Article Contributed by Rob Stretch

With the Web 2.0 boom in recent years and the advent of social media, it is easier than ever today to start a business. And it is also possible to extend the marketing scope of your business to reach thousands, even millions of people each month.

So where do you start?

1. Research Industry Blogs

No matter what industry you go into, a plethora of blogs will be available. Start your search at Blogcatalog and Technorati, then expand by checking out blogrolls of related sites.

2. Buy an E-book

Many blogs will offer to sell you an e-book on how to get started in the industry. While many of these are overpriced to worthless, some offer invaluable information on starting your business. Do a Google search for reviews to see which one to buy.

3. Build Your Website and Blog

Companies today should have blogs! Maybe your business is your blog and you’re monetizing with advertising or affiliate links. Or perhaps your business is an online retailer. Either way, a blog is a tangible way that your customers can connect to your business. Blog about industry trends, what’s going on at the office, your goals etc.

4. Social Media

The two most essential social media platforms for the time-being are Facebook and Twitter. Take some time and get acquainted with both of these services. Make a fan-page on Facebook and invite all of your friends. Make a Twitter profile and start connecting to people in your industry. The sky is the limit on the exposure you can achieve with just these two services alone. The key is customization. Make sure to customize your profiles for each to fit the feel of your brand. See Mashable for more tips on social media.

5. Optimize, Optimize, Optimize

Start trying to get your site to rank on the major search engines. Whole books have been written on this subject alone but here are a few tips:

· Focus on your internal structure. Make sure every page is crawl-able, you have a clean and navigable site map, and that you’re linking internally using embedded text and not meaningless phrases like “click here” or “see this article”.

· Make sure you know the keywords you’re targeting.

· Start the link-building process. Reach out to fellow bloggers on related sites and offer to write guest posts. Many bloggers will often let you link your site in exchange for free content.

Starting an online business is time-consuming, make no doubt about it. But it is a relatively easy way to break into the world of entrepreneurship and small business. If you’ve ever had the urge to start your own business, this is a great opportunity for you. Once you earn your first dollar via your website, it will all be worth your time.

About the Author
Rob Stretch is currently a student at the University of Missouri. He works part-time as a search engine optimizer for VAMortgageCenter.com.

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