Finally getting up your new business website is certainly a cause for celebration. Yeah you! However, it’s not the time to take a long vacation with the belief that the search engines will just start sending you traffic, that the orders will come in, and that you’ll return from vacation to find yourself rich. So, here are some ideas to get you started on the right marketing path for your new business.

1. Stay consistent and focused with keywords

Since you can’t be all things to all people, it’s best to create your promotions around very focused keywords and phrases rather than scattering yourself around. So decide which keywords are most important to your brand, then use those consistently in everything you do – including both online AND offline promotions, even in your printed promotions.

2. Create solid keyword rich descriptions

You will find that having a stable of descriptive paragraphs that you’ve take the time to streamline, optimize with the best keywords, and say what you want them to say, will save you time later, keep your branding consistent, and prevent you from quickly posting a bio or social media profile paragraph that is less than optimal. So, take the time now to create those promotional paragraphs of varying lengths (from as little as a few works, like taglines, up to a few hundred words).

3. Create social media accounts and profiles

A word of caution here – if you don’t have the time or inclination to keep a social media site up to day, don’t feel obliged to participate. It’s true that some social sites are included on search engine results, but sometimes a tired and out of date social page can do you more harm than good. If you do want to build your social media support, now is the time to pull out some of your keyword rich descriptions to use for various profile pages.

4. Participate locally

Participating in local events, even if your target customers don’t live locally, helps build good will, increases word-of-mouth marketing, and increases the network of people who are willing to help you out.

5. Start a blog

Blogs are an effective way to create buzz and it’s an opportunity for you to get solid content out for your niche that can help establish your company/you as an authority in the field – aim to have your blog a go-to destination for your industry. Also, seek out and stay current with other blogs in your industry and become an active commenter on those blogs.

6. Prioritize customer service

From day one, it’s vital to respond positively and professionally to your customers which includes making it easy for customers to contact you, as well as answering emails promptly. This is the age of transparency and a good reputation is key.

7. New Business Marketing Resources & Inspiration

•The Wall Street Journal/Small Business – 10 Reasons to Start a Business This Year

• The Wall Street Journal/Small Business – Five Tips for Managing Your To-Do List

•Next Day Flyers Blog – LINK TO JENNA’S 1st DAY JOBBING/NIGHT BAKING article

•OnStartups – 23 Tweetable Startup Insights from Seth Godin

•Squidoo