I have been making my living now online for over a decade, and have been there, done that and bought the T-shirt for virtually every possible way of making money and building one's business online!
This lens outlines what I think are the top 10 ways for you to grow your business online.
Ready for the adventure? Alrighty then, grab hold of your socks and boldly leap into:
Tip #1 - Create a centralized hub for YOURSELF (and NOT your business)
Brand yourself online
This is one of, if not THE, most important thing you can do. You need to brand YOURSELF online (and not just your business).
Think about it! Let's say that you decide to focus on Internet recruiting, and develop a thriving business online. Let's then immediately imagine something completely impossible, like, oh, the economy tanking and your recruiter training income smashing to a sudden stop much like an angsting teen does after trying to become one with goth poetry.
If you've branded ONLY your product name, then you'll have to rebuild your next business venture from scratch (for all intensive purposes).
But! If you've built up YOUR name FIRST and your business SECOND, you have a core group of followers who are interested in what YOU have to say...and not just what your business provides.
I've had my domain, Barbara Ling.com since 1998....and I still have loyal customers from over a decade ago who are still buying from my lists. It didn't matter what direction I chose - I was still able to get the word out much easier than if I had started from scratch.
Places to get your own personal domain include:
GoDaddy
Host Rocket
Once you have a centralized hub, you should build a site! The easiest way to build a site is to use the platform Wordpress.
Here's some reasons why:
Why You Should Build Wordpress Authority Sites In 2009 and Beyond>
Make A Small Business Web Page - with WordPress
Using WordPress To Grow Your Business
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to create one site from which you can springboard to dozens of other topics (like your own business! :) )
BENEFITS
A centralized hub can be reinvented whenever the need arises. A targeted business product site cannot - it is tied into that particular product.
The email address sales@barbaraling.com sounds much more professional than, say, bling4928@aol.com . A domain name email shows you're there for the long haul...you're not just a temporary throwaway.
If you own your own domain site, you can control what goes on it. Anything you want to install/tackle/develop/etc is up to you. Wordpress.com, for example, doesn't allow you to install plugins.
Want some website templates? Check out:
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTip #2 - Get known as an authority
Become a destination site
It makes sense, doesn't it?
Become a known authority in your niche...and people will start to proactively visit your site to get the real answers.
I wrote an entire lens about this, so rather than rehash the whole concept, allow me to direct your attention to:
Virtual Coach - Become an Authority In Your Niche
Benefits
Your name gets shared in a positive fashion
You start to receive requests to write articles/appear on CNN/etc.
You build trust. People prefer buying from experts instead of from fly-by-nights.
Tip #3.) Create at least 3 social networking profiles and sign up for Ping.FM
Get your broadcasts out there
This is also a big one.
Ever wonder how people find out about you? What if they're NOT already following you on Twitter?
What if they're NOT in your Facebook network?
What if they're NOT in your Friendfeed?
What then?
You want to create at least three Social Networking profiles and then sign up at Ping.fm to automatically broadcast your updates. This will help people to stumble over your ideas and postings...and ideally become intrigued enough to want to learn more.
Here are some of my profiles:
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
StumbleuponOnce you have your profiles set up, make certain to grab a free account at Ping.fm - you'll be using this to broadcast your tweets, updates and more.
Here's more resources on how to best use Ping.FM:
Ping.fm General information
Ping.FM Posting Tips
Ping.fm: Update All MicroBlogs
Benefits
It makes your life easier - you have to update only ONCE to see it appear on ALL your profiles
It increases the probability you're found online
Social networking will only get more and more popular as times go by.
Did you know you can also update your social networks from your smart phone as well? Mobile phones like the following work great that way!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTip #4.) Offer free value FIRST
Give readers compelling reasons why they should follow what you say.
I always advocate walking the walk you talk. That means you should share a smattering of your ideas on your blog, your website, in forums, etc.etc.etc. This will go light-years towards helping you build your brand as an authority in your niche!
There are many ways to share your information. As well as what I mention above, you can also write free white papers/cheat sheets/etc. and offer them for download. If you want to implement follow-up marketing, you can request the visitors submit their email address to you in return for the free material.
That way, you can configure a followup autoresponder series! The day after your visitor receives your goodie, you can send a messages that asks if she or he received the material, and to contact you if they have any questions. 4 days after that, you can send a second followup that includes even more free information about the topic, and invites your reader back to your blog/website to sign up for your free newsletter. And so forth and so forth.
Another great benefit to offering free content is your pages will get indexed in search engines as well! At the time of this writing, check what was listed in Google for
free internet recruiting tips
My site, RiseTrends.com, should appear within the top 10.
Offering something of value for free is good to whet your visitor's appetites. My current free offer can be seen on my main page of Virtual Coach - 13 Ways You Are Leaving Money On The Table.
Benefits
People always like free and will want to explore more
It can help get your name popular in forums
You can add affiliate hyperlinks in your free reports as well.
Tip #5.) Build your list!
Big huge must-do
This is something so incredibly important that alas, lots of people simply choose to miss, miss and miss yet again.
You simply HAVE to build your list.
Now, when I say "list", I mean the list of people who have submitted their name and email address to you. That's your "list".
Your list is crucial for beeyons of reasons! Let's say, for example, that your site happily ranks high in Google's search engine from the get-go and then one dark and sinister days, going spelunking in search of the Titanic (ie, you disappear from Google's search engine results).
Your traffic from Google will screech to a halt (as will your sales!). But if you have a list on which to rely, you can still proactively reach out and touch the folks who are interested in what you have to offer.
A. List. Is. Critical. You. Must. Build. Your. List.
I myself use aWeber for my list and have done so for over 8 years. You can read my review of it over at Review - aWeber autoresponder, going on 8 years now.
Other useful resources regarding list-building include:
57+ Tasty Resources for blog NEWSLETTERS, aWeber, autoresponders etc. you MUST see
How to Add a Sign Up Form to Your Lens
3 Critical Items for Building Your Business in the Recession
Benefits
People always like free and will want to explore more
It can help get your name popular in forums
You can add affiliate hyperlinks in your free reports as well.
Want other applications for autoresponders? Check out:
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTip #6.) Embrace marketing
Marketing and sales are NOT evil.
Ever see those overly hyped-swamped sales pages online that make you want to run screaming for a hot shower and clean towel?
Ever wonder why it's so prevalent online?
The answer is simple - it works.
It would be really truly wonderful if people would buy our products without us having to ask for the sale.
Alas, that's just not how the world works. So you simply HAVE to embrace marketing and TELL the your audience just WHY your products/services are the answers for which they have been searching.
Here are some great articles to help you with that:
Are You Afraid of Marketing or Do Sales Just Turn You Off?
How to Sell with a Clear Conscience
How to Promote Your Business and Win Clients
Benefits
People WON'T buy until they see the benefits you offer.
The more you think about your benefits, the more selling points you can outline, and the greater a probability you'll touch on a customer's emotional needs.
It's just a Really Nice Thing To Do. :)
Want some useful books about Internet marketing? Check out these Amazon.com goodies:
Internet marketing goodies
Tip #7.) Don't be afraid to ask for testimonials
Include that in your last customer-care followup
One of the best ways to encourage people to buy your products/services/etc. is to include a Happy Customer Testimonial page on your site.
And one of the easiest ways to obtain those testimonials is to.....simply ask.
I generally will close my customer-care followup autoresponder series with a polite request for a testimonial. Because I'm using an autoresponder, I don't have to worry about sending out the email myself - it gets done automatically.
The key is to make it easy for your customer to respond. You can include a hidden review page on your website and direct customers there, or simply tack on questions in your initial email.
Because my site is built off of Wordpress, I use the Secure Form Mailer Plugin For Wordpress to create my testimonials submission. It's free and it works great!
Other ideas for asking for testimonials include:
More Tips on Using Testimonials
5 Tips for Knockout Testimonials
How to Collect Tons of Testimonials with the Secret "SPURF" System
10 Secrets to Asking for Effective Client Testimonials for Your Website
Asking for testimonials - it's a Very Good Thing indeed.
Benefits
People are more naturally inclined to buy if they see other people are thrilled with your products/services too.
It's an effective way to close a customer care followup series.
Customers might have additional aspects to share of how your product benefited them that would appeal to other potential customers.
Tip #8.) Make your contact information impossible to miss
You have no idea how many people fail at this.....
QUICK!!! STOP RIGHT THERE!
When you think of contact information, what goes through your mind?
Is it your phone number?
Is it your email address?
Is it your Twitter ID?
Hmmmmmm?
What is it?
Even more telling....
Is it blatantly obvious on your site just WHERE your visitors can grab that information?
You see, not everyone lives for email. And not everyone craves being able to send a Twitter DM to individuals (fancy that!). And not everyone is comfortable using a phone.....
Thus....you want to ensure you include EVERY way to contact you that you can....phone, fax, email address, Twitter ID, Facebook page, etc.etc.etc.
Always have a Contact Me page obvious on your site...and always have as much contact information available as you can.
Benefits
By going overboard with your contact information, you ensure as many people can reach you as possible.
Sometimes people want to tweet about your product/articles/etc and will want to credit you in that tweet. So having your Twitter information obvious is a Good Thing.
Some people, like yours truly, are allergic to phones. Thus, having an email address apparent is also a Good Thing as well.
Want some ideas for good effective website design? Check out:
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTip #9.) Start a newsletter
Weekly updates/ezines brand your name on potential customers.
Including a newsletter on your website/blog is one of the smartest long-term thingees you can do.
Newsletters, like ezines, are built off of optin-forms that use an autoresponder backend.
The benefits to newsletters are astounding! Think about it this way - it's been said that it requires at least 7 exposures to a product before a customer is willing to buy. Well, what better way to gain that exposure than to offer a weekly newsletter, where every 7 days, your customer will be reminded not only of your name, but also the expertise you offer?
It's extremely easy to start a newsletter. Simply sign up for an autoresponder service, add an optin signup form to your site and you're good to go! And of course, if you need some additional handholding, you can check out my guide 
No Hype, Just What Works: Secrets To Adding a Newsletter To Your Blog The RIGHT Way...The FIRST Time
Need some free optin forms? Check out:
Winning List Building Templates from Tellman and Shawn
Free Squeeze Page Templates - Left the Box
FREE Opt-In Graphics & Templates
Benefits
You're branding your name each and every week on potential customers' minds.
You're proactively showcasing your expertise
You can use viral marketing and close your newsletters with a suggestion that the reader forward it to any of their network whom might be interested.
Tip #10 - Be a covert angel and give back to your community and friends
My final tip for my Top 10 Ways to Grow Your Business Online is very simple indeed. It's:
Go out of your way for your community and friends.
Think about it. As an online entrepreneur, you probably have skills your friends and community lack. Choose someone or something to help...and go out of your way to look out for that particular individual.
I've written quite a lot about this over at:
Be a covert angel and help YOUR friends help THEIR causes
Be a hero and proactively avert online disaster for your real life friends
Be an covert angel and set the groundwork for unwitting success
When you help your community, you're really giving back to businesses and people and friends who deserve it. It's a win-win any way you choose to look at it!
Benefits
You're doing a Good Deed and treating others the way you would like to be treated.
You're enabling others to reach success they wouldn't have been able to achieve prior to your assistance.
It's just a Really Nice Thing To Do. :)
And those are my top 10 ideas for business.
Share yours!
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And those are my top 10 ideas for growing your business. What's yours?
Please feel free to share your ideas and this page with your network...I'll bet they'll find it useful too. Oh, and if you get a chance, if you enjoyed reading this lens, might you rate it up top? I very much appreciate your time, thanks!
Share This! widget code was learned from the post: Squidoo Shameless Plug Widget. Credit - GreekGeek
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Reply
- sagespark sagespark Sep 19, 2009 @ 1:45 am
- Sage Spark has a great online invoicing tool called Billing Boss that does the following:
Your data and your customer information is encrypted and stored in a state of the art facility with regular backup.
Share data with your bookkeeper or accountant
Your customers can pay you immediately with online payments
Unlimited number of invoices you can create and send
And that's only a few of its features. But the very best thing about it is that it's FREE. Check it out at www.billingboss.com.
http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/03/show-me-the-money-online-invoicing-services-for-the-web-worker/
Sage Spark is offering online invoicing services for free with Billing Boss. It's the easiest way to create and send invoices and accept online payments. You can also share data with your accountant or bookkeeper which is a huge help when it's that time of the year to deal with taxes. You can check Billing Boss at www.billingboss.com.
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Reply
- ajgodinho ajgodinho Jul 26, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
- Powerful business building tips and very well presented/documented!
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Reply
- sandyspider sandyspider Jun 30, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
- Great advice. I will have to bookmark this to go back to.
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Reply
- KarateKatGraphics KarateKatGraphics Jun 27, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
- Wow, lots to chew on here! 5*
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Reply
- Pukeko Pukeko Jun 26, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
- Once again, I say thank you. This is so helpful. I will be rethinking the business domain name I was about to purchase. 5* and favourite
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by lingstar
Life...it's Character-Building! 
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