While the mere mention of the holidays coming right around the corner might illicit groans from some, now is the time to start thinking about your marketing plans for 2006. As the year comes to a close, it's a good time to re-evaluate your web marketing goals and try some new tactics to reach those goals. To help you get started, Starkmedia has some suggested interactive marketing "resolutions" for you to think about as you gorge on Christmas cookies, make the rounds at holiday parties, and plan your company's marketing budget for 2006:

• Keep them coming back for more with breaking news features.
  Placing interactive news features on your site will increase repeat traffic and also position you as a leader in your industry. Consider the possibility of streaming an RSS newsfeed to your site or installing an updateable news page. E-newsletters are also great tools to consider for informing customers and driving consistent traffic to your site.
• Explore alternative online advertising options.
  While search engine optimization and pay-per-click continue to be important avenues for creating site traffic, there are many other advertising options available across the web. Link exchanges continue to gain popularity as a more economical way to attract visitors from other sites. Keep in mind that if you can find a site that caters to your ideal customer or prospect's interests, chances are you can place banner ads or links on that site. Don't hesitate to contact Starkmedia to find out more about its ever-expanding arsenal of online advertising opportunities.
• Experiment with rich media.
  You can't surf a marketing web site or open an advertising trade magazine without reading about rich media these days. They're in banner ads. They're shaping customers' online shopping experiences. Whatever you use it for, rich media is guaranteed to create buzz among your web audience and enhance their interactive experience.
• Use blogs and message boards whenever possible. Another economical way to advertise your company is to post on blogs and message boards that are relevant to your target audience's interests. Vice versa, create your own message board or blog so site visitors have the opportunity to interact and experience your brand. Starkmedia has the programming and design tools to help you create these cost-effective communication tools.