Right now, there are tons of tools that small businesses can use to not only promote your business, but also have a little bit of fun.  Just today, I got an email from JibJab.com, a site that makes sendable eCards that can be customized with your own photos.  Here’s their latest free Halloween eCard (customized with photos of my family and even a photo of me as a 5 year old as the Frankenstein monster):

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What does a funny Halloween eCard have to do with your business?  Depending on how seriously you take yourself, you can use these online tools to create some buzz around your business and show a little more of what makes your business special.  It also makes you look human (even if your face is on a dancing werewolf).

Spend some time looking for some of the free tools available for slideshows, presentations, and online video.  Here are a few that I found:

• www.Animoto.com – slideshow creation and sharing
• www.Prezi.com – presentation creation and sharing
• www.motionbox.com – online video creation and sharing

In addition, there are some premium tools that let you create video and even TV ads and distribute them on the Internet.  Although I haven’t used these, here are a couple of sites that look promising:

• www.eyespot.com – online video and video ads
• www.SpotMixer.com – onlinve video and TV ads
• www.SpotRunner.com – online video and TV ads

Don’t limit yourself to a static website or local newspaper advertising.  When you can incorporate visuals and sound into your online marketing arsenal, it gives website visitors a chance to interact, and hopefully forward your marketing messages to friends and family.