to the cost of rent for an off-line business. Web sites also offer benefits other marketing tools don’t, such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily. In addition, Web sites offer consumers access to a company’s products and services twenty-fouIf you’re a small business, you know how hard it is to compete against larger, wealthier competitors. Indeed, today’s small businesses face a dilemma. While they need to sell their products and services as much as any Global 1000 company, many lack the marketing resources big firms take for granted. For example, large companies have highly aggressive sales people driving sales. These people contact customers and prospects regularly, reminding them of a product’s or service’s existence as well as its advantages and benefits. Unfortunately, many small businesses lack the resources to do this and employing other traditional marketing methods, like print advertising and direct mail, is not always financially feasible either. To compensate small businesses must find a way to ratchet up their marketing communications programs. What’s needed is a dynamic, cost-effective way of marketing products and services, one that helps small businesses battle competitors and capture market share.

The Internet has been a viable alternative marketing method for small business. Publishing a Web site is a proven way of selling one’s products and services, and an effective means of reaching a worldwide marketplace. In fact, it costs less to build a site than most people think, particularly when compared to the cost of rent for an off-line business. Web sites also offer benefits other marketing tools don’t, such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily. In addition, Web sites offer consumers access to a company’s products and services twenty-four

ies have highly aggressive sales people driving sales. These people contact customers and prospects regularly, reminding them of a product’s or service’s existence as well as its advantages and benefits. Unfortunately, many small businesses lack the resources to do this and employing other traditional marketing methods, like print advertising and direct mail, is not always financially feasible either. To compensate small businesses must find a way to ratchet up their marketing communications programs. What’s needed is a dynamic, cost-effective way of marketing products and services, one that helps small businesses battle competitors and capture market share.

The Internet has been a viable alternative marketing method for small business. Publishing a Web site is a proven way of selling one’s products and services, and an effective means of reaching a worldwide marketplace. In fact, it costs less to build a site than most people think, particularly when compared to the cost of rent for an off-line business. Web sites also offer benefits other marketing tools don’t, such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily. In addition, Web sites offer consumers access to a company’s products and services twenty-fou

print advertising and direct mail, is not always financially feasible either. To compensate small businesses must find a way to ratchet up their marketing communications programs. What’s needed is a dynamic, cost-effective way of marketing products and services, one that helps small businesses battle competitors and capture market share.

The Internet has been a viable alternative marketing method for small business. Publishing a Web site is a proven way of selling one’s products and services, and an effective means of reaching a worldwide marketplace. In fact, it costs less to build a site than most people think, particularly when compared to the cost of rent for an off-line business. Web sites also offer benefits other marketing tools don’t, such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily. In addition, Web sites offer consumers access to a company’s products and services twenty-fou

market share.

The Internet has been a viable alternative marketing method for small business. Publishing a Web site is a proven way of selling one’s products and services, and an effective means of reaching a worldwide marketplace. In fact, it costs less to build a site than most people think, particularly when compared to the cost of rent for an off-line business. Web sites also offer benefits other marketing tools don’t, such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily. In addition, Web sites offer consumers access to a company’s products and services twenty-fou

to the cost of rent for an off-line business. Web sites also offer benefits other marketing tools don’t, such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily. In addition, Web sites offer consumers access to a company’s products and services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year long.

But Web sites have one major drawback— anonymity. Consumers are reluctant to buy from someone they don’t know. Other drawbacks include the possibility of misinterpreting the marketing message, the limitations in demonstrating product’s features, and the difficulties of incorporating customer service. Even adding e-mails to the marketing mix doesn’t always help. While email marketing is a cost-effective to send, easy to create, and fast to distribute, they’re often boring, making little impact on the viewer. And the proliferation of e-mails means that your marketing message often gets lost in the clutter.

Video communications, which includes video e-mails, video streaming, and live Web casts, represents the next wave of marketing for small business. It’s proving to be so powerful it’s revamping the way businesses communicate with customers and each other. Simple and easy to use, video communications puts a human touch back into the process of communicating with consumers, enabling sales reps, consultants, and professionals to generate “face time” with consumers, clients, and businesses without spending a great deal of time and money. It’s a win-win situation for all involved, and it’s proving highly effective for small business.