| Just because you have a small local business doesn't | | | | interactive. Readers are encouraged to leave |
| mean you shouldn't be using the Internet to connect | | | | comments and ask questions, so you're always in |
| with your customers. | | | | touch. They can be updated in just minutes, so there's |
| Sure, the Internet is everywhere, and your customers | | | | no huge time commitment, and most people find them |
| all live within 7 miles of your store, but so what? | | | | to be a lot of fun to set up and maintain. You could |
| Communicating with them online is still the most | | | | make one employee the blogger for the business, or |
| efficient, least expensive way to stay in touch. | | | | give each employee a login and allow them all to |
| Traditionally, small businesses sent out postcards or | | | | contribute. |
| flyers announcing sales and specials. The bulk rate for | | | | The truth is, for less than the cost of that single mailing |
| post cards is now over 20 cents, so if you have only | | | | of postcards to 500 customers, you can set up your |
| 500 customers the postage alone will run you $100. | | | | own website on your own domain, and give your |
| Add to that the cost of printing, and you'll soon find out | | | | customers a virtual storefront where they can catch |
| that bulk mailings are not cost effective. | | | | up on the latest news about your business without |
| You can accomplish the same thing for a lot less by | | | | having to leave the house or even walk to the mail |
| connecting with your customers online. An email | | | | box. |
| service like Aweber starts at less than $20 per month, | | | | Websites and blogs are great if your customers |
| and you can send unlimited messages to your | | | | already know about your site, but how can you get |
| customers. You don't have to worry about printing | | | | them to a new site? You'll probably hear all kinds of |
| costs, and you're not forced to fit your message onto | | | | confusing terms like SEO and pay per click and |
| one side of a four by six postcard. | | | | keyword optimized, but to bring local visitors to your |
| Another great way to keep in touch with your | | | | site, all you really need to do is interact with them. |
| customers is through a blog. A blog is a kind of | | | | Participate in local forums, comment on other local |
| website which you update weekly or daily - or as | | | | blogs, meet people on social networking sites like |
| often as you choose - with news about your business, | | | | Twitter and Facebook. These activities will naturally |
| in store specials, manufacturer special offers, even | | | | bring customers to your site, without the technical |
| pictures of the store mascot's new kittens, if you like. | | | | worries of SEO and pay per click. |
| Unlike catalog or brochure type sites, blogs are | | | | |