Smart Online Marketing

Article marketing can be an effective way to introduce potential customers to your company. How does this work?

You write a four to six hundred word article on any given topic, then you include your byline with a link to your company's website. Now take that article and submit it to free article directories and you have free advertising.

If you're not comfortable writing, hire a ghostwriter to write two or three articles. Think of topics that your customers might want to know. Do they want to know about the common causes of athlete's foot? How to burp a baby? Ways to train a puppy gently?

Ask yourself, "What is my customer searching for?"

Now that you've discovered what your customer is searching for, you can write the article in any variety of ways.

One common format is to start with an introduction that describes the customer's problem and hooks the reader. Paragraphs two-four supply more information while building toward the ending. The final paragraph should wrap up everything nicely.

Once you've written the article, do a quick spelling and grammar check. Is everything neat and well organized? Do you get to the point without rambling on?

Next, add your byline. Usually two to three sentences about you or your company and a link to your website where readers can learn more about you. And right there you have it, free advertising for a very small investment!

With so many companies vying for your customer's attention, it's easy to forget that consumers notice little things. Like an email newsletter that's sent out correctly or one that's sent out incorrectly.

While you can't perfect every newsletter before it's sent, you can maximize your chances that not only will your customers continue to buy from you but that they'll share your newsletter with family, friends and even colleagues.

So, what can you do to maximize those odds? Follow these smart online marketing tips and you'll be on your way to maximizing your client database!

Encourage customers to forward your newsletter. A simple "forward this" button in your newsletter or even a note encouraging customers to forward the note often work wonders.

Offer a discount to existing customers for referring new customers. Everyone likes getting something for free. Encourage your customers to refer everyone-their friends, family or even colleagues-to your site then reward those customers that do.

Include your company's contact information in the footer and unsubscribe link. This might sound counter-productive at first but it's one of those marketing rules that makes your customers respect you.

Interact with your customers. Whether through a message board or newsletter comments, let your customers know you want to hear what they have to say.

Give your customers a deal. Periodically send out coupon codes that can be redeemed on your website. Some companies offer simple ten percent off coupons while others offer a ten dollars off of a $60 order. Both coupon methods can be effective.

Whatever you do, always practice smart email marketing etiquette and your customer will remember your company!