The number of shops on the Internet has exploded. Yet somehow many business owners starting out in e-commerce think it is enough to build a web site, add shopping cart software, and magically orders will start rolling in.

Would you open a new shop in your city without putting signage up front? Without placing some adverting in the local newspaper to let people know you are there? Or without building in a position where everyone can see you when they walk by?

The Internet is no different.

If you already have existing customers, you simply must let everyone know about your website.

They are the easiest customers to invite. Telling them about your website will help you retain them. And in turn they will tell others about your web site, helping you increase the number of people who visit your online shop.

Finding new customers only through the Internet requires more work. First you must pick an e-commerce solution such as ShopFactory, which optimizes your shop for web site promotion, or SEO, as it is called by Internet specialists. This will help you achieve better listings in search engines.

Like in any business, marketing and promotion will be an important part of your success. That’s why you shouldn’t overspend when you make your own web site.

When you have created it, you will still need some money to advertise and promote it.

There are many guides on how to market your shop on the Internet. But there are also some very obvious methods which cost little money and will help you drive customers to your web site. We have listed them in this guide.