If you’re a small business, online advertising is a wonderful option for many reasons:

1) It’s very inexpensive. Placing small ads in online magazines, newsletters, or on web sites can cost just a few dollars. Even bidding on keywords for pay per click sites can cost just a little bit of money. Some forms of online advertising — such as pay per click and pay per call — only require that you pay when someone clicks on your ad or calls you. Web sites that can reach millions of customers cost only a few dollars a year. This makes online advertising very cost-effective.

2) It can be free. Many businesses love the fact that there are forms of online promotion that are completely free. Setting up your own business blog can cost you nothing if you lose use a public blog software. Similarly, link exchanges are free, as long as you are willing to promote someone else’s web site on your own. Social networking sites are another great place for you to advertise your business at no cost whatsoever.

3) It can be very effective. While you can only reach so many people with print ads — only the people who pick up a particular magazine have a chance of seeing your ad in that magazine — online advertising is virtually limitless. Millions of people could potentially see your web sites, online ads, or banner ads. There is really no limit as to how many people could find your URL online. Thanks to the fact that web sites are archived, it is possible that customers could continue to see your ad even after a newsletter is no longer online or a website is closed down.

4) It allows customers to click right to your company web site. If you run a print ad, customers who are interested in your product or services need to call you or contact you in some way in order for you to make a sale. However, with online advertising, converting leads into customers is simpler, because you can easily have customers click to your online retail site and buy your products. Whether you’re selling Trapp candles and Tocca candles or designer shoes, you can start making sales quickly online. In many cases, it’s only one click from ad to completed sale.

5) It’s time effective. In fact, you can farm out your entire online marketing campaign to a good web design company. The firm can take care of all the details – from designing a campaign to implementing it. Even if you do not have the budget to hire such a company right now, you can get started today. Setting up a blog takes only a few minutes. Publishing an article on a directory takes only a few seconds. Fifteen minutes a day spent on online advertising, every day, can lead to an impressive marketing campaign in just a few weeks.

Small businesses need to advertise more than large businesses. While everyone has heard of the major sports companies, soft drink companies, and beauty products, small businesses need to work hard in order to educate the public about their products and services. Small businesses just don’t have products and services that are as easily recognizable, and this means that they must launch advertising campaigns in order to promote their brands.

The problem is that many small businesses have limited budgets when it comes to advertising, and this can limit how much advertising can be done – or at least it limits the national TV commercials and big ads in glossy magazines. The good news is that small businesses don’t have to spend a small fortune in order to get their businesses off the ground. There are many ways that businesses can advertise for very little money:

1) Media attention. Get to know reporters, writers, bloggers, newscasters, and other media professionals in your locality. Join online media groups and writers groups, especially those that have areas where writers can request interview subjects. The more often you are placed in articles and on the news, the more buzz will be created around your business. Whether you’re selling Votivo candles, Tocca candles, computers, or stationary, this sort of attention can build your business.

2) Sponsorship signs. If you sponsor a runner at your local marathon, sponsor a booth at the local fair, or sponsor a high school carwash, you will generally be able to advertise your company with the help of a large sign at the events itself. The great news is that local marathons, local fairs, and local car washes all bring in lots of people, so your sign will be seen by everyone. You will not only be doing good, but your business — whether that businesses selling perfumes, laptops, or software — will get some exposure to.

3) Local publications. Many small businesses advertise in their local small newspapers. These are often great places to advertise, because so many people glance through newspapers, local magazines, and other local publications. Be especially sure to look out for small free publications — people will often grab these and flip through them while waiting at a dentist’s office or bank. The ad rates in these small papers can be very attractive, as well.

4) Websites, blogs, and social media sites. It only costs a few dollars a month to have a website. Many blogs are free and allow you to tell customers all about your business. Social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace are also a wonderful way to advertise your business for nothing at all.

5) Talks. Schools, businesses, clubs, and associations all need speakers who can educate and entertain audiences. If you are a florist, for example, you can give a talk at your local garden club about the perfect wedding bouquets or at your local school about the history of flowers. After your talk, you can hand out your business cards or flyers.