Small Business: How-to articles covering the latest marketing tactics, tips, and strategies.

• Make Content Marketing Authentic: The Case of Customer StoriesJay Pinkert
  Many see content marketing as just that—marketing. But smart marketers know that what they're delivering is a great story—so long as it's a true story, even if it's not perfect...
  Content, Content Marketing, Customer Acquisition, Customer Evangelists, Small Business, Testimonials
• How Small-Business Owners Are Using Mobile TechnologyAyaz Nanji
  Some 66% of small-business owners are using mobile devices and/or mobile solutions as part of their operations, according to a recent report.
  Digital Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Research Summaries, Small Business
• SMBs Embracing Mobile DevicesAyaz Nanji
  Four out of five leaders at small and midsize businesses (SMBs) say the use of mobile devices by employees has a positive effect on productivity. Only 2% say remote technology ...
  Consumer Electronics, Management, Mobile Marketing, Research Summaries, Small Business, SMBs, Technology
• #SocialSkim: Boston Marathon, LinkedIn Ads, Twitter Music, Facebook Open Graph MobileAngela Natividad
  The Boston Marathon topped headlines this week. See how social helped salve wounds, correct errors, and reconnect people. Also, the latest on LinkedIn ads, Twitter's just-launched #music, and Facebook's Open ...
  Advertising, B2B Marketing, B2C, E-Commerce, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Marketing Strategy, Retail Marketing, Small Business
• Seven Tips for Managing Communications on the GoMike Pugh
  Marketing professionals can use their mobile phones to maintain efficiency on the go and professionally manage day-to-day communication demands by applying the following tips and mobile features.
  Career Management, Email, Management, Mobile Marketing, Sales, Small Business, Smart Phones
• Six Reasons Your Website Will FailOllie Bigler
  Although the dawn of the Web was nearly two decades ago, many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) still have a limited, ineffective online presence. Let's examine the top reasons SMBs ...
  Content, Customer Experience, E-Commerce, Mobile Marketing, SEO, Small Business, Social Media, Web Content, Website Design
• Small Business Marketing: LinkedIn, Twitter Growing in EffectivenessLenna Garibian
  Despite much debate over the value of social networks to small business marketing, growing numbers of small business owners view social media as an effective tool, according to a survey ...
  Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Research Summaries, Small Business, Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter, YouTube
• Small Business Marketing: Top Tools for Finding and Keeping CustomersLenna Garibian
  Small businesses say tools such as online surveys and loyalty tracking systems are most effective at engaging existing customers, whereas daily deals and Internet ads seem more effective at attracting ...
  Advertising, Blogging, Customer Retention, Email, Lead Generation, Marketing Strategy, Mobile Marketing, Research, Research Summaries, Small Business
• The Liquor Store Model for Social Media Marketing SuccessBecky McCray
  I run a liquor store in a small town, and I've always dealt with instant communication among customers. An unhappy customer, can go down to the coffee shop and spread ...
  Community, Customer Behavior, Customer Experience, Customer Relationships, Local Marketing, Marketing Tips, Relationship Marketing, Small Business, Social Business, Social Media
• Five Ways SMBs Can Track the ROI of Social Media AdsIrv Shapiro
  Before SMBs embrace new advertising opportunities offered by social networks, they need to seriously consider how to go about measuring the ROI impact of such ad investments.
  Advertising, Email, Landing Pages, Metrics, ROI, Small Business, SMBs, Social Media, Telemarketing, Twitter

Small Business: Podcasts containing in-depth interviews with smart marketers from all walks of life.

• To Grow You Must Change: John Jantsch on Marketing Smarts [Podcast]by Matthew Grant
  John Jantsch believes that if businesses are to grow, they need to be ready, willing, and able to change. To navigate and instigate such change, business leaders need a clarity of purpose and they need to set big, audacious goals.
  Community, Customer Relationships, Marketing Smarts, Marketing Strategy, Small Business, Strategy

Small Business: Online seminar broadcasts from the best minds in marketing

• MarketingProfs University: Killing Giants—Outmaneuvering Larger CompetitorsBroadcast on 1/12/2012 with Stephen Denny
  Learn to turn your larger competitors' lack of speed and agility to your advantage in this PRO seminar and MPU Marketing Your Small Business kickoff class.
  Management, Marketing Challenges, Marketing Strategy, Small Business
• Social Media is a Powerful Tool for Small BusinessesBroadcast on 9/2/2010 with Sean McDonald
  Join us as we share with you why your small business is better suited for the new frontier and lessons that can be learned from both small and large companies that have already embarked on their social media journey.
  Customer Relationships, Marketing Smarter, Marketing Tips, Small Business, Social Media
• Promotions: Instant Gratification for Small Business MarketersBroadcast on 12/14/2007 with Michael Goodman
  This seminar will focus on those highly-visible short-term activities that are designed to generate sales NOW—not next week or next month, but right away. We'll look at a number of examples of these promotions and begin to understand which are most appropriate (and effective) for different kinds of businesses.
  Marketing Plans, Measurement, Online Marketing, Promotions, Sales, Small Business
• Small Business Series: How to Advertise on a Modest BudgetBroadcast on 10/19/2007 with Michael Goodman
  Michael Goodman has been responsible for annual advertising budgets ranging from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars, in consumer, B2B, services, information, entertainment and not-for-profit situations. He’s learned advertising from recognized masters of the craft, and stumbled across some truths on his own.
  Advertising, Direct Marketing, Hiring Outside Resources, Marketing Budgets, Marketing Challenges, Small Business, Word of Mouth
• Small Business Series: Budgeting for the Marketing MixBroadcast on 9/14/2007 with Michael Goodman
  In this seminar, we'll deal with some of the most common questions asked by entrepreneurs and small business marketers: How much should we spend on marketing? Is it a percentage of sales? How do we get benchmarks for our industry? How do we know if we're over-spending, under-spending, or right on the money?
  Marketing Budgets, Marketing Tips, Measurement, ROI, Small Business
• Small Business Series: How to Set Prices the Smart WayBroadcast on 8/17/2007 with Michael Goodman
  Pricing strategy is the sleeping giant of marketing strategy. The marketing mix element with perhaps the greatest potential to affect the bottom line and properly position a brand or a company with its target audience—yet the one most often relegated to a simple financial or sales decision, without regard for its impact on the brand. This seminar will address the role of pricing as a marketing tool, and ...
  Brand Positioning, Marketing Strategy, Measurement, Positioning, Pricing, Small Business
• Small Business Series: Positioning, Naming and TaglinesBroadcast on 7/20/2007 with Michael Goodman
  Most small businesses can't afford to invest thousands of dollars in advertising and promotion every week. They have to rely on making the greatest possible impact with a small budget. The starting point for many of them is a well-thought-out positioning statement that captures the essence of the company and then gets translated into a meaningful and memorable tagline.Take a practical look at positioning as the cornerstone of a marketing plan and the basis for naming, taglines and brand building.
  Marketing Tips, Naming, Positioning, Positioning Statements, Small Business, Taglines
• Small Business Series: Do-It-Yourself Market ResearchBroadcast on 6/22/2007 with Michael Goodman
  The amount you spend on market research isn't the most important consideration. The key is asking the right high-gain questions and knowing what to do with the answers.This seminar will cover not only the various options for market research, but also six do-it-yourself approaches that can yield better results than studies costing thousands of dollars. And the turn-around time is often a fraction of what a major project would involve.
  Hiring Outside Resources, Market Research, Marketing Tips, Small Business
• Small Business Series: Why Most Small Businesses Fail (and How to Avoid Being One of Them)Broadcast on 5/18/2007 with Michael Goodman
  We’ll deal with everything, including: advertising, taglines, promotion, budgeting, publicity and low-cost market research. We’ll use case studies from small B2B and B2C companies and borrow ideas from larger companies as well.
  Advertising, Management, Marketing Plans, Marketing Tips, Measurement, Small Business, Trade Shows/Events
• Writing a Marketing Plan for Entrepreneurs and Small Business: From Blank Page to PresentationBroadcast on 6/9/2005 with Michael Fischler
  A marketing plan is the single most important guidepost you’ll have to maximize effectiveness and minimize the risk of marketing. Learn how to get the most out of your marketing plan.
  Market Research, Marketing Plans, Positioning Statements, Pricing, Small Business, SWOT, Value Propositions, Writing

Small Business: Tutorials — tactical marketing know-how in just 10 minutes from subject matter experts

• Take 10: Three Ways to Outsmart Your Biggest CompetitorsReleased on 11/4/2011 with Stephen Denny
  In just 10 minutes, learn the three best ways to outsmart the competition. You'll find out which questions to ask yourself before taking a risk as well as how to best use speed as a competitive weapon.
  Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tips, Small Business, Take 10

Small Business: Marketing downloads for the busy professional

• Small Biz How-To Guide: Positioning, Naming & Taglines
  Spot-on positioning leads to names that attract customers and taglines that sing. Get your small business on the track to marketing success.
  Naming, Positioning, Positioning Statements, Small Business, Taglines
• Small Biz How-To Guide: Market Research
  Need to learn about your customers without the big price tag of market research firms? This guide on do-it-yourself market research will help you get the information you need to position your business without emptying the corporate coffers.
  Market Research, Measurement, Metrics, Small Business
• Small Biz How-To Guide: Avoiding Key Pitfalls
  Let's face it, more small businesses fail than succeed. Make sure yours is one of the winners with this guide to getting your small business off the ground and solidly on the road to success.
  Marketing Budgets, Marketing Plans, Marketing Tips, Small Business