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Some employers are using the Internet to check up on potential employees before making hiring decisions, but did you realize that potential clients could be checking up on small business owners, too? Making sure you know what is being said about you and your company on the Internet should be a regular part of your business activities. Use these three tips to keep track of your online brand.

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Finding money can be one of the biggest hurdles for a small business owner. Whether you desire to open a chain of restaurants or an Internet-only business, capital is required to fund your dreams. Here we will explore the different types of funding available to you:

Debt financing includes any money you will pay back. It does not require you to give up equity in your company and can be a good choice for entrepreneurs who have not been able to attract the attention of investors. This type of financing…

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Summer is almost over, but it’s not too late to implement these 3 summer business building tips. This Monday Marketing Moment offers tips to keep your sales high during the hottest months of the year.

For many small business owners, summer represents a slump in sales. Many of our potential customers are more interested in vacations and outdoor activities than in office meetings and store visits. Rather than let your sales suffer, follow these 3 business building tips to give your company a boost this summer.

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Small business owners love clients. They are the lifeblood of the company and ensure that employees are paid and the office lights are kept on. However, there are some customers that entrepreneurs can do without. Are you one of them? Read on for the top 5 small business pet peeves and how to avoid them.

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Okay, the title of this article may be a bit harsh, but I still urge you to rethink your small business’ use of flashing text, scrolling photos and music as the first things potential customers see on your web site. Remember, your site visitors are coming to you web site to learn about your products and services, not to be entertained by your logo dancing across the screen. Here are a few questions to consider before asking your web designer to create a Flash intro for your site:

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Having a web site can be one of the best ways to promote your business, if done correctly. This Monday Marketing Moment offers 3 things your web site must have in order to succeed. They are simple, yet often ignored tips that could mean the difference between closing a sale and losing business to a competitor.

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Hello readers! I’ve approached this week’s Monday Marketing Moment from a different angle. Rather than type up a general knowledge article, this week I wanted to give you something you could use now. Today’s tip is simple: promote your business.

I will even give you a head start. You can promote your business here on the Entrepreneur Resources: Small Business Blog for free as part of our “Small Business Spotlight.”

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Last week, we talked about meeting a consumer’s unmet need with your product or service. You may have been left wondering – who is this “consumer” person, and how do I reach him or her? Generally speaking, a consumer is someone who uses goods or services. What your business is most interested in is finding its target consumer – that group of people who is both interested in your product or service and willing to purchase it.

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Happy Monday! This week, I offer a simple tip that many excited entrepreneurs forget: your product or service MUST help somebody…preferably a large group of somebodies. In other words, to be successful, your product or service must meet a consumer’s unmet need. In other words: a person has a problem, and you have the means to fix it!

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For many new small business owners, one of the hardest things to figure out is pricing. This is especially true for service-based businesses that charge by the hour. I know I’ve been kept up at night after sending off a proposal wondering whether I charged too little or too much. I say no more of this.

I declare 2010 the year to stop second-guessing your pricing plan.

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For many small business owners, creating an online store is a natural step in their business growth. Perhaps you own a brick and mortar clothing boutique and are ready to expand your client base worldwide, or maybe you’re a new business owner who will sell your products exclusively on the Internet. Either way, you should follow a detailed plan to get your store up and running. While selling on the Internet can seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. Continue reading as we cover four key steps, from registering your domain name to creating a credit card processing account, that will get your online store open for business in no time.