stick with it.

The one thing that a website offers that is a central place for bringing your social media channels and activity together. It creates a hub for client engagement.

My answer to the original question is conditional. Yes you should have a website if you want a central place for customers to return to and stay engaged, or if you have an e-commerce component to your business. No you do not need a website if you are only planning to make one-time sales online or communicate solely through messaging. Customers don’t need to return to a product page they have already purchased from.

Paris Law is a success coach works with Solopreneurs and Business Leaders on initiatives that inspire extraordinary action. His favorite adage: “Let us never yield to simple complacency, but continually reach toward that forever stretching horizon.” www.parisalaw.com

Whether it is a household you are running or an actual business, it would be vital to know exactly how to manage your cash flow. After all, you don’t want to experience any trouble with money, do you? Unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees, so you will need some real discipline in your life if you want to stay in a decent financial situation at all times. Here are several tips that can help you out.

1. Check out your existing cash balance

If you don’t know the amount of something, there is no way you will be able to analyze it – and the same goes for money. In other words, you need to know what your exact balance is in order to figure out where you stand and what you should do with the rest of your cash. If you don’t know what your balance is, you could make several grave mistakes.

 2. Don’t run out of money

This may sound like common sense, but a lot of people still overlook this basic advice. In a nutshell, you need to do everything possible to prevent yourself from running out of money. Remember: if you do run out, you might end up doing things you will regret in the long run, such as getting a huge loan and falling into bigger money problems in the future.

3. Find out where your money is coming from

Find out where you are getting your money from and how long it will last. Then, try to keep a consistent cash flow to avoid financial problems. The secret here is to simply prepare yourself and have the right information handy at all times.

4. Maintain a good financial situation

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should never make any changes or never try to improve your finances. However, you do need to stop spending on things that won’t improve your situation in any way. This will ensure that you don’t make investment mistakes in the future and will always be able to stand on your feet.

5. Rely on good accounting software

Accountants aren’t always a necessity in the world of money management. In fact, all of the things you need for cash flow management can easily be done with the right accounting software. Now, if you have no idea how to use this software yet, just try out a training program that can help you figure it out first. These programs are usually quite easy anyway.

These are just some of the tips that can help you with cash flow management, Naturally, every person’s situation will differ, though, so just make sure you follow the basics and stay on top of things, even when you do experience certain financial problems. Good luck!

Guest Post by: Spencer Sy, a business educator and a web enthusiast. He’s currently working at a KPN Company that provides global phone card and calling cards to Italy for international travelers. Take an additional 10% off with coupon code “acc10″.

Running your business requires time and dedication, along with careful account management. These ten tips make managing your small business’ accounts easier.

Maintain Separate Business Banking Accounts

Mixing your personal and business funds can be a recipe for disaster and may cause legal problems. Maintaining separate business accounts with restricted access limited to only you or specified, designated staff also helps reduce the risk of employee embezzlement.

• Deposit all of your business receipts into your business account.
• Pay all your business expenses out of your business checking account.
• For small businesses with more than a couple of employees, consider establishing a separate account for payroll purposes, transferring funds before each week’s payroll payments.
• Conduct background checks and credit checks before providing authorization to your staff for access to business banking accounts.

Use Automated Invoicing

Automated invoicing simplifies your business accounting. Software designed for small businesses costs little yet saves hours of your time, more than paying for itself.

• Consider what features you need in your invoicing system, such as overdue notices, calculation of late fees or penalties or automatic suspension or deactivation of accounts due to non-payment.
• Set up your invoicing system to run at regulated intervals, such as monthly, so that your customers know what to expect from you.
• Set up a quarterly or semi-annual invoice summary for regular clients.

Balance Ledgers Daily

No one likes bad surprises, and balancing your incomings and outgoings ledger on a daily basis helps avoid unpleasant results. An automated system eases this process.

• Balancing your ledgers daily helps detect employee theft. Employees who handle cash are easily tempted to remove a small amount on a regular basis, accumulating to large losses over a long period of time.
• Finding mistakes is easier when the ledger is balanced daily.
• Balancing the ledger takes less time when done on a daily basis.

Deposit Payments Immediately

Waiting around to deposit your customers’ payments increases the risk that there will be insufficient funds to complete the transaction.

• Stamp all received checks with “For Deposit Only”.
• Make all deposits without beforehand taking deductions for expenses incurred.
• Require that all incoming payments be handed to you or your accountant unopened to avoid theft or misplacement of payments.
• Record all payment information such as check number, customer’s name and method of payment. Use a computerized database to automate this process.

Reconcile Monthly Bank Statements

Ensuring that your records match those of the bank perfectly keeps your business solvent. Utilize automated software to make this process easier.

• Reconcile your bank statements at the end of each month to know your actual account balance.
• Check your monthly statement against your daily statements to check for discrepancies. Software can automate this for you.

Insure Business Vehicles

If you or your employees operate company owned business vehicles, or if you or staff utilize your own vehicles for business use, regularly review your business car insurance coverage to ensure your business is adequately protected in the event of a collision or accident.

• Review your coverage quarterly.
• Get in writing what is covered and not covered.
• Cross check your employees’ driving records with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles quarterly to ensure they are maintaining safe driving records. Unsafe drivers can increase the cost of your car insurance policy.

Monitor Electronic Transactions

If you accept credit card payments or other forms of electronic debits and payments, monitor these electronic transactions on a daily basis.

• Keep a file for tracking credit card payments from customers.
• Budget for the fees associated with credit card transactions.

Establish Procedures for Bounced Checks

If you accept personal checks as payments for goods or services, establishing a procedure for bounced checks or not sufficient funds (NSF) accounts is critical for managing your business accounts.

• Follow up immediately on bounced checks.
• Review the status of your client’s account to determine if further action is necessary. This can save you headaches and significant losses from maintaining delinquent business clients.

Organize Files

Organization is the key to successful business accounting. Establish separate files for transactions including:

• Unpaid invoices for suppliers and clients
• Paid invoices for suppliers and clients
• Open orders
• Completed orders
• Federal, state and municipal taxes
• Monthly and quarterly bank statements
• Payroll
• Employee information
• Contracts
• Insurance policies
• Equipment warranty and serial numbers
• Business licenses and permits

Monitor Budgets

Review your various budget categories regularly to ensure your business is on track to maintain budget. Line items to review regularly include:

• Supply costs
• Cost per unit of production
• Operating costs including rent, utilities and permits
• Payroll costs

Managing your business accounts is an ongoing process. However, taking the time to keep up on necessary tasks will save you time and money in the end, and may even protect the solvency and profitability of your small business.

Author: Catherine Barnes

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

Having a Website that you don't market is like having a billboard in the desert

Many small business owners strive to bring customers in the door – whether that door is brick and mortar or virtual. Setting up a website is a given in today’s marketplace, and an online presence is crucial for your advertising.

Just having a website, though, often isn’t enough. You need to drive targeted traffic to that website in order to entice the right kinds of customers for your product or service offering. Otherwise, you simply have a billboard in the desert. So once you have your site underway, there are still a few more things you need to do in order to bring in the traffic that your business requires.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Well, not automatically. The most awesome website in the world won’t do you – or your customers – any good until people know that it’s there, and why they should visit it. So, the first thing you need to do is put the word out that your website is up and ready for visitors.

One of the best ways to do so is to get your site listed in the search engines – starting with Google. Although your website may not shoot to the top of the search list right away, you should start by putting relevant keywords in your titles and content, especially if that content is very specific to keywords that your potential customers are searching for online, then you will have a much easier time being found.

Content is King

With any online venture, having good relevant content is crucial. Content includes not just the actual pages on your website, but also articles that may be found online by readers that will “pull” customers into your website to get additional information.

Therefore, make sure that you have relevant and targeted content in your articles that will bring the readers to your site for more information. Oftentimes what brings visitors to your site the fastest is if they are seeking more information on how to solve a particular problem or fill a need – so be sure that your content reflects just how your offering can do that.

Blogging for Dollars…and Customers

Having a blog is another great way to bring visitors to your website. This is because the content on blogs is much more fluid, and if run correctly, it is also regularly updated. Blogs also allow visitors to make comments on the content and can literally spark ongoing, interactive conversations about the topics. This is also a way to get visitors to come back to your blog on a regular basis.

Partners

Word of mouth advertising has always been one of the strongest ways to get product or service recommendations. One way of getting online recommendations is to work in conjunction with “partners.”

In order to do so, work with others in your industry who may offer complimentary products or services and have them put some of your articles or other content on their website – while also returning the favor for them. The customers that visit their website may also be interested in purchasing what you have to offer and vice versa. This creates a win-win for both business owners while also opening up your information to a whole new group of potential customers.

But Wait, There’s More!

One of the most valuable assets you can have as a business owner is a mailing list. Depending on how many visitors your website brings in regularly, you have the potential to build your list quickly – if you offer the visitor something in return for giving you their email address and permission to contact them.

With this in mind, make sure that you add an opt-in box on your website that asks for the visitor’s name and email address. In return, let them know that you will send them a free report or other valuable information for doing so. This will help you to build your list of prospects and customers so as to send them ongoing regular emails discussing information about your products or services that they may be interested in.

Frank Anderson is a small business and technology blogger.  He also has a keen interest in microsoftexchangehosting and other popular hosting configurations.