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How can I find a reputable company to help me market my small business?
I have tried different marketing companies to help jump-start my internet website. I have realized that these companies tell you one thing and never produce it after they get your money. I want to get more exposure for my website and I need help from a company that works with small businesses.

Asked by contesias
Posted: Thursday, August 28, 2008  |  Found in Sales & Marketing

More answers by Pattie Simone
Answer by Pattie Simone
This is a huge problem for a lot of folks and, unfortunately, a lot of people are getting ripped off. In addition, what may be fine for one local internet business may not work at all for another internet firm seeking national sales.

Overall, you need a bunch of stuff firing on all pistons for an internet business to reap the profits you want. First, you need to work with a professional webmaster who is skilled at designing an SEO-friendly website, with proper meta data and title and alt tags. You'll get better returns from great content and an intuitive visitor-friendly experience, which means your shopping cart, should be sales-friendly as well. With a great product, customer service and a well-designed and optimized site, you have half the work done.

The next steps involve creating a buzz about what you sell or what you do. Post a YouTube video, write blogs (on your own blog and on others) and do podcasts with client testimonials. Get a professional press release written and posted in various online distribution services and submit to print, radio, cable and network TV outlets in your own neck of the woods. Submit articles to other well-visited sites, reach out and get quality inbound links and produce an e-newsletterÂ…and don't forget traditional networking and targeted direct mail.

Bottom line—it pays to work with professionals who can get the job done right, so you can actually drive the right traffic to your site. So, do some due diligence: Ask other business owners with similar kinds of sites, read, get some referrals and you'll be able to find the right partners (an online marketing strategist/expert, webmaster, SEO expert, professional web copywriter and PR writer) to help you run and grow your business.

Best of luck in your venture!
Viral activist and communications guru Pattie Simone is a nationally known business speaker, writer and consultant. Simone is president and chief success strategist at Write-Communications.com and Marketing-Advantage.net, founder of WomenCentric, a sassy women's speaking bureau and a columnist for WomenEntrepreneur.com.

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