Mom and Pop businesses are not ‘bleeding edge’ technology adopters. They don’t have the resources to execute an SEM strategy, social networking, and social bookmarking, manage pay-per-click campaigns and other web 2.0 marketing promotion.  In fact, the average small business has no idea what most of these terms actually mean.

Let’s face it; we are in the midst of the greatest challenge to small business that has been felt since the ‘Great Depression’.  The economy has been in a recession for a couple of years and the immediate economic forecast does not look as promising as any of us would prefer.

Businesses are literally under attack and are tightening their belts trying anything they can do to find new customers.  Many have come to the conclusion that their website offers the greatest opportunity to extend their reach and find new customers.  However, they are learning that getting people to visit their website creates an entirely new problem.  Motivating people to visit a website is the ultimate online marketing challenge.

For the sake of argument, let’s say you don’t believe what you’ve heard about search engine optimization (SEO) or social networking’s ability to drive traffic to a website.  Possibly it is too hard to consider because you’ve had a website for years and traffic has been less than you were told to expect by your web designer.  And now some fellow you never heard of claims that he can help make your phone ring.

Is any of this for real? Yes, and earlier this year Entrepreneur magazine published an article entitled, “The 10 Web Marketing Trends for 2010”.  The author stated that the number one trend was “Search Engine Optimization – Sites with relevant content and credible links will continue to rule the search rankings in the coming year.”

You’ve heard about these new marketing channels, but you don’t fully understand their significance.  The one fact that remains undeniable is that to grow your business you MUST be participating online and employing tactics that focus on ‘local search’, social networking and strategic linking.

The sands are always shifting in the online marketing space.  Things that were hot last year are not even on the radar this year.  There is no single ‘magic bullet’ with online marketing, but there are numerous things you can do to help drive traffic to your website and attract targeted, focused buyers who are searching for your products or services.

The SEO & Social Media Marketing Guide has been developed as a roadmap for small business. This is the one resource that covers the most important, results-producing tactics you can employ to get your website attracting customers and producing sales.  This is not a fluff piece, nor do I waste your time covering ancient history or game theory; this is a tactical battle plan to make use of today.

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