Business Blogs: Trends, tips, and real-life anecdotes from industry experts.

It is common practice to set New Year’s resolutions in our personal lives, but how often do we do it for our business? Here are 28 Small Business Marketing Resolutions for the New Year that will inspire you to write your own.

The best way to get 2012 off to a great start is to put some thought into your 2012 marketing plan outlining where you want to go and how you plan to get there. Here are 5 tips for preparing your 2012 marketing plan from small businesses like yours.

There is a lot of buzz about how QR codes are the latest and greatest marketing thing for small business. So the question is; why should we adopt QR codes in our marketing? Here are 6 ways other businesses are using QR codes for marketing. Maybe one of these will work for your business.

Recently I asked small business owners to share the “one marketing thing” that has made the most difference for their business. I received some fantastic responses that range from practical to creative. Here are 31 of the best marketing “things” that have generated the most customers and leads for these businesses.

If you’re a business owner looking for some creative marketing ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Let me tell you something- If it’s being talked about on the news or on the Internet, then your customers are talking about it too. Become a part of the conversation with your out-of-the box marketing ideas and you’ll turn your business into a customer magnet.

Approximately 30% of American mobile phone users have a smart phone and adoption rates are increasing. According to comScore, a digital market intelligence company, it’s estimated that by the end of 2011, that number will have increased to 50%. This represents a huge opportunity to small business owners who have retail locations. Here are 9 of the top mobile coupon applications to market your small business.

What is the biggest marketing challenge that you have in your business? According to a survey by Marketing Sherpa, 78% of businesses say that their biggest marketing challenge is generating high quality leads. What marketing strategy is the best at accomplishing that goal? The answer is not what you think.

Social media has changed the face of marketing forever. What was once a one-way message pushed from the company to the consumer has become a two-way conversation, requiring both parties to participate. Now your customers have a voice in the marketplace and their voices are loud and clear.

Lately I’ve noticed a problem that I thought was worth bringing up. That is; what happens to your social media when the person who’s doing it goes away?

Foursquare is a hugely untapped and powerful little tool for business marketing, especially if you own a business that requires customers to physically visit your location to make a purchase. Unfortunately most businesses don’t understand just exactly how they can use Foursquare and are missing out on a fantastic and inexpensive marketing opportunity!!