| To survive today, small business owners must | | | | Internet. The first is to select the option |
| develop and implement an online business | | | | of making your store "searchable by the |
| strategy. An online business strategy allows | | | | search engines". The second is to choose key |
| a small business owner to increase sales to | | | | words for your items that will attract search |
| whatever level they desire without expanding | | | | engines. What are key words?Simply put, a |
| or changing their existing location.A small | | | | search engine will look for the words a |
| town doesn't have to mean small | | | | person designates during their search in |
| business.There are currently 300 million | | | | order to find relevant sites for them. So, |
| customers online worldwide with the numbers | | | | the more keywords you can think of that could |
| increasing every day. Businesses like eBay | | | | be used to describe your items, including |
| and Amazon have helped to educate and | | | | misspellings, the better chance you have of |
| familiarize people with the concept of buying | | | | being found by a search engine. Why is this |
| online. Every day, more and more people of | | | | critical?Google.com, a major search engine, |
| all ages are online.Where traditional retail | | | | has over four billion websites in their |
| operations are growing at about 4.5% | | | | database. You have to do something to |
| annually, online sales are growing at a rate | | | | increase your own chances of being found. Key |
| of 28%. It's clear to see where the trends | | | | words are one way to do that. So if you sold |
| are going. They are going to online | | | | gift baskets, for instance, you might choose |
| stores.These figures are good news for every | | | | the following keywords and keyword phrases: |
| business owner, particularly those in small | | | | "gift basket", "gift baskets", "birthday |
| towns. Why? To successfully compete | | | | basket", "gift", "anniversary basket", "25th |
| nationwide or worldwide is no longer a | | | | anniversary basket", "50th anniversary |
| problem for small businesses. When a business | | | | basket", etc. You get the picture!In addition |
| has a professional online presence, the size | | | | to the cheap and easy promotion tools in your |
| and location of the business are not readily | | | | eBay Store, there are other cheap and easy |
| apparent. Anyone can compete online with the | | | | methods of marketing your store. Among the |
| right knowledge and tools.In addition, the | | | | many methods are: free online classified ads, |
| cost associated with starting a business | | | | email signature lines, business cards, and |
| online or moving a business online is | | | | flyers in your brick & mortar store. Let's |
| relatively cheap. It takes a website and some | | | | start with the free online classified |
| savvy marketing skills. Let's look at how we | | | | ads.There are hundreds of online sites that |
| can cost effectively achieve | | | | offer free classified ads. Simply search for |
| this.WebsitesWebsites can involve a lot of | | | | "free classified ads" in any search engine. |
| time and money if you are not knowledgeable | | | | There will be hundreds! Make certain that you |
| about the subject. Rather than spend the time | | | | have a good and compelling 25-word ad for |
| and money for a website right now, consider | | | | your eBay Store. Then, post it everywhere you |
| an eBay Store as an alternative.An eBay Store | | | | can for free! Another free method is your |
| gives you all the benefits of a website | | | | email signature line.You probably use email |
| without the cost and time. Once established, | | | | right now. Once you have your eBay Store |
| an eBay Store will provide your business with | | | | established, make certain you add the hot |
| a unique web address. This web address can be | | | | link to your store right under your signature |
| promoted like any website and included in | | | | and add that 25-word ad too. In this way, |
| Internet search engine results.To establish | | | | everyone that receives an email from you will |
| an eBay Store, you need to sign up for a | | | | receive your eBayä Store information too. |
| seller account at eBay. They have an easy | | | | And, every message from you, forwarded to |
| step-by-step process for accomplishing that | | | | someone else, will also carry your hot link |
| task. You will need to go through their | | | | too!And, last but not least, add your eBay |
| five-dollar "ID Verified" process so they | | | | Store information to business cards and |
| will waive the feedback requirements for a | | | | flyers available in your brick and mortar |
| store. The first 30 days of the store is | | | | store. In this way, existing customers can |
| free. Then the fee is $9.95 per month | | | | check out the new store location online and |
| thereafter. To add items to your store only | | | | refer your site to others.ConclusionThe |
| costs pennies per item and is accomplished | | | | future of retail is online. All the trends |
| through an easy to understand | | | | are pointing in that direction. The longer a |
| template.Marketing Your Online PresenceOnce | | | | small business waits, the farther behind they |
| you have established your online presence via | | | | become. Don't be left behind! Start today! |
| an eBay Store, it's time to promote the | | | | Ready?Michele Schermerhorn has over 30 years |
| store. There are many ways to do online | | | | experience in the business world and over 12 |
| promotion. They range from free and easy to | | | | years running her own successful online |
| expensive and complicated. So, let's start | | | | businesses. She is President of Online |
| free and easy first.In your eBay Store, you | | | | Business Institute Inc. ( Online Business |
| have access to a menu of management items. | | | | Institute Inc. exists to "Create Successful |
| Two of these are critical to your promotion | | | | Online Business Owners One Person At A Time". |
| of your eBayä Store throughout the | | | | |