In business the big challenge has always been to determine the best return for the money you spend to get customers. That challenge is no different on the internet, just more complex. So how do you find the right marketing strategy for your business? Lets look at a few segments of online marketing to see which might be the best fit for your business.

PPC or Pay Per Click advertising is one of the internet advertising. But it can cost you your money and even your savings. As long as you have money, this will do.

SEO, Search Engine Optimizing, which could be described as reverse engineering the mathematical equation used by the Search Engine, while the formula is changing. Search Engines work very hard at not being fooled by websites attempting to falsely manipulate search results. The Search Optimizer works to present his client websites to be relevant in the appropriate places so the business can be found when prospective customers are searching.

Social Marketing is a great tool to promote website and can be used by anyone who desires recognition online. Though its free, it doesnt guarantee that it can give desirable results all at the same time. It still needs assistance through other marketing ways.

The last tool which is the most useful is called Viral marketing. It’s called viral simply because of it’s description. Viral is to spread on its own. The challenge here though is you must be able to think of ideas that are unique and interesting enough to heighten people’s interests.

Depending on the marketplace you’re in for your business, some of the internet marketing means may be much more cost effective and sustainable than others. Its still going to be your call on which approach you want to take though all means have its own advantages.

In a competitive market, using Pay Per Click method can be difficult. Depending on how much youve spent on to earn money, results also go by with it. If you want to gain advantage with with little difficulty even in highly competitive verticals , Social Media is your best bet. The Projected money spent on Pay Per Click advertising in 2009 will be $12,937mm, on SEO will be $2,456mm and $716mm on Social Media marketing, this is according to the 2009 US Interactive Marketing Forecast.

PPC gets the lion’s share of search dollars, often thirteen times higher than second place SEO, with Social being the section where the least amount of money is spent. The degree to which you can be effective in these areas depends a good deal on how big of a fish you can be in the portion of that pond dedicated to your corner of the web.

How do you determine which area is best for your business? You have to carefully weigh your goals, and resources. If you have a lot of money to throw at promoting your business, Pay Per Click will be the fastest way to get noticed. But it is not a good long term strategy in a tough economy.

Through SEO, you will get good and solid results. Recognition on your line of market is going to be evident. If you look at it, SEO is a good tool without having to spend too much money.

Social media marketing is free to be involved in but it takes a certain finesse to keep people interested without being annoying. If you make a plan of treating your social marketing like you would a weekly or daily special or promotion youre more likely to gain a loyal following.

All areas of online marketing are experiencing massive growth. As shoppers have shifted from the yellowpages and print advertising to searching online for the products and services they want the marketing dollars spent on SEO and PPC will likely double in the next five years.