In today's economy, solo professionals are looking for ways to increase their business without substantially increasing their expenses. Now's the time to get your creative juices flowing and think outside of the box.

I recently spoke with a small business owner who has pondered creative ideas to increase business without breaking the bank. Though the business is primarily selling a specific product, this entrepreneur has thought of ideas to increase traffic to the website that are not directly related to that product.

This small business owner realizes that people go to the internet, not just to find a product or business, but to be educated. So her goal is to educate by writing articles, posting blog entries, hosting a show on blog talk radio, and partnering with other businesses. These and other online marketing methods will educate and direct the audience to the website where they can then purchase the product.

Have you used online tools to educate your prospects and clients? What creative ideas can you think of to promote your business? I'd love to hear from you.

Online business networking has become very popular recently. Many small business owners wonder if it's valuable and can promote their business. They fear it's too time-consuming and the return on investment not worth it.

I've recently joined the online business networking crowd and it's been fun getting to meet new people. I've made some good contacts in the last few months and learned a lot from them. Some have signed up for my newsletter. Another advantage to online networking is that you see immediate results.

So what can you do to make the most effective use of online business networking? Here are some basic tips:

1. Update Your Social Networking Profiles. Did you create your profile a year or two ago and haven't updated it since? Did you just put your name and occupation in your profile and never finished it with all the other details? Well, now's the time to update it. More people want to connect when your profile is current and complete. Updating your profile regularly puts it in front of your connections often so they will remember you and your business. If you have a new blog, a new e-book, or some other interesting news about your business, update your profile with this information.

2. Decide Which Online Business Networks to Participate In. Review the list of online business networking sites and forums you participate in. Pick two, three at the most, that target your audience and network and concentrate on them. You will get the best results when you focus on a few that you can have a meaningful share in versus trying to spread yourself too thin.

3. Create An Online Business Networking Strategy For Your Business. Take the time to create a plan for your online business networking. Decide whom you want to meet, what your networking objectives are, and what next steps you want your networking connections to take. Much like a written marketing plan, this will help guide your efforts most effectively.

What have you found to be effective in online business networking?