| Most small businesses today are on the verge of | | | | Another thing that Susie learns through her online |
| closing their doors. More and more are shutting down | | | | studies, is that advertising her business doesn't have to |
| each day. For the average business owner, keeping | | | | be expensive. She can use many techniques to gain |
| their current customers and constantly gaining new | | | | low cost advertising. A combination of email marketing, |
| ones is the key to keeping their businesses afloat. For | | | | forum marketing, article marketing, social networking, |
| an example, I will use Susie's Toy Store as an | | | | and social bookmarking can be used effectively as |
| example of how small business advertising could | | | | small business advertising. When these marketing |
| determine if she can remain in business or not. | | | | efforts are used simultaneously, they will bring large |
| Susie is a working mother of 4 children who has been | | | | amounts of visitors to her website. |
| in business for 2 years operating a small kids toy store. | | | | These local online ads can be automated to greatly |
| A new super center just opened up in the nearby | | | | reduce the time it takes Susie to get her name and |
| town and they offer cheaper prices for their toys. | | | | business in front of potential customers. For example, |
| Suddenly, Susie's customer base vanishes. | | | | forum marketing can be automated at an affordable |
| Susie checks on the internet and sees that other small | | | | price, to send out private messages to all members |
| toy stores are able to sell their items online, but Susie | | | | with a tool called Traffic Guaranteed.tv. Social |
| doesn't know how to do any local online advertising. | | | | networking sites can be automated by using Twit |
| She does have a website however, but doesn't have | | | | Source. |
| any products directly for sale on it. She debates on | | | | Combining marketing efforts could be the difference |
| what to do to keep her business open. | | | | between Susie's Toy Store remaining open or Susie |
| Susie then finds a training course online called | | | | having to close her doors and find a 9 to 5 job. |
| Concentric Local Advertising. She jumps right in and | | | | Unfortunately, the scenario above happens everyday |
| gets to work learning how to fix her website and how | | | | in the United States. Business owners can, without |
| to market her products online. She makes her website | | | | warning, be faced with a low customer base and |
| much cleaner and adds a few of her popular products | | | | falling sales. When struck with this dilemma, the ones |
| to it. She then decides to market those products | | | | who seek out a local online advertising solution have a |
| heavily. She learns that local website marketing can | | | | much greater chance of gaining new customers and |
| drive new customers to her website and in turn, result | | | | sustaining their business. |
| in more sales. | | | | |