Author: Kevin Flanagan | August 28, 2013 | Technology Digital

For new small businesses and entrepreneurs, it may seem unnecessary to bother with online marketing since you”re only beginning your business. However, even a small local business can benefit immensely from online marketing. In a recent study by Search Engine Land, 85 percent of consumers surveyed searched for local businesses online.

You don”t need special skills to reach your customers online. You only need to understand the tools and techniques entrepreneurs and big companies alike use to get their name out to consumers, and find which ones are right for you. Here are seven marketing strategies you can use for your business to gain the edge you need to stand out in the crowded world of online businesses:

Content Marketing

Consumers ignore many forms of traditional marketing, such as print and billboard ads. Content marketing, however, creates relevant and meaningful content consumers actually want. Instead of pitching your services or product with a flashy picture, content marketing relies on delivering content in the form of blog posts, ebooks, articles, and infographics that engage and inform consumers. AOL Research has found more than 27 million pieces of content are shared daily by users, and that consumers spend more than half their time online consuming content. Quality content is likely to be shared, and re-shared, and can provide you with a chance to reach new customers passively. Create search engine optimized, keyword-rich content likely to be found by search engines, and make sure your content is crisp, edited and free of mistakes.

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