3 (Free!) Ways to Organize & Market Your Small Business Online

Nearly half of all small businesses fail within the first five years, largely due to lack of planning.

Finding the time and money for marketing is also a common struggle, but necessary to stay afloat.

Luckily, Internet tools make researching, strategizing and spreading the word about your business easier, faster and cheaper than ever before.

Here are three options to get you started:

Sculpt your social media presence. With over one billion users, Facebook is one of a small businesses greatest marketing platforms. Create a company page, regularly updated with news and incentives.

Add it to your email signature, send messages to your friends and tell everyone in your yoga class. Make your connections work for you.

And, don’t forget to sign up for other popular networks that may appeal to your target market, such as Twitter or YouTube. That way, you can cross promote and reach even more potential customers.

Test Google products. Want to track online press coverage? Sign up for Google Alerts for email notifications. Need to call a client across the country? Try Google Voice. Looking for free cloud storage? Two words: Google Docs.

Google is always adding to its repertoire and regularly introduces new tools in Google Labs.

Launch your website with Weebly. A simple drag and drop site, it allows you to make your own website – for free. Upload photos, videos and audio. And, if you’re in the e-commerce business, you can even set up shop for free.

Bonus PINK Link: Be a part of the Anti-networking Movement.

What free online tools do you use to market your business?

By Christine Stoddard

Christine Stoddard is a writer and television producer in Washington, D.C. She owns the arts and communications firm, Quail Bell Press & Productions, LLC.

“Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.” Debbi Fields