If you are an emerging or start-up business, the options available to get your business online seem overwhelming. This article will assist in guiding you through some basic steps, and have your business online and ready to go in a few simple steps!

My Business Online – The Online Directory

Now using internet business directories to get your business online is not a bad idea when you are starting off. One thing to remember, be memorable. Be prepared with a description of your business (usually 300 words is a good size), and a few sizes of your business logo, in case the directory allows for logo upload. When browsing through online directories, it is amazing how few businesses bother to complete their details fully. The more details, the better!

One of the sure-fire ways to get your business online, are through online directory listings. These are usually websites which accept business listings similar to a telephone book. They have categories under which you can specify your business’s area of expertise, and usually allow contact details, a description, and sometimes even your company logo.No single online directory is the same, and all have different payment options. There are a few free online directories, other’s give one free listing and the rest have to be paid for. Some online directory sites will let you list for free, but if you wish to have your advertisement highlighted, then a fee is paid to “highlight” your listing.

Business Website

Another important factor to remember is that having a company website will also draw online visitors, and potential customers browsing for products or services online. A website is always a good thing to have, as it provides a ton more information than a simple directory listing ever could. Also, a website can harness your advertising power in quite a few ways.

For example, with a carefully thought out website design, you can give your potential customers or clients in-depth details about your services and products. This could go a long way into selling them before they even walk through your doors or pick up the phone. Having a wealth of informative articles relevant to your area of expertise is also a sure-fire way to receive more business.

People browsing the internet are often on the lookout for information. They are usually gathering either a mental or physical short list of the products or services they wish to purchase. Help them make their decision by giving them information about the products or services they wish to buy. By giving them this unbiased information upfront, you are forming a level of trust before even speaking to the client directly.

Here are a few resources about your business website:

Free Websites

Intelligent Website Design

Responsive Website Design

Website Design 101

It would be good for you to go through these articles before making a decision on any website design company or product.

Online Paid Advertising

This is separate from online directories for one reason. The advertising purchased through paid advertising channels such as Google Ad-Words, do not appear on a singular website directory or page. When purchasing advertising through Google Ad-Words, for example, people searching for products or services that match your requirements will see your advertisement on the top of the search results on the Google page.

These advertisements also appear on other websites, where the authors of the website have allowed for this advertising to be present. This type of advertising is  usually very effective for a few reasons. Firstly, the Google engine is highly sophisticated and intelligent, and only serves relevant advertisements to online visitors. For example, if viewing a website about second-hand car sales, Google ads would show only advertisements for companies selling automobile parts, vehicle insurance or similar.

Therefore, the audience is highly relevant and would be more likely to click on your ads and get taken through to your website. So any traffic you receive from Google Ad-words is usually highly relevant.

So, to recap, there are three ways to get your business online. The quick and easy is through free online directory listings. The second, also quick, but not free, are through paid advertising such as Google Ad-Words. And the third, and most effective, is through a website dedicated to your company.