Maryalene LaPonsie

Unless you have an unlimited advertising budget, chances are you aren’t reaching all of the potential customers who could benefit from your undoubtedly fantastic service or product. Barring a sudden influx of cash into your PR coffers, how can you promote your business with minimal expense? The answer may lie in strategic business alliances. Not […]

Quick, can you name the logos for McDonalds, the Olympics and Apple? If you said the golden arches, interlocking rings and (duh) an apple, you win the kewpie doll. But can you say with any certainty what characteristics these best-of-the-best logos share? They are all simple, memorable and easily recognized. Now, what about your business […]

Every business has fans; at least every good business. And as a savvy CEO, executive or store manager, you need to know how a few small business marketing tips to help turn those fans into brand advocates willing to spread the gospel. It’s not a plug-and-play process, however. There’s no blueprint you can follow or […]

Old school word-of-mouth marketing occurred when happy customers referred others to a business over coffee or a beer. Today, consumers praise and pan businesses in front of thousands of people (albeit digitally) via social media, most notably the almighty Facebook. If you’re a small business owner, and you still think of Facebook as a way […]

The short answer is yes, most small businesses can benefit from keeping a blog. While it may feel like you’re adding one more thing to an already overburdened to-do list, there are several sound reasons why maintaining a blog makes sense, especially from a small business marketing perspective. 5 Reasons to Start a Small Business […]

The iPad, smartphone and even Facebook were game-changers, forever altering how the world does business. These products and services literally put millions of customers across multiple markets within your reach. You may not be Steve Jobs or have the next billion-dollar concept scribbled on a bedside Post-It, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a […]

Wouldn’t you love to have hundreds, if not thousands, of new customers flocking to your business? With daily deal sites as part of your small business marketing plan, that may be possible. However, small businesses need to understand – and avoid – the potential pitfalls associated with these popular sites. The Basics of Daily Deal […]

Outsourcing used to be the exclusive domain of big businesses. However, with the advent of online outsourcing sites, there is no reason why small businesses, or even solo entrepreneurs, can’t reap the benefits of having a worldwide workforce at their fingertips. Delegating tasks to independent contractors can be a smart way to free up both […]