Small businesses these days are bombarded with offers claiming to bring them lots of business through special marketing activities ranging from Internet marketing, phone book advertisements, direct mail and others. For most small businesses the Internet marketing piece is probably the one they are least familiar with. So let's look at some simple tips on where to get started:

Free Resources
The main free tool you need is Google. Actually any major search engine will do, but you need to have a good search engine. You can find anything on the search engines. Local, State and Federal government agencies also have free workshops and guide books that can help you with Internet marketing.

Hire a Consultant
Getting an experienced Internet marketing consultant will really help you set the right strategy and go over every detail needed. There are many firms now that specialize in this area, and usually for nominal fee will give you some good advice.

Set the Right Goals
For many small businesses the main goal is to get more sales. Online goals however can include online sales, or leads that will get potential customers to call your phone or send you an email. Whenever a goal is met by your potential customers it is referred to as a conversion. You want to get conversions on your website. Figure out what goals matter to you.

Learn SEO
Another important area to learn is SEO or search engine optimization. You don't need to be an expert, but you can find some good free resources from blogs, other websites and newsletters. Try to focus on the steps of SEO and make it simple for yourself.

Learn PPC
By no means do you need to be an expert in PPC or pay per click, but having some basic skills and understanding in this area can go a long way. Remember this is advertising so you will need spend some money to try this out. I recommend a budget of at least $300-$500. This will give you some good data to know if it will be worth it to keep doing it.

Learn Email Marketing
Email Marketing is a great way to reach a lot of people at one time. If your website is new, then you will probably need to buy an email list or advertise with someone else who has one. Keep your email message short and to the point. Remember do not be scared to extend a call to action or invitation to buy your product.

Learn Blogging
Blogging is big right now in business websites. Blogs are basically online logs of a subject or interest area. When blogging for your business remember to be yourself and try to relate to your clients needs. You want them to know you are a person, and this will increase their trust in you. Blogs can go a long way for business.