However, this chore can be made much easier and simpler by using a planning template that isn't intimidating. Ivana Taylor, writing on the Small Business Trends site, gives 2 great examples of one-page marketing plans, and makes available the blank templates.

I've shortened her article here, but it can be read in its entirety by clicking on the link further below. You'll also have to click on the link to retrieve the plan templates.

(1) One-page marketing plan 1 -- The first marketing plan template is one that I've loosely adapted from learnings from the original marketing guru, Philip Kotler. (Even he doesn't believe in hundred-page plans). It's a simple single sheet of paper that outlines the basic marketing components or categories like your Mission/Objectives, Target Market, Offering, Pricing, Distribution, Communication -- you know, those 4 Ps we love so much in marketing. But the good news is that that's really all there is to it.

You can find something roughly along these lines in an old "Marketing Management" book that Kotler wrote over 20 years ago, but I think the principles are still valid.

You can use this format as a place to put your big thoughts so that you can focus on what the strategies are.

I am making the template available as a Word document -- both a blank template and a mocked-up sample plan, which you can use as a guide for how to fill out the template.

Download blank template 1 and the mocked-up sample plan 1 by going to the link below.

(2) One-page marketing plan 2 -- The second one-page plan format I use is a combination of the Kotler plan and the Guerrilla Marketing process as advocated by Michael McLaughlin. This one's not much different from the Kotler plan, but it's less academic and more focused on emotional triggers that will get your ideal customer to choose you.

I am also making this template available as Microsoft Word documents for you to download use to guide your marketing planning.

Download the blank template 2 and a mocked-up sample plan 2 by clicking on the link below.

Click here to read this article by Ivana Taylor in its entirety, and to download the templates:

http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/06/one-page-marketing-plan.html

An article recently came across Goodle Alert's Small Business alert that caught my eye. Lynn Vos, the area director of the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Center, writes about business signage, on the site Savannahnow.com.

Her article discusses several tips for making business signage more effective:

1) Begin with the end in mind. Ask yourself what you are trying to do with this sign. Are you trying to sell something, give the potential customer information or give them direction?

2) Place the sign where it's noticeable. If people can't see the sign, they sure as heck can't read it.

3) Keep it simple. Keep in mind that you are dealing with limited space, so your message must be clear and simple. Don't try to cram too much in a small space.

4) Make it legible. Test your signage - drive past it and see whether you can read it while driving. Also, how does it look at night versus during the day?

5) Be consistent in your branding efforts. Make sure your sign reflects the same brand as all your other marketing efforts.

6) Don't forget "in-store" signage. These little signs can have big impact on your customers. Sometimes referred to as "shelf talkers," small signs sticking on the shelves can generate interest and create a call to action for your customers.

7) Seek a professional's guidance. Get some ideas and feedback from several sign specialists. If you see a sign you like, stop and ask the business owner who did it.

8) Invest well. Remember, signage is an investment that you may be looking at for years to come. Depending on the type of sign, you can spend anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars for signage.

9) Keep in mind how long you need the sign to last, if it needs to be changed on a regular basis, if it needs to be lighted, the materials that will maximize its life, and the environment it has to exist in.

To read more about each tip, you can read the article by Vos in its entirety by clicking on this link:

http://savannahnow.com/column/2010-07-05/small-business-9-tips-make-your-signage-effective

The traits were determined from a study by The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute, and is based on analysis of a survey of 1,100 small businesses with between 2 and 99 employees.

1) The ability to collaborate. Those who can delegate, build strong relationships with their management teams, employees, and others are more likely to click with customers.

2) Being self-fulfilled. Good small business owners put a high price on the fulfillment their companies provide them, relish being their own boss, and enjoy being in control of their personal income.

3) Future-focused. Small business owners who thrive are good at both short-term and long-term planning. They're likely to have a well thought-out plan for the day-to-day running of the business as a road map for how to run the business for years.

4) Curious. Good entrepreneurs are always reading and asking questions. They want to learn everything from why a particular business failed to how to find, motivate, and keep good employees.

5) Tech-savvy. Perhaps not surprisingly, the best small business owners invest time and money on their company's website and are likely to "rely a great deal on technology to help make our business more effective and efficient."

6) Action oriented. Successful founders are proactive and always "differentiating ourselves from our competitors," survey respondents said. They were less worried than other small business owners about the state of the economy, and more likely to look at adversity as "a kick in the rear to help you move forward."

1. Add complimentary products on the order confirmation page. You can easily have your Web programmer add a section to the order confirmation page which suggests products based on what the customer is buying. For instance, if your customer is purchasing a toy for his child, your Web site can be programmed to suggest to him that he also buy the batteries needed for the toy, as well as a complimentary toy that is part of the series.

2. Give them a chance to purchase a warranty. If your customer is at the check- out section of your Web site, you can include a screen which offers them a chance to purchase a warranty for the product before they check out. This is a great up-sell strategy that will not only help you, but the customer as well.

3. Offer a small discount if they will add something to their order. For instance, if the customer's order totals to $23.22, offer them a 10 to 20 percent discount on orders which are above $25.00. This will encourage your customer to add another product to the order so that they can take advantage of your discount.

4. Offer a bundle of items at check-out for a lower price. If the customer is purchasing a toy for a child, at check-out, you can offer the entire series of toys at a discounted rate, but only if they purchase the bundle immediately. This is a good way to entice customers to think about the discount they will receive and want to go ahead and make the purchase at the check out.

5. Offer a chance to purchase the upgraded version of the product. If your customer is purchasing a 20 inch TV, give them a chance to upgrade it to a 25 inch TV at the check-out for only "X" dollars more. You may be surprised at the overwhelming response you get from people who were only looking for an excuse to get the TV they really wanted.

You can read the article in its entirety by clicking on this link:

http://www.businessknowhow.com/internet/upsell.htm

He knows he needs one, but appeared to be intimidated by the whole process.

Here's an article by Prasad Thammineni, on Small Business Trends, that everyone needing some website help can benefit from: 20 basic, but good tips, about how to build a credible website. 10 of the 20 tips are listed below, with details and the remainder 10 tips found in the link below.

1. Find a good name

The company name is usually the first impression the customer gets of your business. If you're going to plaster it all over the internet, be sure the name is easy to remember, spell, and more importantly is relevant to the products or service you are selling.

2. Have a professional looking website

3. Showcase Press Coverage

4. Blog

5. Provide User Testimonials

6. Find a logo

7. Use Video Content

8. Use Social Media

9. Have a Friendly "About" Page

10. The website needs to be Error Free

Click here for details on each, and to read about tips 11-20:

http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/06/tips-small-business-web-credibility.html