One Entrepreneur On Web Marketing: Brad Versteegh

This is part of a series called "The Entrepreneurs on Web Marketing."  This interview is with Brad Versteegh.

What are your primary ways of promoting yourself and your business online?

We have a self-produced web site and are working toward a professionally done version. We have begun our on-line presence via social networking (Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn). We are in discussions with an on-line marketing company to assist us in ongoing SEO and SEM. We have also had discussions with a media company to begin scripting videos, etc. for these sites and our upcoming blog.

Do you use social networking?  If so, how is that working for you?

We are just now getting a start in our social network plan. So, it is too soon to give specifics for this project. We are definitely using social networks and plan on leveraging these to the best of our abilities.

What have been your keys to success when it comes to growing your web presence?

Professional help. Don’t think you can do it yourself. Even if you are far more technical than I am (which is not difficult), get help from those who know and do what it is you are hoping to accomplish. With the right people, you can get a lot farther in less time. And we all know, time IS money. Invest in the right kind of help.

Do you have any techniques or routines that help you succeed with web marketing?

Just finding the right people for the right projects. You wouldn’t hire a plumber to re-wire your house. So, don’t hire a web programmer to do web marketing.

How important is web marketing to your business?

For us it’s critical. We expect our online marketing and presence to dwarf our traditional media exposure by many fold. Web marketing can be more affordable, more flexible and hold more longevity than most traditional marketing.

What percentage of your customers or clients would you say come from your web marketing efforts?

Too new to have proven results. We expect this will also transition substantially over the next three years from personal networking to more of a web based acquisition formula.

Any final thoughts on web marketing?

Just that I am a believer in the power of the web. Those who ignore the web and what it has to offer is equivalent to those who refuse to accept credit cards. Their pool of customers is automatically reduced by an immeasurable number.

Vantage Barter Exchange is a network of business owners. These owners leverage their businesses (at full retail margins) to preserve cash and receive the goods and services they want and need for themselves and their businesses. Barter – The new thousand year old economy. 

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