The following is a recap of the #smbiz Twitter chat on Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Anita Campbell (@smallbiztrends) and Matt McGee (@mattmcgee) were the special guest experts. @smbiz Q1 Let’s start off with some basics. What is SEM? #smbiz @smallbiztrends Q1: What is SEM? SEM is using the search engines to help your business get found online (that’s a layman’s definition). #SM...

Customer loyalty for a small business is as much about brand perception as it is about brand behavior. Your loyalty efforts can go a long way towards bringing people back into your store, but you can’t expect their return alone to bring profits. For that you need to continue driving value, service and incentive, sometimes all at the same time. The Wall Street Journal does a good job in this ...

Following is a recap and transcript of the June 9 #smbiz chat where Kim Fenolio (@kfenolio on Twitter) of America’s Best Companies gave tips on the best ways to use Twitter for business. @smbiz Q1 Is there a right way to use Twitter for marketing your small business? #smbiz @kFenolio Q1) Many argue there isn’t 1 right way. I say lots of wrong ways. So if there are wrong ways, there are...

One in four workers who are now unemployed are considering launching their own small business according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Roughly seven million people have lost their job since the start of the current recession and many of them are now thinking of starting their own business. The Miami Herald documented this trend in a recent article profiling a young couple who decided to sta...

Following is the recap and transcript from the May 26th #smbiz chat on copywriting. @Smbiz Please welcome tonight’s #smbiz panel of webinar experts: @lindadonahue @markdresner @smbiz Q1 What is the difference between copywriting and the way you would regularly write for your business? #smbiz @markdresner Q1:: Direct response copywriting is less formal in tone and style than normal “busine...

Do you have something you want to share with your small business customers in a newsletter format? Have you ever thought about doing a newsletter but aren’t sure how or where to get started? Join the #smbiz Twitter chat on Tuesday, June 30, from 8-9 pm EDT. We will be talking everything newsletters: –How newsletters are good for new customers and existing ones –Newsletters as a c...