Advertising on a Shoe String Budget - We`ve All Been There

All businesses are looking for better ways to make sure their online advertising budget is getting the most return.

One of the best ways to make sure your online ad is producing results is customizing it towards the consumer that is currently viewing the screen. Take the online social networking web site MySpace.com for example. In a recent article by Brad Stone in the New York Times he reports, that "MySpace has developed technology based on users` profiles that will allow them to personally tailor advertising efforts." Stone then goes on to say, "parent company Fox Interactive Media of News Corp. announced that the advertisements have an 80 percent greater chance of being clicked on than standard Internet advertisements. Rival Facebook has similar technologies under development."

If you are an advertiser that uses MySpace to reach its customers, you may want to look into seeing if your ad is being tailored to each MySpace visitors profile interests.

According to a forecast report by media agency ZenithOptimedia, Internet advertising spending is expected to grow by 84% between 2005 and 2008. As an internet business you will more than likely be a part of that, however, you also want to make sure that your advertising dollars are well spent and getting the most for their return.

Are you thinking maybe a pay per click ad campaign is the way to go? Google sure does. Tim Armstrong, president for advertising at Google Inc, has sold the pay-per-click advertisements that are the Internet search engine firm`s primary revenue stream. MediaWeek reported in September that Google`s revenue for the second quarter of 2007 was $3.8 billion, most from advertising sales. Thos numbers alone should tell you that most internet businesses have jumped on the bandwagon. According to Florida Trend, it is important to learn from friends and enemies because they are the best source for ideas on how and where to advertise to targeted customers. The most profitable small businesses typically spend no more than half of the suggested five percent spending on advertising.

Pay per click ads can been run on Google, Yahoo and MSN with the ability to open accounts for as low as $5. It is recommended that you follow the site`s online tutorials on running a proper pay per click ad campaign. If you jump right in without knowing what you are doing, even though you can grab clicks for as little as one penny, in the long run it could end up costing you a lot more.

Of course if you are on a shoe string budget and can`t afford a pay per click ad campaign for your product or service then might want to look into a banner ad campaign. Once the rage of internet, it has cooled a bit over the years. However, there are plenty of banner exchanges out there. You place their banner code on your website and they will do the same in the that this exchange will generate some free clicks.

You have a variety of avenues to go down in regards to your advertising campaign. Choose the one that is right for your business. Dont`t forget to test the waters first with as little out of pocket money as possible.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:

Mike Podlesny is the Managing Director for Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to advertise and promote their products and services in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.