Internet Marketing For Non-Net SmallCo

Internet Marketing For a Non Net SmallCo....

Well, first you just have to do the basics

• if you have walk-in customers/clients (e.g. Small Retail), make sure you have a good Voice Mail system, and your outgoing message is kept current (covering open-hours for the next weeks, keeping in mind holidays/etc)
  • VoIP/PBX options for very-small group:
    • 8x8 (link removed by request)
    • http://www.m5.net/
    • combine Google Voice and Open Vbx (built on top of Twilio) (it's Open Source, meant to run yourself, but there are multiple hosting services available) (this still smells like something best left to techie people)
• have your own Domain name, make a One Page Site, include physical location (if appropriate), phone number, email
  • Dec'2009: 46% of US small businesses did not have a WebSite.
  • that first cut doesn't have to be pretty, just non-ugly - picking a generic theme from your One Page Site builder is fine
  • but you need some good Story Telling there to distinguish yourself (in the customer's eyes) from the alternatives
• I'd suggest using GoogleApps for everything - you can register the domain there, build the website, have GMail and a Calendar, etc.
• Have a Mobile for reading EMail, etc. - I'd recommend Android for integration with the Google stack
• Make sure your business phone listing includes your domain name, if possible. Make sure your business and its domain name are included in Google Maps.
• Have a simple WebLog for posting basic logistical updates like holiday hours, etc. Link this from your One Page Site. Even better if you have a widget to display/link recent Headlines from your blog right on the One Page Site. I don't know if Google provides this with their Sites and Blogger.
• You'd be surprised how few small businesses accomplish even this.

Level 2: some marketing - 2011-09-20-Scoble[[Internet MarketingForNon NetSmallCo]]

• May'2012 update: an even better Level2 recommendation from Derek Halpern - create a Loyalty Program with "artificial advancement".