1. Start a web presence. Harness the power of the Internet to draw attention to your business. The web is full of free outlets that can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of consumers.
2. Use Twitter. Setting up a Twitter account is free, and it allows you to interact with customers on an immediate and personal level. See Twitter for Business for more information.
3. Create a Facebook page. Setting up a business page on Facebook is free, and allows you to interact with your customers and other businesses. See Facebook for Business for more information.
4. Build your Google Places listing. List your business on Google Places so that it will pop up on Google Maps searches, and so people can share reviews and rate your business. Make sure you have a Gmail account specific to your business, then start here. Yahoo! Local hosts a similar service.
5. Join appropriate online communities. Many industries, especially those with special niches, have online communities where people discuss and share information. Joining and contributing to these online communities can be a valuable marketing tool.
6. Build partnerships and alliances. Team up with other businesses that offer complementary services and refer customers to one another. For instance, if you sell greenhouses, network with fertilizer suppliers and floral shops.
7. Join community organizations. Chambers of commerce, service organizations, and other groups are a great way to network with other business owners and potential customers.
8. Host seminars, workshops and other educational events. If you own a space that can accommodate several people at once, consider hosting an event to help familiarize people with your product or business.
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1. Start a web presence. Harness the power of the Internet to draw attention to your business. The web is full of free outlets that can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of consumers.
2. Use Twitter. Setting up a Twitter account is free, and it allows you to interact with customers on an immediate and personal level. See Twitter for Business for more information.
3. Create a Facebook page. Setting up a business page on Facebook is free, and allows you to interact with
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