Good ways to advertise a web business?

[Twistedkeys]

So one of my friends is starting this business, and he asked me being the relatively internet-savvy friend what some good ways were to get the word out. I told him that if he wanted real traffic to create ads and have them put up on sites like Youtube, cnn/fox, etc. But he told me he's just starting out and doesn't nearly have the budget for that kind of stuff...

So I'm asking around seeing if anyone has any ideas for him. Basically, he needs to get the ball rolling then he can figure it out from there.

Here's his site http://cocoacandyclub.com Thanks guys.

[Daniel]

Youtube, Facebook and blogs.

Youtube:
If it's a service business, then a few Youtube videos where he talks about certain issues that relate to his business, or shows what he can do and how well he can do it can really get attention.
If he's selling a product then showing the actual product, with some information about it are also good videos. If he makes the product himself a video of him making it would be interesting. Another video could be taking care of the product, which is always useful.

Facebook
Make a Facebook page for the business. Then leave one or two posts a day about things related to the business and the industry, link to other pages that are similar but not direct competitors.

Blog
A basic wordpress small business blog (if he goes cheap $18 to get a decent sounding domain name). First page is business info, second page product information, third page contact info, fourth page a blog where he posts one or two articles a week showing his experience or his product.
Do a few guest posts on other blogs and he'll get some attention.
Link this to Facebook and Youtube.

Cheapest type of advertising you can do, a little slow to start, but it can potentially get big, especially with the videos.

[raysor]

Google. There's no cheap, shortcut. You need to spend money on advertising, marketing and SEO to get visitors (and thus income). It is basically like a mail order business-spend more money on catalogues and get more money from sales (a direct link between advertising and sales). You should know how visitors will convert into cash and therefore know how much to budget on marketing etc.
Unfortunately a lot of people think 'cheap website + minimal expenditure and effort= untold riches'
Sorry to disappoint but it doesn't (usually ) work that way.
If you don't have faith in your business to spen time, money and effort on it then no-one else will have any faith.

[Ahil M]

You can go to http://google.com/addurl/ and paste the link there. The Google committee will first view your site, and in 1 day your site will be posted there. For example: If someone searches Cocoa, your site will appear on the first page.

Or you can even contact me, I usually advertise for free. Don't hesitate I shall try my best to help you. I also started that way and I am successful right now.