Online advertising is more than a web site with words about your home business or product. It is a way of building a relationship with your customers. When a customer buys a product, that customer has bonded either with the product or with the person who sold them the product. Either they are familiar with the product and know it will give them what they want, or they are familiar with the salesperson and they know he or she will answer their questions patiently.

The Internet is a place advertisers can bond with their customers. It allows "two-way" conversations created through various means such as e-mails and chat that allow the customer to feel more comfortable. Online advertising allows the customer to search and find an item at their leisure; it really puts them in charge of when and where they would like to browse. For example, when a customer sees an e-mail with a subject he or she is interested in, they can read it now or keep it for later. This also keeps the information in front of them. Other forms of advertising like billboards make a quick impression but cannot be easily re-accessed for future browsing.

E-mail

E-mail is one of the primary reasons people are on the Internet. Friends send e-mails to each other with pictures and news, and it is certainly possible to become friends with your customers through e-mails. Sending e-mail newsletters to keep the customer up to date on your home based business or product is a form of bonding with them by sharing something you feel they would be interested in. Once they begin to trust your recommendations, they will come back again and again. Important: Make sure they agree to the e-mails. You can do this by having an opt-in area where they agree to receive the information. A good way to do this is to have them sign up for a newsletter or for special promotions.

Micro site

This is a small web site on a larger web site. This can be good for products that people eventually need but don't want to give a lot of thought to until the actual need arises; for example, self-help books. If a customer sees a small site about that topic every time he or she goes to their favorite internet book site, they are likely to remember it when they need it, and go back and click on it. Instead of driving to a regular bookstore where they would have to look at all the rows of self-help books, they will remember the one from the micro site on the Internet and go there instead because of the sheer convenience factor.

Web site

A web site is an easy way to bond with your customer. Here you create the customer's experience by your use of color and other images that will appeal to your customer. Through a little research, you will know exactly who your customer is and you can design your web site accordingly by using images that appeal to your specific group of customers.

You will also be able track your customer's experience to make it better. You will know how many visited your web site, how long they stayed, what they spent the most time checking out. You can interact with them by having a customer service area or a suggestion box. In doing this, you are able to have the customer think of your product as a personality.

You can design your own web site, but there are many expert web designers. Consult one of them and then use your web site for a few days to work out all the kinks. Then let your website work to help you attract and bond with your customers.