The fence can sometimes be a really comfortable place if you still haven't made up your mind as to whether online marketing is for you. The thought of taking your business online can often be daunting and feel quite risky.

Here are the 5 most important opportunities that are going to affect you the most: 1. Optimisation

Website optimisation has got to be your first step. If you only have one homepage then its time to get into 2008 and try some split testing. By displaying two different homepages for your business you will soon see which site gets the most attention. How to optimise your website?

1. Setup a second version of your landing pages / homepage 2. Run a split test between the two and see which one converts better.

3. Kill the loser and try another version against the winner. 2. Natural search

There are always changes and additions you can add to your website that can improve your rankings. If you rank number one for your main keyword what are you doing about all the other words people search for? Three key tests: 1. Do a ranking comparison for the top 10 keywords in your market between you and your competitors

2. Checkout what is the most popular word people search for as it may have changed 3. Change your homepage content, it's probably old and tired and a refresh always drives up traffic.

3. Engaging your customers Be different; try sending a video to them instead of plain text. Ask yourself, what is visually interesting in your niche? Information that can be explained better in person will usually translate into a good video. Review my advanced traffic secrets for advice on producing this video to get traffic.

4. Play on the fringes of Social networks Social network marketing is tough if you don't commit the time to participate in the community and become and active contributing member. If you can't invest that kind of time try and service them in another way: :

* Provide the place for them to talk: * Contra services to the community:

* Produce a cheat sheet for them to use: * Build a special calculator:

* Put on an event / seminar for them to get together at: • Provide a free piece of software

4. Set off some fireworks A great example for setting off fireworks is to set up an affiliate marketing program or performance media campaign.

Affiliate marketing is an agreement between two sites in which one site (the affiliate) agrees to feature content or an ad designed to drive traffic to another site. In return, the affiliate receives a percentage of sales or some other form of compensation generated by that traffic. Performance Media or affiliate marketing may be one of the easiest, and most effective, online marketing opportunities in today's market. If you have not already got a strong affiliate program up and running, consider starting one as this will be a key partnership in your long term online sales campaigning. For more information about affiliate marketing check out: http://www.freestylemedia.com.au/resources/articles/5-secrets-to-a-successful-performance-media-campaign.aspx

About the Author Fred Schebesta, director of Freestyle Media which specialises in driving traffic to websites and converts online customers into purchasers of products and services. Services include Online Marketing Strategy, Website development, Email Marketing, Banner advertising, Search Engine Marketing and Media buying and planning

Fred Schebesta's Blog www.OnlineMarketingSydney.com.au www.FreestyleMedia.com.au

[email protected] Phone: 02 9818 7300