http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index Find information to help grow your online business with business plans, Thomas Register, news articles and more http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114358-m-6-sc-42-craft_engaging_newsletter_content-i Over the past decade, I've met thousands of business and franchise owners, nonprofit and association marketers and other professionals who've ... Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114358 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114357-m-6-sc-44-move_ideas_from_one_business_to_another-i For business purposes, focus on "practical creativity." Creative thinking guru and one-time leader in the development of Walt Disney World ... Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114357 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114354-m-6-sc-41-10_marketing_trends_for_2010-i 2010 is poised to be an exciting year for marketers; trends that have been taking shape over the course of the past decade are creating new ... Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114354 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114356-m-6-sc-41-find_your_markets_sweet_spot-i I based his entire marketing program on proving that he was offering money at a discount. In other words, we showed the prospect such a large, ... Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114356 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114349-m-6-sc-46-connect_with_your_customers-i In 2008, Pete Blackshaw authored a book titled, Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3,000 . You don't have to be a math ... Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114349 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114350-m-6-sc-46-how_to_boost_sales_in_a_deflated_economy-i Muniz is president of Boxes Etc., a 25-employee wholesale packaging supply company in Orlando, Florida. When the economy was humming along, Muniz ... Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114350 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114344-m-6-sc-44-time_to_audit_your_image-i The first place you must start in your analysis is your telephone--or in the case of a web-based business, your customer support department or live ... Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114344 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114340-m-6-sc-46-when_customer_focus_becomes_predatory-i Customer focus is a good thing. We all know that. Give the customer what they want, sell based on needs, not products, and offer benefits, not ... Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114340 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114329-m-6-sc-44-a_good_year_for_business_planning-i I'm optimistic about business planning for 2010, and I'm expecting it to be a good year. People are going to do more and better business ... Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114329 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114330-m-6-sc-44-leverage_the_ups_and_downs_of_the_housing_market-i When the real estate bubble finally burst, more than a few businesses felt the effects. One of the most far-reaching results of the market fall was a ... Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114330 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114324-m-6-sc-44-success_is_all_in_the_attitude-i What's important to the success of small-business owners and entrepreneurs? Knowledge, skill and talent.People have confidence in trustworthy ... Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 114324 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114325-m-6-sc-44-dont_be_your_own_worst_enemy-i You've heard it a million times by now: We're in the midst of the worst recession any of us will ever live through and no one knows how long ... Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114325 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114321-m-6-sc-44-10_ways_a_facebook_fan_page_helps_your_business-i Facebook  is a social network, not a shopping network, so why should any business spend resources establishing and maintaining a  Fan Page ... Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114321 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114318-m-6-sc-44-integrate_social_media_into_your_website-i Your website is your online center of operations, but if you use social media as part of your advertising, market positioning and promotional ... Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114318 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114310-m-6-sc-41-10_web_marketing_trends_for_2010-i Allocating your small business marketing budget to maximize return on investment and minimize the risks of a low or negative return can become a lot ... Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114310 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114313-m-6-sc-41-change_your_definition_of_marketing-i In my 35 years working with business owners, entrepreneurs and big corporate clients on marketing, I've seen many different definitions of ... Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114313 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114314-m-6-sc-44-focus_your_social_media_strategy-i Much has been touted about the new social media tools that allow small businesses unprecedented access to marketing channels in the digital space. ... Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114314 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114307-m-6-sc-44-treat_the_media_like_your_best_customers-i Entrepreneurs everywhere are bumping heads in a mad rush to jump on one of the most effective marketing tactics in this recession-era economy--public ... Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114307 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114309-m-6-sc-46-become_a_giftgiving_guru-i Last December, Jennifer Finke, having thoroughly enjoyed working for a client, decided to send her a gift. Finke, 32, who owns  JF ... Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114309 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114295-m-6-sc-46-capitalize_on_meaningfuland_affordablegifts-i Small businesses want their clients and employees to know they're appreciated, and the holidays provide an ideal opportunity to say thank you. ... Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114295 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114296-m-6-sc-46-use_gifts_to_reinforce_your_alliances-i Whether it's the holiday season or any other time of year, the purpose of giving gifts to clients, business partners or customers is always the ... Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114296 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114302-m-6-sc-46-4_steps_to_smart_negotiating-i Play this game with me: I have $100 that is owed to both of us. We’re going to split it between us and I get to decide how. You get to ... Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114302 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114290-m-6-sc-44-be_your_own_publicist-i If you're a regular reader, you might have noticed my recent focus on sales. In today's economy, nothing is as important as sales. And for ... Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114290 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114291-m-6-sc-44-7_holiday_marketing_mistakes_to_avoid-i The holidays have arrived, and you still don't have a plan for marketing to your current customers or reaching out to new markets. Why do the ... Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114291 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114286-m-6-sc-44-learn_from_tigers_pr_troubles-i I don't usually like to jump onto celebrity news bandwagons, but the media melee around Tiger Woods' public admission of his personal ... Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114286 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114293-m-6-sc-46-does_your_business_need_a_retrofit-i "Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are." -- Bertolt Brecht Reinvention is the key to customer service, ... Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114293 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114285-m-6-sc-44-grab_the_holiday_spotlight-i November and December can be the most difficult time to get your message out. The news cycle is not only crowded with holiday-themed gift guides, ... Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114285 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114288-m-6-sc-45-build_a_brand_unusual-i Successful brand leaders live out loud. They follow their passions and they're willing to take risks regardless of what others say. To live out ... Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114288 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114281-m-6-sc-46-how_to_answer_the_toughest_sales_question-i It was a moment most salespeople could appreciate. On April 13, 2004, President George W. Bush held a press conference at which he was asked, ... Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114281 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-114275-m-6-sc-41-break_down_the_vc_barrier-i Two rules in venture capital: VC firms tend to give money to entrepreneurs who've gotten venture capital before. VCs also like to fund companies ... Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 114275