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One simple fact of marketing is that the Internet is a much different playing field than traditional advertising channels like newspapers and television. According to a study by Webvisible and Nielsen Online, only 9 percent of small business owners say they are satisfied with their online advertising efforts. Getting it right is critical in today Read More

"Growth" is a word rarely uttered in tough economic times, especially among small businesses that are fighting for survival. Fortunately, growing a business in uncertain times is possible. Just ask the owners of a small bookstore in Woodstock, Ga. They have steadily grown their store into a community fixture by eschewing doom-and-gloom thinking. Read More

Businesses large and small shell out huge amounts of money for training every year. In some industries, almost a quarter of those expenditures are earmarked for customer service training. But to be effective, the training must be presented in ways that match employees' learning styles. Here are three specific learning styles to consider. Read More

One in four growing businesses feels threatened by the tough economy, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. But when the going gets tough, the tough get ... marketing. The key is to focus your efforts on building greater brand awareness both online and off. Here's how. Read More

Forget about the revenge of the nerds. The technology elite (think Bill Gates, Mark Cuban) are now called "geeks," thank you very much, and they've gone beyond revenge to earn respect as a potent market segment. Geeks are smart, but skeptical, and savvy marketers need to approach them the right way. Here are some surefire ways to reach and win Read More

With the economy struggling, and profit margins thin, there is no better time than now to seek cost reductions as part of your business development strategy. Many small businesses, however, consider certain supplier relationships to be above review, which removes any incentive for suppliers to give you the best deal. Here are some steps you can ta Read More

Renowned copywriter Robert Lerose, who specializes in direct response advertising, and William Fridrich, who co-invented the "magalog" direct mail promotion, have more than 50 years of combined experience. Here, they offer four promotional copywriting tips that small businesses should take to heart before developing a direct mail marketing campa Read More

Online relationship building with customers takes time and effort; it doesn't happen overnight. But small businesses that go the extra mile see benefits ranging from improved customer loyalty to increased sales. Here are six effective ways to get closer to your customers in the virtual world as part of a niche marketing effort. Read More

They are the all-too-frequent subjects of profanity-laced customer reviews splashed across the Internet for all the world to see: "Lame service at this bank has been a tradition for over 20 years." "They are there to waste your time!" Day after day, these companies make their customers' lives unnecessarily difficult. FuelNet presents its list Read More

When a great product or service isn't selling, the salesperson is probably to blame, right? Actually, that's nothing but a myth, one of many that plague the sales profession. Martyn Lewis, author of the acclaimed book "Sales Wise," shares five other myths about sales, and the realities behind what creates truly effective sales lead generation Read More