Many entrepreneurs struggle to find any money for advertising and marketing. Here are ten ideas you could implement now, and better yet-- they're free. 

While many small-business owners may be under the impression business intelligence is only for their larger competitors, research from St. Joseph's University suggests they think again.

How you conduct your business is a powerful source of differentiation. When you connect your core values with the way your business operates you create emotional connection points with clients who share similar values. This is the foundation of brand loyalty.

Even as moms increasingly rely on social media recommendations when buying for themselves and their families, word-of-mouth from friends and family still has the most influence on their purchasing decisions, a new study shows. And brand websites still edge out brands' Facebook pages and Twitter streams as mom-trusted resources.

Sure, you may not have several million to drop on one commercial, but I guarantee you that your basic reasons for advertising and marketing aren’t too different than the guys you saw Sunday night.

For small business owners on a budget, looking to establish their brand and bring in more customers, the of-the-moment daily deal ad may be tempting—however, some say print coupons get entrepreneurs more bang for their buck.

Want to add a board to your startup to increase your credibility? Here's what your potential board members are thinking, and how you should compensate them.

The national anthem provides the perfect analogy for doing business.The tune and words have remained the same since 1814, when "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key. Yet, every performance is different. Every variation is marked by an intentional effort by the performer to brand the song as his or her own.

Chances are your business can't pony up $3.5 million for a 30-second spot during this year's big game, but the marketing lessons in these ads won't cost you a dime.

"Mom marketing" is a field unto itself. If you're trying to sell to mothers in 2012, you have to know how their behavior changed over the last year.

Google may be the megamillion-pound gorilla in the search space, but you don't have to be a gazillionaire to compete there with the big boys of commerce. The folks from Mountain View, Calif.,  have rolled out a number of free, low-cost tools for small businesses that enable them to play above their weight.

As a small business owner, you will have potential customers trolling around your location or Website observing prices. It is important to understand that your overall pricing is just as vital to your branding as any signage, logo or advertising piece.

Consumer loyalty to companies across a broad spectrum of industries may be on the fast-track to extinction, a new survey shows. Less than one-quarter of consumers surveyed felt "very loyal" to their providers, while 24 percent said they had no loyalty at all. Experts say poor customer service is to blame.

Affiliating yourself and your business with a cause makes good business sense; it builds brand loyalty, which will lead to increased sales.

Chances are your small business doesn't have $3.5 million lying around to buy a 30 second commercial spot that will run during this year's Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean you can't advertise like the big boys on Super Sunday.

Crowdsourcing is a growing and cost-effective way for small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs) to take advantage of a global talent pool of freelancers for services that range from accounting to website design. 

The tragedy of business buzzwords is that they were fresh and had meaning when they were first coined. When terms like "cutting-edge," "total quality management" and "quantum leap" were first used, they brought fresh thinking to the language, outlined new concepts and suggested new paradigms.

Celebrity chef Paula Deen revealed Tuesday that she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes three years ago. While this may appear to be a public relations nightmare seeing as the chef continued to cook and promote her high-fat and high-sugar meals and desserts after her diagnosis, some say Deen is in a unique opportunity to do some good in light of her health issues.

Four New Hampshire small businesses reflect on what methods worked best for them, and what advice they have for other small business owners about to get bombarded by primary mayhem. 

A good salesman must try to understand what the buyer is looking for and how to provide a smooth shopping experience.

When it comes to using social media it’s not just about marketing to the masses-- it’s about marketing to the right masses. 

There are several important steps you can take to prepare your business for sale and maximize your profits. Here are five basic things to think about when developing an exit strategy.

Asking for referrals can increase your business even more than random and sporadic referrals. Here are steps to take to make asking for a referral easier and more effective.  

Online marketplaces not only help small businesses widen their potential customer base, but they also eliminate the tedious aspects of selling online.

Amazon's Price Check app allows shoppers to compare prices on items in a brick-and-mortar store with its own prices. Critics claim the app encourages people to visit small businesses to gather price and product information, but not buy.

You can reach hundreds, if not thousands, of potential customers by using social media tools wisely.

If your livelihood depends on sales or commission, you most likely are in constant pursuit of new ways to get an edge. Here are some tips to keep you on your toes, and help you close a deal.

Whether you are dreaming of building a worldwide empire or simply serving your neighborhood, you need to start with a creative advertising strategy. There’s no need to worry if you don’t have a billboard-sized budget.

If you want to make sure your product stands out in a crowd, here is a guide to choosing the perfect packaging.

More Americans are hiring professionals to do their landscaping, which means that a lucrative business opportunity has emerged. By owning your own landscaping business, you can work on the houses you want and set your own hours. You can enjoy the fresh air and not have to travel far. Here are some guidelines on how to set up your own landscaping business.

Personalization Mall, located in Burr Ridge, Ill.,  will put photos and names on just about anything a consumer wants and the Monday after Thanksgiving is its busiest day of the year.

Saturday will mark the second-annual Small Business Saturday initiative, a national push for consumers to skip major retailers in support of local businesses. According to American Express, 89 million people are expected to shop at their local small businesses in honor of the idea. Last year, businesses saw a 28% increase in sales due to the campaign to shop local over 2009.

This Saturday, Nov. 26  marks the second annual Small Business Saturday, a national initiative to support local businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. An estimated 89 million consumers are expected to "shop small" this year, giving retailers a much-needed boost during the holiday season.

Businesses are now hungrier than ever and are willing to do whatever it takes to earn the trust of customers. As a result, your competitors are moving faster than ever in an effort to make a play for your would-be patrons.

Proper start-up financing can turn a brilliant idea into something tangible. A small amount of initial capital can act as a stepping stone to further outside investment by making the idea easier to sell to potential investors. One of the most common reasons that new businesses fail is insufficient financing early on. Knowing how much financing is needed and where to secure it is imperative for ensuring the success of your new venture. Here are five ways to raise the right kind of capital for your small business:

Email marketing is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to build a relationship with your customers and generate a response. You save on printing and postage costs, and emails are easy to track. Embedded links also drive traffic to your site. Here are some tips for embarking on your first email marketing campaign:

While not every video posted to YouTube will become an instant viral sensation, experts said small businesses can and should take advantage of video marketing as an equalizing tool, helping to brand a company's personality against big-box retailers.

Credibility is something that has to be earned by businesses of all sizes. One of the quickest ways to achieve this is by sharing the views of average customers – testimonials.

Entrepreneurs who operate seasonal businesses should not feel confined to only making revenue during their busy season. 

While it's no easy task being the David to the retail Goliaths, there are ways local shops can take on these giants and use their size to their advantage.

Your 'About' page is critical to strengthening your brand identity and creating a connection with prospective clients. 

The holiday season tends to be the biggest revenue driver for most small businesses and being just a few weeks away, it’s crunch time for many business owners.

There may have been a time when customers were easy to come by, but things have changed. So, don’t expect that people will magically show up in your store, on your phone or at your Website. In fact, you have to fight for them.

Small businesses don’t need to rely on other outlets to offer customers a deal and generate a buzz about their business, they can create their own, customized version of the daily deal. 

Marketing techniques can, and should, evolve over time, but should always be applicable to a business owner’s target audience.

For most business owners, periods of inactivity for sales are not an unusual occurrence, and sometimes trying harder isn't enough to bring new customers through your door. Here are a few ways to get around these inevitable bumps in the road.

It takes a great deal of time to build a strong reputation and very little time to destroy it. Here are five ways small business owners can maintain a strong brand and a stellar reputation when providing services to customers.