Question: I’ve been working from home for about 5 years now and have made quite a bit of income doing so. However, I have recently started getting some stiff competition from other companies offering similar products and services.

My question is how can I compete with these guys without spending a ton of money? My goal is to generate traffic and leads using the least amount of effort possible.

I know that I can use Google Adwords, Facebook Ads etc., however, I am unsure of which methods would be most effective and inexpensive.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer: How To Generate New Customers For An Online Business

One of the most important things you need to know about running an online business is how to get traffic to your website.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spend advertising your product if nobody knows about it.

You’ll never sell anything until you first get some people to visit your site.

What Are The Best Ways To Do Online Marketing For Your Small Business?

Here are twenty-two different ways to get more visitors to your website.

1. Get Traffic From Social Media Sites

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit and others provide a powerful platform for promoting your business.

You can create social groups for your business and invite your friends and followers to join.

Then, you can share links to your blog posts, videos, images and more.

2. Use Google Adwords

Google Adwords is another method for generating traffic.

You can bid for certain keywords so that when somebody searches for those words, your ad appears at the top of the results page.

This allows you to target specific types of users based on their interests and demographics.

3. Write Articles And Submit Them To Article Submission Websites

There are many websites that publish articles related to a variety of topics.

These include blogs, ezines, newsgroups, forums, and even Wikipedia!

By submitting articles to these websites, you can increase the number of visitors to your own website.

If you write good articles, you could also end up ranking highly in search engine results.

4. Build A List Of Email Addresses

Email marketing is the easiest way to get traffic to your site.

Once you’ve built a list of email addresses, you can send emails directly to them whenever you want.

You can also set up autoresponders so that every time you send an email, you automatically follow up with them again later.

You can start building a list of email addresses in a number of different ways.

One of the best ways is to simply ask your current clients for their contact information.

Another option is to offer something free to potential new customers, such as a report or guide.

Once you have a good list of email addresses, it’s time to build out your campaign.

There are many different options available depending on what type of content you’re trying to promote.

Some popular options include:

• Blog posts

• Videos

• Infographics

• Ebooks

• Lead magnets

• Free reports

• Cheatsheets

• Worksheets

5. Run Pay Per Click (PPC) Campaigns

Pay-per-click campaigns are very similar to ads on Google.

However, instead of paying each time someone clicks on your link, you pay only when they actually purchase something from your website.

PPC campaigns usually cost more than other forms of online marketing because they require a large initial investment.

 6. Create A Landing Page On Your Website

Landing pages are webpages that exist solely to drive traffic to another webpage.

They’re often used by businesses who want to collect email addresses from visitors.

Once you have a landing page, you can then use any of the techniques mentioned above to generate traffic to it.

7. Offer Promotions & Discount Codes

If your business has a physical location, you might be able to offer special promotions or discounts to attract more customers.

You could print flyers or post signs around town.

Alternatively, you could give away coupons or discount codes online.

8. Develop An App

Apps are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.

The iPhone alone has over 100 million apps installed.

As mobile technology continues to improve, there will be more opportunities to develop apps for your small business.

9. Host A Giveaway

Giveaways are a great way to encourage people to visit your website.

When you host a giveaway, you’ll need to find some sort of prize.

This may include anything from a book to a gift card.

It’s important to make sure that the prizes are relevant to your target audience.

10. Forums And Ezines

These are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals.

By posting regularly, you can share tips and tricks about your industry.

People will appreciate receiving useful information and may even become loyal fans.

11. Get Paid Reviews

Getting reviews from real customers is one of the most effective ways to boost trust with potential clients.

Review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and CitySearch all reward users with points when others leave positive comments.

12. Write Articles

Writing articles is another great way to get the word out about your business.

Many websites publish content daily, so if you write regular articles, you’ll stay fresh in readers’ minds.

13. Start A Podcast

A podcast is an audio show that’s published on the internet.

Because podcasts don’t go through search engines, you won’t benefit from organic searches.

Instead, you’ll need to rely on paid advertising.

14. Join Social Media Communities

There are thousands of communities across social media platforms where you can discuss topics related to your business.

These groups are a great place to reach out to other local businesses.

15. Use Email Marketing

Email marketing is still one of the best ways to communicate directly with your customers.

If you send personalized emails, you increase the chance that your messages will stick in their mind.

16. Follow Blogs

Blogs are a great way to build credibility and gain exposure for your brand.

Readers love getting updates from experts in their field, so follow blogs written by influencers in your niche.

17. Share Videos Of Yourself

People love watching videos.

Whether it’s a video explaining how to use a product or a tutorial showing someone else using a product, sharing videos is a great way to promote yourself and your products.

18. Offer Freebies

People love free stuff!

Offering exclusive deals, contests, giveaways, and samples is a great way to generate buzz around your company.

19. Promote Events On Facebook

Facebook is a great platform for promoting events because it allows event organizers to easily create posts and invite friends.

20. Set Up Google Alerts

Google Alerts lets you track mentions of keywords across the web.

When people mention your business on Twitter, LinkedIn, or elsewhere, you’ll receive an email notifying you of what was said.

21. Build An Email Newsletter

An email newsletter is one of the best ways to keep in touch with your current customers and prospects.

You can also use them as a tool to educate your audience about new products, services, offers, and promotions.

Don’t forget to add value by including calls to action in every email so your subscribers are more likely to take action.

22. Work With Influencers

Influencer marketing has become an essential part of digital marketing over the past few years because of its ability to greatly amplify a company’s message.

It makes sense:

The better your relationship with influential bloggers, brands, or companies, the more likely they will want to work with you.

Conclusion

The online marketing industry is growing at a phenomenal rate.

With the internet becoming increasingly popular, people are using their phones, tablets and laptops to search for products and services.

This is helping small businesses grow and thrive. In order to stay competitive and generate sales, small businesses must use these methods to market themselves.

If you’re a new or existing entrepreneur, you might not know where to begin.

This article will help you understand some of the best ways to do online marketing for your small business.