An online brand should be considered the core to your business development plan since it will serve to help increase your advertising effectiveness. Since brand development will requires your ongoing efforts it is wise to develop some strategies that can be used for both branding and marketing. In this way you will be able to work more efficiently online.

Here are 5 strategies you can easily incorporate into your branding and marketing efforts allowing you to work in an efficient and effective manner!

Blog

Blogging platforms are great to use for marketing goods and services while also being very effective brand development tools as well. These web 2.0 jewels afford you the flexibility to make promotional offers to your visitors while simultaneously reinforcing the image you have selected to represent your business. The greatest part is search engines also love blogs for their frequently updated content sending more traffic and further boosting your exposure. In addition the people who frequent your site can also refer others thereby benefiting you through the viral effect of their word of mouth recommendations!

Social Media

The use of social media or networks once again serves to assist you, and very effectively, in both your branding and marketing efforts. The identity you use when interacting at any of these sites should be consistent with the one that is the focus of your brand development efforts. These sites are also great for generating traffic and in this way should be a part of your business development plan as well!

Forums

Forums that focus on your niche are an integral part of any business development plan due to their availability for getting answers and keeping up with industry news. By using a signature file that reflects your brand and participating 'constructively' in discussions at these sites you can once again generate some traffic! Best of all you already know the people who do visit your website and/or blog from these sites have an interest in what you do!

Here too like the suggestions above your participation at forums allows you to expand your exposure while reinforcing your brand and marketing your business. All without missing a beat!

Online Submissions

Submitting articles is still one of the most 'grass roots' and effective ways to gain exposure, build credibility and generate traffic online. In fact this particular strategy seems to be tailor made for the purpose of branding and marketing and therefore needs to be included in every online business development plan!

Viral Campaigns

Whether it is the free giveaway you offer on your blog or squeeze page you want to insure the recipient is encouraged to share it with their friends! Always be sure you include a business link in every giveaway you offer and of course be sure it reflects your brand in some way!

Establishing an online brand is an integral component of any business development plan since if done properly it will boost your advertising effectiveness! Being brand development is an ongoing process it is best to integrate both your branding and marketing efforts so you can work more efficiently! The 5 strategies suggested above will allow you to actively promote your business as you continue to more deeply establish the roots of your online brand. The results you get should help to increase your advertising effectiveness due to the growing familiarity people will have with your brand!