Marketing your small business online isn't all that tricky. Though there are plenty of things to learn if you're to get the best results from your efforts, I wouldn't advise anyone to sit around learning all there is to know about online marketing before jumping in.

First of all, I don't know any small business owners who have the time to do that. Second, it isn't necessary. Instead, jump in! Start now... You'll learn plenty along the way.

An important note: your online marketing efforts will reflect either positively or negatively on your business. Any business owner can start marketing online now, but do take care to put out content and messages that have quality and authenticity.

So, let's get down to it. Here are seven online marketing activities you can start today.

1. Blog

Blogging is a powerful content marketing activity for any size business. It can help position you as an expert in your industry, bring more traffic to your website, grow a loyal fan base, and generate buzz and interest in what you have to offer.

It does take a time commitment, but the return on investment is generally high.

If you already have a website built with the mega-popular WordPress software, setting up your blog will be very simple and essentially free. If you're not using a website service that allows you to add a blog to your website, you can host your blog independently of your business website and link to it. However, I highly recommend the all-in-one solution, since it helps enforce your overall brand unity.

Once you have your blog up and running, you can begin publishing helpful articles to attract your target market. You blog shouldn't be an advertising outlet, it should focus on delivering content that is helpful and engaging. You might feel like you're giving away some of your best ideas, but doing so will only increase your credibility and community.

2. Join Twitter

If you're not on Twitter already, now's the time to get started. It's simple to set up a profile for your business, choose some interesting people to follow, and begin sending your helpful, engaging tweets out to the world.

Here are some things to remember when using Twitter for business:

• Don't "advertise" with Twitter. You can talk about your business and your products/services, but don't overdo it. Most of your tweets should involve sharing helpful information or interacting with your followers.
• Stay updated. Don't set up your account, tweet a few times, and then let it sit there. Update a couple times a day if you can. It doesn't have to be time-intensive; simply share an interesting article you read, reply to someone's question, or retweet something useful.
• Be personable. Use Twitter as a communication tool, not a broadcast tool. Sharing helpful articles and announcements is good, but don't stick to that format all the time. Ask questions, answer questions, start a conversation. Interaction is key.
• Create a concise and compelling Twitter bio. Let people know, quickly, what you do and what you have to offer. Such a bio will help you attract quality followers.

3. Answer questions on LinkedIn

This is a simple activity you can do every morning, or twice a week, or whenever you choose, and it helps get your name and knowledge in front of peers and potential prospects. If you don't have a LinkedIn profile yet, you can create one for free. Then find—and join—LinkedIn groups related to your area of expertise.

You can search for questions that fellow group members have asked, and provide helpful answers; you can also ask questions if you want to get a specific conversation going. (Another way of doing that, aside from groups, is to use LinkedIn Polls.)

Remember to answer questions with genuinely helpful responses, not just an advertisement for your services. Give useful tips and suggestions, and even refer the questioner to your contact information to get in touch, if they wish.

Being helpful and demonstrating your knowledge will build credibility for your business, and it could earn you actual business leads and connections.