I believe one essential element of marketing is...you have to participate

[Kurt]

One of the surest ways to grow online is to participate in communities. It's not a fast way to make money but it's a very reliable and long term.

Look for opportunities to reach people THEN think about things you can sell. Real marketing is finding the market FIRST then products and services for that market.

If you're just starting join Quora, FB and Reddit and get a feel for how they work. Find forums that are active and offer finacial opportunity.

And participate.

Don't try to sell directly in these places. Instead NETWORK with the influencers in each. Help the communties and get yourself "known". If you're in a few FB groups, on a couple of forums, and active in Quora and Reddit you can use the stuff you find in one to post in the others.

Be creative. FB doesn't allow sigs but you can create an animated GIF upload it to GIPHY and include the URL to it every time you post. Not an ad, but something to brand yourself as the helpful person.

And participate. Especially here at the Pheeds Phorum.