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Done right business plans aren't something you use to lure investors and then stick in the bottom of your desk drawer. Rather, they become living documents that guide your business, keep you on course, and -- yes -- adapt as your businesses changes. But too often, business plans are rife with problems -- expert Tim Berry breaks down the top 10. Read More

The most common question entrepreneurs ask is “how can I improve my marketing with no or little money?” With this in mind, Mike Michalowicz, the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, asked for help from the TPE community and here is what he got— 115 ideas. Skim them or read them in detail, but whatever you do make sure you go through the list. Just one of Read More

How often have you entered a store: 1) And observed two clerks continue to chat instead of turning to smile at you? 2) To find that the order you called in the day before is not at the counter, ready for your quick pick-up and payment, because the clerk said she “got busy with other customers?” 3) And asked the clerk a question about a product and Read More

Maybe your fixed costs are not as fixed you think. With the recession continuing in full force, you may find that everyone — from the company that supplies your office with water to your neighborhood banker — is willing to renegotiate their existing arrangements with you to keep your business. Closely analyze every contract you have and look Read More

You've read a bunch of different productivity posts, blogs, books, and magazine articles — admit it — and yet it's always so complicated. You just want to accomplish great things, without all the fuss. And while there are many great systems out there — GTD, Zen To Done, Extreme GTD, The Power of Less, and more — it always takes a lot of work. Y Read More

I thought this was an effective idea, "When you're stumped trying to come up with remarkable features to talk about in your marketing -- go the opposite way. Talk about something awful, opposite, or different." Check out this example from TripAdvisor to see how it can be done. Read More

Larry Chase shares what he's found successful in getting press coverage, as well as what to look for when being pitched to give press to another firm. He also identifies some savvy uses of social media while covering Internet marketing for Web Digest For Marketers. Read More

As marketers look for ways to optimize lead generation, they are recognizing the value of using educational content and thought leadership to help attract more customers. So what is a thought leader? First of all, thought leaders don't really refer to themselves as thought leaders. Thought leadership is an outside assessment based on what Read More

The expanding reach of the Internet and growth of online collaboration tools have all changed small business outsourcing dramatically in the past 3-4 years. Let us take a look at 10 key trends for using independent contractors for projects and even ongoing staffing needs, and how they shape up in 2009: Read More

The first flush of New Year's Resolutions has worn off. Are you still on task to meet your goals? Or is this going to be another year where your business runs you, instead of the other way around? Here are 12 things that Small Business Trend's Anita Campbell is doing this year to upgrade her business. Ask yourself if these ideas could apply Read More