I'm not just a small business owner, I'm also an online marketer and an SEO, so I often encounter zealous new business owners who's top priorities include getting ranked on Google. Unfortunately all they usually know about search engine marketing is the getting ranked on Google, but not how to do so. If you intend to have a business presence in search, you must have an idea of specific terms to rank for relevant to your startup business. Like most new business owners, you might have no idea where to start in getting your first business website ranked on Google. Read and understand the following search engine optimization tips carefully to give your business a head start in getting ranked in search.

Marketing is something every company must invest in to be successful. As you build your brand you build your personal style of marketing. A style that depends on who you are marketing to, what you are marketing and where you are marketing. If there is a lot of competition in you’re niche the style of your marketing can turn aggressive. As a startup business you must tread a thin line with this technique or risk turning prospects and clients off.

Question for all web based businesses and web extensions of traditional businesses. Who's your best friend? As odd a question it may seem, the answer should be obvious, some guy or some girl, right? But you're operating a web business so we need someone more dependable than those guys. When internet disaster strikes and you need someone to turn to, your BACKUP is your best friend and only savior.

It's amazing how many people I come across who use the phrase, "I'm just hustling trying to make that money." To be honest, immediately I have no clue what that mean. It could be anything. Being the curious entrepreneur I am, I generally purposely drag some detail out of them to elaborate on what they're hustling about. Quite often I find out they're "treadmill entrepreneurs", making moves but actually going nowhere with their ideas. Every now and then though, by the end of my nosying around, I find out these people either own a business, but barely told a single person about it. What's even more unbelievable is that they hope it makes money soon. This always prompts the "What?!!" response out of me. You have a business and you've told no one about it, but you hope to make money from it soon. This business logic is flawed in so many ways. My basic question is, why own a business if you're keeping it a secret?

You've worked hard all year on this great idea. Everything was set up the right way and you even put all of your savings into making it work but what happens when the idea does not sell? What is your next move? Do you give up? Do you create something new?

As you develop your business you must create a strategic business sales and marketing plan for at least three years ahead. This marketing and sales plan for your startup will target your niche, specific populations that you service, a geographic area, a timeline and specific ways you will sell your products. Here is a short list to get you started. Make sure to detail it according to your resources and budget.

It's hard getting to the number one spot in a crowded niche market and it's even harder staying there. With so many new and highly competitive entrepreneurs starting new businesses every day, the odds that you'll stand out in a unique way do not tip in your favor. You have a choice in business, either stay the course and battle competitors or change strategy and set up shop in a smaller market.

When you start a business you have high expectations for the road ahead. You're excited about what the future holds and all the money you will make. You and your partner have had several meetings, started pushing your products and are networking in your niche everywhere all the time. But what happens one year down the line when your business is not making a lot of profit, you're pulling twelve hour days and you’ve noticed a dip in productivity from your partner? You're doing way more than your partner to get to where you are and now you have noticed the difference in work ethics. You're still early in your business so what approach do you need to take to get the machine flowing correctly? Communicate. You cannot expect your business partner to walk on water and not talk about your expectations from the beginning. All too often this happens with budding partnerships. One works harder than the other, one is more efficient or one has more passion. In any partnership you expect that each will bring different skills to the table, but when you both do not have the same work ethics or drive communication needs to be established about this issue before your business is affected even more. In my world, this is called the “come to Jesus” talk. You get to the root of the problem with your business partner. Discuss all your concerns and then decide what the next best step is. Either your partner will crank up their efforts or continue down the same path. This may even involve an ultimatum. Make sure to discuss all scenarios and angles with your partner. Divide up your work properly and if you find your partner does not really have the skills promised make adjustments (a second chance move) to re-work the dynamics. If all else fails…you’ll have to be the only one walking on water.

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Very often in my home I'll see my daughter setting up a drink stand or food stand insisting that we buy her items for a dollar or more. Sometimes I tell her I have a dime and she will accept it but I look at her and I see a spark. She is elated with just the opportunity to make money through her own little home business enterprise

UPDATE: Erookie is Closing Guest Blogging for backlinks until further notice.

Small business writers and bloggers looking to gain visibility and build their brand now have the chance to gain more exposure, trust, and credibility on EntrepreneurRookie as Guest bloggers.  This posts list additional benefits to social guest blogging in detail.