Guide to Search Engine Marketing for Small Business

Get it done in Google AdWords

Google AdWords is a quick and simple way to buy targeted cost-per-click (CPC) ads, regardless of your budget. Ads are displayed along with search results on Google, as well as on search and content sites in the Google Network, including AOL, EarthLink, HowStuffWorks and many others.

I recommend: Start in the AdWords section of Google. Discover how and why it works, the costs, spending requirements and answers to your key questions in the AdWords Help Center.

Say yes (or at least maybe) to Yahoo

Yahoo offers excellent online advertising and other "paid inclusion" solutions for small business. Their "Search Marketing" product can deliver a huge audience for your ads.

I recommend: Yahoo calls it "Sponsored Search" and it works much like Google AdWords. Compare ROI on CPC vs. other forms of online advertising. Here, as with some other services, your ads can also appear next to relevant articles, reviews and other online content. Yahoo's Content Match feature displays your listings on other parts of the Web such as CNN, Rent.com, MyFamily.com, NationalGeogrphic.com and others.

Target your SEM efforts locally

Options for advertising a business locally online have blossomed.

I recommend: With Yahoo's Local Sponsored Search you can drive customers to your store or generate service calls within an area you determine. Google AdWords lets you set ads to appear only to people in a particular city, state or region. Click on "For local businesses." Google has also linked the service to Google Maps, so people searching for your service will see your location and contact information highlighted on a neighborhood map. Create your local business profile at RegisterLocal.com and have it submitted Internet-wide. RegisterLocal – from LocalLaunch -- will also handle pay-per-click ads for your business. The search box at Local.com lets users search for “What” and “Where” at the same time. Add or update your own business listing. You can also get free or low cost listings at Judy’s Book, Switchboard, InsiderPages, SuperPages and YellowPages.com.

Go with vertical search to reach B2B and other specialized markets

To reach a more specialized audience for your ads, look to "vertical search engines."

I recommend: In the manufacturing sector, for example, eMvoy is a specialty search engine. Business.com leads the pack in the B2B arena and is the world's largest B2B advertising network, including partners such as The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, Entreprener.com and many others. Locate other vertical search sites at SearchEngines.com.

Have SEM specialists submit your business across the internet

Web popularity has spawned several excellent services that will help launch and refine your search engine marketing effort.

I recommend: ineedhits is a top-notch SEM specialty firm that has been helping generate search traffic for small and mid-sized businesses since 1996. ineedhits offers a range of simple, low-cost submission services, along with more advanced services for Google, Yahoo and MSN. Be sure to check out their money-saving special offers. Something new is ineedbloghits for business blogs.

Generate more keyword ideas for your ads and other SEM

Free online tools can suggest possible keywords for your ad campaign and reports how those terms have performed.

I recommend: Experiment with different terms in Google's Keyword Tool.  A free search term suggestion tool from Trellian is also helpful.

Get fluent in SEM-speak

The world of search marketing speaks an entirely different advertising language than you may be accustomed to.

I recommend: Google's description of basic search ad terminology is a must-read before you spend a dime. Get more help from Business.com's glossary of common search marketing terms. A great place to learn more about search engine marketing is the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO).