Doing thorough research is the first step to creating a winning marketing strategy. These articles and templates will explain elements like defining your target market, finding a niche and thinking through how to reach and engage your customers.

There are many ways to get your brand out there, depending on how big or small your budget is. Now that you have defined your target audience, this category will show you different ways to reach your customer and make sales, without breaking the bank.

Promoting your business via email and your website can be an effective way to reach both your potential customers, and stay in touch with existing clients. Here you will learn the ins-and-outs of using these particular sales channels successfully.

Word of mouth is probably the most important marketing channel for a small business. This is why consistently providing outstanding service your customers will talk about, is one of the best ways to get new clients and grow your business.

There is a certain formula to selling – whether it’s a product or service. This category has articles with tips to help you find prospects, identify those with the highest potential and, most importantly, close the deal.

For businesses that operate in a specific industry or may be targeting a niche market, trade shows can be a great marketing tool. They help entrepreneurs generate sales leads, identify the competition, improve networking skills and get more publicity.

Building relationships is vital to an entrepreneur’s success. But many are too afraid to network or feel they’re not very good at it. The information in this category will build your confidence and show you how to make those important business contacts.

Each marketing tool can have its own strategy and this category explores a few of those. It also delves deeper into how to measure whether your efforts (and the money spent) have created sales and led to business growth.