Do You Have a Professional Presence on the Internet?

The Internet is also one of the most expedient and cost effective ways of marketing your services and products. At least 80 per cent of my business this past year came through people and/or organizations that found me on the Internet.

In this article, I discuss the major channels for Internet marketing: e-mail, articles, and e-books.

E-mail is a Terrific Way to Let Others Know What You Do

First of all, I am not and will never suggest spam. I don't even send e-mails to current clients unless they have asked for it or know that it is coming. But I do send out a huge amount of e-mail to the people in the organizations for which I volunteer, to lists and discussion groups to which I belong, and to others who have e-mailed me with a request and/or a question.

So, how do I let people know what I do? I use the signature files in my e-mail programs. I have set a regular signature file with my name, address, phone number and links to my websites. Even if you don't yet have a website, giving your title with a short statement about what you do along with contact information will spark readers' interest. Including your address and phone number also speaks of credibility - people realize that you are not some fly-by-night operation.

Start an E-Newsletter (E-Zine)

You may already subscribe to several e-newsletters, yourself. Again, never start sending one to those who haven't asked for it (it is called opt-in). I have two free e-newsletters, one that I send out bi-weekly and another that I send out monthly. Yes, it takes work and discipline, but the rewards are almost too numerous to list. The good part is that it keeps me posting new information on a regular basis (thus, directing readers back to my site).

An e-newsletter is also a great relationship building tool and keeps me in touch with clients – current and potential. Remember, people prefer to hire those they, “know, like, and trust.” A well written and regular e-newsletter produces that effect.

Start Writing Articles and Offer Them to Other Websites

I know how much I appreciate a well written article for my information sites. It adds variety to my pages and gives me a break from having to write new articles every month. So, what's in it for you? If the site you are writing for gets lots of visitors they will read your article and in return you will gain exposure.

Make sure that they use a short bio about yourself or your organization and what you do, along with how to get in touch with you. This works especially well if you have a website they can link to.

Write an E-Book

Presently, E-books, from most reports, are not selling big time, but they still are selling. In my opinion, they will never replace the printed book, but they will continue to grow in sales.

The advantages of writing and selling an e-book are: you can update them in a timely fashion, you can price them reasonably (all the profit is yours and they are nearly cost-free to produce), they give you credibility and visibility (establishing you as an expert), they are a way to combine your free articles , and are fun to write.

So, what do you know that other business owners would like to know about? What experiences have you had that others can learn from? Again, there are many resources on the Internet about e-books and producing e-books.

Chris King (www.creativekeys.biz and www.freelanceliving.com) is a website designer/developer, writer, speaker, and professional storyteller who is passionate about computers, IT, and the Internet.

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