We all know it; even though we wish it weren’t true: small businesses have limited resources. They often have only enough time, money, and patience for the core of their business. Certainly, a small business should never sacrifice its unique selling position. But it’s equally true that businesses need exposure in order to stay up and running. Thankfully, the web makes it possible to boost awareness at relatively low costs. Even so, many businesses struggle getting a competitive edge online. Here are some of the reasons why. MORE >>

To generate more fresh ideas, it’s also essential to network and learn from business leaders outside of your industry. . While Chapman considered expanding its business reach to include the entire state of Ohio, the decision was made to limit the population served in order to serve them well – by offering more extensive services and personalized attention. What Mike Chapman practices is something I’ve learned in my business ventures. So, the challenge for adapting this to your business is to first get clear about your company mission. MORE >>

Tweet Some time ago, we had a guest post on our blog stating how social media is not a cheaper alternative , even though many marketers think it doesn’t cost much. And this might also result in businesses not knowing whether to really invest in social media, since they do not know the outcome of the effort put into it. The value of a Twitter follower is bigger than cost per follower. Small Business Social Media Will Grow in 2011 [infographic]. It seems as if this is a rather discussed subject at the moment. Benefits from social media initiatives. MORE >>

To ring in the New Year, I asked my colleagues for their best advice for small businesses in 2013. Think through your business strategy and what your brand should stand for both in the short-run and in the long-run even before you select a name and develop customer facing programs. Small businesses need to monitor social media to set realistic goals. For small business owners, public relations is often an overlooked communications practice that should be integrated into a marketing program. People like to do business with people they know. MORE >>

Modern marketing is a practice that is new to most small businesses. Prior Prior to that small businesses made meaningful connections through selling , not marketing. One of the reasons for this is that most of the media available in recent decades, including magazines, radio, and television advertising, were far too costly for the average small business. Every business has the capability to use technology to achieve countless impressions, and that is possible with even the smallest budget. Is that the best approach for your business? MORE >>