Updated Articles and Resources

By Alyssa Gregory, About.com Guide

How to Write a Small Business Marketing Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide Created: Friday, January 20, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
A marketing plan is an essential tool for every small business. Use this step-by-step marketing plan tutorial to identify your marketing goals and create a plan for reaching them.
7 Ways to Communicate More Effectively in Your Small Business Created: Thursday, May 10, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Effective communication is an important part of starting and growing a successful small business. These tips will help you improve your communication processes.
How to Plan for Retirement as a Small Business Owner Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Small business retirement planning tips, including how to create a realistic retirement plan and change your perspective on retirement planning.
7 Ways to Use Pinterest in Your Small Business Created: Saturday, April 28, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tips, resources and examples to help you use Pinterest to promote your small business online.
5 Tips for Getting Started with Twitter in Your Small Business Created: Friday, April 27, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tips to help you get started using Twitter effectively to promote and market your small business.
How to Stop Micromanaging Right Now Created: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Stop the micromanaging your team by following these five steps.
How to Use Social Media for Customer Service Created: Saturday, March 24, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Smart small businesses are using social media to expand their customer service practices. Here are a few tips to integrate customer service into social media.
Why You Need Paper Business Cards for Your Small Business Created: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Technology may provide alternative ways to share contact information at networking events, but there is no replacement for traditional paper business cards. Here's why.
What Not to Do When Using Social Media for Business Created: Friday, August 12, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
There aren't any set rules when it comes to using social media for business, but there are several actions that are worth avoiding if you want to support your brand online, instead of hurting it. H...
8 Winning Tips to Make Your Financial Plan Profitable Created: Sunday, March 21, 2004 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
To be successful in business, you need to make a financial plan and check it against the facts on a monthly basis, then take immediate action to correct any problems. Learn the 8 steps you should t...
Small Business Tax Deductions - Top 10 Tax Deductions For Small Businesses Created: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
These 10 essential small business tax deductions will help you navigate through the maze of write-offs.
10 Things You Need To Do To Build a Successful Relationship with Your Bookkeeper Created: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tips and advice for finding and working efficiently with your small business bookkeeper.
The Ultimate Guide to Using Social Media for Small Business Created: Sunday, April 29, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tips and resources for using social media in your small business.
Top 5 Bootstrap Marketing Techniques Every Small Business Owner Should Use Created: Thursday, February 23, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Bootstrap marketing is a great way to maximize a small business budget. Use these five techniques to get more mileage out of your bootstrap budget as you promote your business.
17 Items You Need to Set Up an Efficient Home Office Created: Thursday, September 08, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Use this checklist to identify the items you need to create an efficient home office that will help you work productivity.
Business Card Toolkit for Small Business Owners Created: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Your business card is an extension of your brand, so it's important that it is well-designed, smartly formatted and includes the most important information about your business. These resources will...
7 Rules of an Effective Business Card Created: Thursday, August 25, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Follow these seven business card rules so you can make sure your business card is an effective extension of your brand.
A Guide to Using Facebook for Business Created: Sunday, July 31, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
This guide will help you use Facebook for business purposes. Explore the tips, tools and resources provided in this guide to develop a powerful and effective Facebook presence.
Top 6 Reasons You Need a Facebook Page for Your Small Business Created: Saturday, July 09, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Learn why you need to create a Facebook page for your business today and how it can help you grow your small business.
Social Media for Business - Tips for Getting Started with Social Media for Business Created: Sunday, March 06, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Small business owners who haven't gotten started with social media for business might be overwhelmed, intimidated and confused. Here are 7 tips to help you navigate the social media waters in a man...
Web Conferencing Tools - 30 Web Conferencing Services for Small Business Created: Friday, January 14, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
A list of 30 Web conferencing tools that make it easy for small business owners to delegate effectively and collaborate with team members, wherever they are.
Manage and Grow Created: Thursday, October 04, 2007 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Reaching the next level of business development in the growth and management stage can be filled with ups and downs. Demands will be placed on your precious time and money. Use these resources to h...
Money Matters Created: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Money makes the business world go around. Getting it and keeping it are survival skills needed for small business success. Whether you're a start up or growing business, learning the basics of acco...
Small Business Licenses, Permits and Regulations Created: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 09, 2012
A state-by-state listing of registration, license and permit regulations for small businesses.
How to Use Technology In Your Small Business Created: Thursday, April 12, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Small business owners who use technology have an edge in business. Here are some small business technology ideas to get you started.
Do I Need an Accountant? Created: Sunday, January 08, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Deciding if your small business needs an accountant isn't always an easy decision. Explore if hiring an accountant is right for your business by reviewing this list of common tasks completed by an ..
Business Plan Outline – Comprehensive Business Plan Outline for Small Business Created: Thursday, September 30, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
An overview of all of the main sections of a business plan, with links to expanded descriptions, examples and tips for writing each section of your business plan effectively.
Mission Statement -Writing a Meaningful Mission Statement Created: Sunday, May 16, 2004 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Is a personal and corporate mission statement necessary for success in today's hostile business climate? Learn the 3 key ingredients of meaningful mission statements. Explore sample mission stateme...
What Is Social Media? Created: Sunday, April 29, 2012 Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012
The definition of social media as it applies to small business.
What Is Bootstrapping? Created: Friday, January 27, 2012 Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012
The definition of bootstrapping, and how it can help entrepreneurs start and promote a business on a budget.
101 Small Business Marketing Activities to Promote Your Business Created: Sunday, March 20, 2011 Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012
There are thousands of effective small business marketing tactics to promote your products and services. Here is a list of 101 small business marketing ideas to get you started.
7 Tools for Creating a Custom Facebook Welcome Page Created: Monday, July 18, 2011 Updated: Friday, April 27, 2012
Explore seven services you can use to create a custom welcome tab on your Facebook business page.

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