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References

"'Ask the Small Business Professor' is a must read for small business owners looking for free expert business advice. Using a Q&A format, Bruce Freeman covers important small business topics weekly by bringing in recognized experts on subjects including accounting, legal issues, trademarks marketing and sales. Don't miss it!"

Joseph L. Rosenberg

CPA

"I've been working with patients for almost 10 years as a Chiropractic Physician. I'm always looking for new ways to increase awareness of the valuable clinical services provided at my centers. Bruce Freeman has given me insightful ideas to assist in my marketing efforts. I rely on his 'Ask the Small Business Professor' column to keep me abreast of new trends and developments in the field. I couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable and capable advisor as my companies move forward into providing nationwide healthcare for patients."

Dr. Daniel Houshmand, D.C.

AlternaCare Wellness Centers, LLC

"I find the column inspiring and helpful to me in running my own small business."

Dan Janal

President and Founder

PRleads.com

"Bruce Freeman, The Small Business Professor, is a most valued and enthusiastic guest contributor to the business segment of our radio show dealing with the challenges facing today's entrepreneurs. His practical and insightful advice has served to enhance our ability, as broadcasters, to help business owners move ahead in their various fields of endeavor. ....Thank you, Bruce."

Sue Tovey / Sande Foster

Co-Hosts

WTBQ 1110 AM (ABC Affiliate Station)

"The Small Business Professor is a site that should be bookmarked by every entrepreneur. In today's business environment, it is difficult to gather information and obtain answers to the myriad of questions that face business owners. Bruce Freeman's 'Ask the Small Business Professor' column is an excellent resource that provides guidance, up-to-the-minute information, mentoring, and more."

Irene Maslowski

APR Principal

Maslowski & Associates Public Relations

Online Ads

Dear Professor Bruce:

As a small business owner, how can I get better visibility for my business online when I don’t have a lot of money to spend on advertising?

Answer:

Online search advertising is a great way for small businesses to develop an online presence. Search companies like Google, Yahoo! and MSN offer advertising services to help small businesses market themselves online. These advertising programs allow small businesses to create their own uniquely-tailored campaign affordably to reach a targeted customer base.

When you go into a search engine and plug in a keyword, you see resulting ad placements or “sponsored links” listed alongside search results. Advertisers can bid on their advertisement’s placement on the results page, connecting with millions of potential customers who are already searching for what you offer. Let's say you’re running a gourmet coffee website that sells everything from whole beans to espresso machines. You want people who are searching for great coffee products to visit your site.

Online search advertising program details vary, but all share the same goal: To provide a simple way for businesses of any size to advertise online. Some solutions to look into would be Google AdWords, Yahoo! Advertising and Microsoft adCenter.

According to Emily White, Google online sales and operations director, “your ad campaign’s effectiveness depends largely on how you plan, create, and maintain it”. Here are a few tips:

  1. Know your audience. Precision is the key to search advertising: You want to reach the right users at the right time. Take a good look at the products and services you're selling and the customers who are buying.
  2. Identify your goals. Once you have a clear sense of your business, stay focused on how to reach your customers. Structure each campaign based on a simple, overarching goal such as a category, product line (coffee, tea, or machines), or theme (seasonal or promotional).
  3. Choose powerful keywords. Choosing keywords is both an art and a science. Start brainstorming by expanding your list as widely as possible. Try to think like your users do.
  4. Write 'gotta-click' ads. It's time to write the ads that users will see when they search on your keywords -- the ads that will make them feel they must click on your ad to learn more.
  5. Hit the right users with the right ads. Once you know your potential customers’ key demographics, you can target individual campaigns to reach your audience.
  6. Track down to the last customer. After your campaign goes live, measure its results regularly. Keep a close watch on your account statistics, review your own web logs, and use conversion tracking software (available for free through some advertising programs).
  7. Test. Adapt. Thrive. Continually review what you’ve set up, keeping in mind that there's always room for improvement and that online advertising environment is dynamic.

For further information, readers may contact https://adwords.google.com/.

"your ad campaign's effectiveness depends largely on how you plan, create, and maintain it".