Small Business: Marketing & Sales

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Marketing Plan Guide
SBA Marketing Articles
The Small Business Administration's marketing section includes marketing basics, ideas, and detailed information on building a marketing plan.

Planning Ideas
How to Develop a Marketing Concept
This concise article from Bizmove highlights the differences between sales and marketing approaches to managing a business.

How is Your Marketing Doing Lately?
This article discusses the stages of marketing, including market research and strategy.

Checklists & Research
FormNET's Market Worksheets
Download worksheets and surveys to help research and plan your marketing campaign, as well as contract and receipt templates for sales. (MS Word or PDF format)

Customer Survey
Customer Satisfaction Survey
Download a sample form to help you gather customer satisfaction information. (RTF format)

Press
Marcia Yudkin's Publicity FAQ
Answer the most frequently asked questions about press releases and media attention.

The Care and Feeding of the Press
This document has circulated the Internet since 1999 and is an attitude-filled view of journalists' side of the publicity game. Read it before sending out your press releases.

Press Releases Made Easy Ebook
This free little ebook outlines the basics of writing press releases, distributing them, and measuring your results. Includes a press release template. (PDF format)

Networking
Networking to Build Your Business
This introduction to networking talks about networking basics.

Collateral
About White Papers
Confused about what a white paper is and how it can help you? Here's a quick definition, history, and list of uses for white papers in marketing.

Regulations
FTC Guidelines for Telemarketing & Direct Marketing
These FTC guidelines for direct marketers will help you stay legal and maintain truth-in-advertising standards when marketing by mail, phone, or over the Internet. (U.S.)