The next "big thing" in Internet marketing is helping small "offline" businesses around the world to get online, get ranked, and get extra revenue.

Statistics show how much more populated the World Wide Web is now than it was two years ago, and small offline businesses can no longer ignore the need for them to go online due to this continuing trend.

Even more interesting are the latest figures showing the growing number of small businesses in the US, UK and Australia. With roughly 24.7 million in the US, 4.3 million in the UK and some 1.2 million in Australia, even a tiny percentage of these figures still result in thousands of potential clients who need a small business marketing consulting specialist.

Who can be a consultant?

Almost anyone with a skill and passion to learn new things can be successful in small business marketing consulting. You need not be an expert to start this business as many of the successful marketing consultants were self-learners and neophytes who evolved into gurus and mentors in just a few years time. You can be a consultant if you are a:

* Stay-at-home mom, * Retired professional, * Former employee, or * Former corporate executive

A consultant will single out a special gift or talent, update that skill by learning new techniques and obtaining further training or mentoring.

What services can you offer?

Internet marketing involves a wide range of services that you can choose to specialize at. Some of the services small businesses will have an ongoing need for include Search Engine Optimization, web design and development, social media marketing, web content writing and sales copywriting. You don't need to know them all, one or two types of services can generate enough clients already.

Where can you find clients?

Networking is crucial to the success of any type of consultant. Your network is where your potential clients, referrals and partners can come from. The easiest way to start is by announcing your services in your immediate circle of friends and family and work your way outward with friends of family and friends, business colleagues, and people in your social network. Continue to grow your network of contacts as you grow your consulting business.

As a beginner, you may feel uncertain about small business marketing consulting and learning its finer details. Most people are able to study Internet marketing techniques on their own, while some invest in effective systems developed by marketing experts to walk them through the technological maze and shorten the learning curve.