If you are a new business owner, there’s a good chance you have realised that every business, new or established, simply has to have an online presence. Of course, that becomes trickier when you are working with the budget that most new business owners have – limited, and reserved for the truly important things in your business! With both websites, digital marketing services and even the creation of your business plan becoming ever more affordable, few would be entrepreneurs still have a real excuse for not getting up and running with their business idea.
The good news is that as a new business owner, you can start working on your online presence right away, without spending a fortune, and in this article, we look at how you as an entrepreneur, can get your business start-up online without breaking the bank.
When most of us think about websites, we think of expensive monstrosities, with all the bells and whistles. We also think of the price tag that goes with hiring a team of technical people to do all the clever things necessary to make those websites happen.
The good news is that thanks to new technology, your website really can cost you less than twenty dollars.
The first step, which is unavoidable, is to register your business domain name. That could be the name of your company, or anything else you like. Depending on who you register your domain with, and which type of domain extension you choose for your new business website, that could cost anything from 99c to around $20.
Once that’s done, you could use one of the site builder services, like Yola, Webs or Weebly to create a site, using the very simplest drag and drop interface you can imagine, or if you’re a little more tech savvy, a free host, and a Joomla, Mambo or Wordpress site.
All of these website options allow the new business owner to have a brand new website, in a matter of hours or days, for less than the cost of a meal in a take out restaurant. You cannot beat that.
Getting Social
Another valuable tool for building an online presence, when it comes to new businesses with limited budgets, are social networks. Whether it is a group on Facebook, or connecting with business leads on Linked In, or networking on twitter, most social networking is free, and can help you to build an online following, without spending a cent.
Start small, by inviting friends and family, or by adding links to your group and other pages to your website, and as links on the bottom of your emails. Over time, you should find that it is a nice way to connect with your customers, with potential customers, and with all kinds of other interested parties.
Directories and Places
Finally, for the cash strapped new business owner, there is another great free way to boost interest in your business. There are many directories, both local and national, and even some global directories, that allow you to have a basic listing for your business at no charge.
You can also add your site to free services like Google Places, DMOZ, and of course submit it to all the search engines.
The truth is, it is cheaper than ever to get an online presence for your new business. It does not have to cost you a fortune, and you do not have to be a rocket scientist to do it. Since your web presence can help to keep you in contact with existing customers, and expose you to new customers, or even become a sales portal all on it’s own.
Do not write off the internet as a marketing or sales tool just because yours is a new business. Look for the cheaper and free options, and do it yourself. You can always upgrade later, and it is never too early to start!
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