In a recent post, we discussed your options and strategies for your business to attend trade shows in 2011. Trade shows can have enormous paybacks for your company by making the right contacts, finding new market segments, and simply selling more products. However, attending and displaying at a trade show can be expensive. Why not consider virtual trade shows in 2011?

Here are five good reasons why virtual trade shows may be your answer to save money on your marketing budget.

1. Save money on exhibit displays

   Creating professional exhibit material takes time and money. The best exhibits are created by professional designers.

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Whatever your business type, you may decide that you can benefit from the services of a tax professional to help you get your ducks in a row or help you complete your return.

Not getting the right help can expose you to potential tax return errors, which can lead to costly penalties and time lost down the line.

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Blogs continue to drive results for businesses through a multitude of avenues. Search engines like websites that provide updated content, helping your website to rank higher for relevant keywords. Additional traffic stems from return visitors, who stay abreast of your latest happenings.

However, how do you successfully promote your blog to attract more readers? There are many ways to creatively and actively promote your blog. Below are 6 good ways we feel you can use to successfully promote your blog.

1. Directories

   There are many online directories and clearinghouses where you can submit your blog articles.

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The good news is that these tools not only help business owners understand their tax obligations, they also offer a foundation in good business management that can be referenced all year round.

Tax Tools and Tips for Each Stage of your Business

Whether you are contemplating entrepreneurship, are a start-up or full-fledged business owner, these guides from the IRS are specifically designed to help small business owners start and manage their business venture.

And it’s not just tax tips.  Each guide provides information on how to make business decisions such as choosing your business structure, choosing and managing a retirement plan, hiring employees and so on –all with the tax ramifications in mind.

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While the holiday shopping frenzy begins the day after Thanksgiving, you should be ready to implement your holiday sales plan. Social media should have a prominent place in your marketing campaign this holiday season. How will you use social media to promote your holiday and end-of-year sales?

Here are five tips for you to consider when using your small business social media accounts:

1. Ask followers what they are shopping for

   You can utilize social media as a market research tool. Casually inquire to your followers and fans what is on their wish list, or what they are considering to buy for others.

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Here are some quick tips to help guide you through the process.

Conduct a Sales and Marketing Review

In business you spend a significant amount of time looking ahead, whether it’s budgeting, managing pipeline and cash flow, staffing plans and so on. But a lot can happen in a year, so taking stock of the year is a useful first step in helping you align your priorities for the year ahead.

As you look back ask yourself some of these questions about your sales and marketing efforts in 2010:

• Which products or services were in highest demand, and were these the most profitable? H

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Search engine marketing (SEM) has evolved quickly over the last few years and is now one of the top marketing devices used by small neighborhood retail stores to major international manufacturers. However, SEM tactics, such as pay per click, is a tricky business and has heavy competition. The best way for your small business to succeed with SEM is to have a sound strategy.

Here we offer three key tips to help you improve the effectiveness of your SEM campaign.

1. Day/Time/Season Strategy

   Your search engine marketing using PPC may be more effective if you narrow your choices for when your ads appear.

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