An acquaintance of mine who changes “businesses” about as often as a teenager changes clothes recently sent me a postcard announcing his latest venture: Internet Business Consulting. He was, his announcement proclaimed, ready to help businesses set up Web pages to do business on the Internet.

This was the individual’s third business in two years. Previous ventures included selling advertising specialties and starting a niche-market magazine, neither of which were successful. Remarkably, this gentleman had only learned how to use a computer and modem a couple of months prior to sending out that mailing.

Whether this newly minted Internet consultant ever found customers, or knew enough to actually create a professional Web presence for anyone is a matter of speculation. What isn’t speculation, however, is the hype surrounding the Internet. Big and small businesses alike are racing to the Web expecting it to be a low-cost, no-effort alternative to traditional advertising and marketing methods.

Not surprisingly, many are disappointed.

While a Web site lets you put information about your company and products where it can be found by millions of people, it’s not the answer to every marketing problem.

Potential customers aren’t going to find your web site unless you tell them about it and give them a reason to want to visit the page. In other words, you have to market the Web site.

So what can you do to market your business at low cost? Here are 24 proven methods to help get your business off the ground without spending a fortune.

(more…)