If you own a small business and haven't begun to dive into the world of online marketing, what's holding you back? If you're afraid that you won't see a return on your investment and you just don't have the money, know that you don't have to spend a lot to get started.

Yes, you should have a mobile-responsive website, you should be paying Facebook and Twitter to advertise on their massive platforms and you should look into hiring a marketing agency or hiring a full-time employee to manage your brand. While these things are important and almost always pay off in the end if done correctly, they can be costly upfront.

Here are 4 inexpensive ways to start marketing your company online:

1. Social Media Engagement - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn are all free to join for companies. You can look into paid options to boost your presence down the road, but start by simply creating profiles and begin posting informative, appealing content.

2. Local Listings - Consumers are driven by online reviews. It is absolutely essential for your small business to start garnering reviews on Google+, Yelp, Angie's List and Yahoo Local, to name a few. These services are either free or very inexpensive.

3. Blogging - If you have a website, start blogging. It will accomplish two main things: one, it shows search engine crawlers that your website is being updated consistently with fresh content. Two, it provides value to your customers and increases the likelihood of someone sharing a page from your website.

4. Reach Out - Find related forums, blogs and message boards and offer your input, reach out to local news outlets and ask them to highlight your business, or sponsor a local event. What do the last two have to do with online marketing? Your search engine ranking will improve when other websites feature your website, even if you're merely a sponsor and a credible website just features your logo and a link back to your site.

We all know that time is money. The four options above are all relatively cheap ways to start marketing your business online and growing your company; however, it takes time to blog, engage on social media, reach out to other local businesses, etc.

That's where we come in. For as little as a few hundred dollars a month, Thoughtwire will begin establishing an online presence for your business. We will spend the time and utilize our knowledge and expertise to get you started the right way! Give us a call this week: 800-367-2570.