The Facebook Train is Pulling Out of the Station Vs. Web Sites

Here's one thing I know having been on a tight budget for a while: I am a marketing professional and I have no Web site. Ludicrous? Yes. I have the domain names -- and pay every year to renew these so as not to lose them -- but have never had the opportunity -- i.e. funds -- to have the sites built to my picky satisfaction for http://www.ninedotsbranding.com and http://www.greekislesgallery.com. 

This issue may have resolved itself, and quite handily and cost-efficiently I might add. In today's economy, the scenario du jour for so many of us due to layoffs, companies going belly up, and all types of dire and direr circumstances usually means one thing: there is no money to spare. But what about this catch-22? You have a business, service or product of your own to sell, but no money for marketing thus no influx of clients or customers, thus no money coming in for marketing...you get my drift in this vicious circle.

 If you're on a shoestring budget but have a business or cottage industry of your own and need to promote it on the Internet, up until now there was one option: get a Web site. Not. So. Now.

My prediction: Facebook has the ability to outpace and render the "necessity" for a Web site obsolete. Why not? It's free; easy to set up, update and maintain on your own without hiring a Web designer; there are no annual fees for a domain name/peripherals; it has the power of the Internet worldwide behind it; you come up atop search-engine results (if you know enough about what to name your Facebook business page to do so), and the page/s can be done succinctly and attractively...shall I go on?!

A few examples to wet your marketing-on-the-fly whistles>
http://www.csshunt.com/most-beautiful-and-effective-facebook-pages-for-inspiration/

If you want to get really serious about Facebook and you're already on top of your FB business-page strategy vs. a Web site, you can prepare to take it a step further. This part is not free, but it is cost-friendly for the audience reached with an ad>
http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?campaign_id=225919016727&placement=emu&creative=csa&keyword=po_06

In the interim, if you need consulting, writing, etc. for your Facebook business page, contact me>
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nine-Dots-Branding-Marketing-Ginger-Sprinkle-Charlotte-NC/131492096903752 

Then there's this tidbit -- thanks to researcher extraordinaire Elizabeth McMahon -- regarding the very topical news centered on Netflix vs. Facebook in terms of movie-viewing competition:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/03/movies-from-facebook-another-threat-to-netflix.html 

The beast has landed, and its name is -- you guessed it -- Facebook. I say, like it or not, get on-board or get left behind!

P.S. For those of you who might be so distraught with your current economical situations, I know that of which I speak -- way too intimately. When you can muster up enough focus when not completely down and out and dark, you might consider a cottage industry. This is a business in which the production of goods or services is home-based. Make a list and write down everything you are good at and what things you are good at making. If your list comes up short you may also want to include anything you're interested in that you could learn how to do. Go through the list and consider the implications of making those items or providing that service. How much time will it take? How much will it cost? How much competition might you have? As you're doing research on different ideas, be sure to keep a notebook of any resources you come across or ideas you have. This will come in handy...when you are ready to forge ahead.