Following the lead of big retailers like Walmart and GM, small business and home business owners are flocking to new growth opportunities online. This week, business journal McKinsey Quarterly announced a new study showing nearly 70% of online business owners gained "measurable business benefits" through use of the Internet and Web 2.0 technologies. Faced with increasing costs and lackluster performance of traditional advertising, small businesses are now turning to low-cost, Web-based guerrilla marketing tactics.

Over ten years ago, online sales giants eBay and Amazon paved the way for small merchants to sell their wares online. eBay quickly became a pop culture icon, providing nearly unlimited fodder for late night comedy. So began a migration of small and medium-sized businesses to the online marketplace, where entrepreneurs use the Internet to supplement sales, and even create new product or service offerings.

Web designer Steve Arnold, of Foothill Web Design in Silicon Valley, sees the new Internet technology as a way for small businesses to compete more effectively against larger competitors. "We're seeing a growing demand by small business owners to take advantage of the level playing field the Web offers," said Arnold. "Email lists dramatically reduce the cost of marketing. Search engines provide free global advertising. Traditional brick and mortar style businesses enjoy the benefits of virtually untapped marketing areas such as instant word-of-mouth advertising on social network sites."

According to Arnold, "Unlike a brick and mortar establishment, you can set up a virtual office online quickly and inexpensively. Your online office has a global audience, and stays open 24 hours a day. The opportunities for small business are tremendous."

Contact: Steven Arnold at Foothill Web Design www.foothillwebdesign.com .

CONTACT:

Steven Arnold Foothill Web Design (650) 646-8736