Leveraging Social Media to Boost E-Commerce Holiday Sales
from E-Commerce Times
Online retailers who want to tap into new and existing opportunities for growth must implement tactics to maximize word-of-mouth marketing technologies. Businesses need to utilize the technology that is available and create a specific plan for marketing and consumer promotions using social media.  More
 

My Planning's Off. What Now?
from Entrepreneur
You've put your business plan in action, but the plan is out of synch with reality. What do you do then? Just asking this question means you're already on the right track. You can't get to this point without having done several things right. Here's how to keep doing what's right.  More
 

Obama to Offer Banks Capital for More Small Businesses Lending
from Bloomberg
President Barack Obama plans to announce new measures to open up credit for small businesses, including capital injections for community banks to spur lending, the administration said. Community banks with less than $1 billion in assets will be eligible for lower-cost capital if they submit a small business lending plan and document their lending in quarterly reports, according to a White House fact sheet.   More
 

Smart Retailers Fight Walkaways at the Checkout
from Retail Customer Experience
Smart retailers are digging in and making the necessary investments to boomerang out of this recession and, hopefully, win over the customers of their struggling competitors. One of the largest areas for investment among winning retailers is the checkout queue.  More
 

Staged Recovery Will Be Shaped By More Purposeful, Pragmatic Shoppers
from Retail TouchPoints
The good news is there will be a retail recovery in 2010, according to Retail Forward’s recent Strategic Outlook Conference in New York. The bad news is the recovery will be a fickle one, and not all retailers will see business return to the levels they were enjoying prior to the 2008 downturn.  More
 

Want Teens to Notice Your Product Placement? Use the Web
from Fast Company
Teens and college students are skipping or tuning out traditional advertising more and more, minimizing screens or muting the volume. Being able to be part of the content youth consume is one way brands can make sure their product is seen, and advertisers are spending millions of dollars to ensure that happens. The problem is that even when teens and college students do notice product placements, it doesn't necessarily change their feelings about that product.  More
 

Marketers: Get Introspective and Effective
from Business Week
The effect of a reduced marketing budget doesn't have to be less marketing. As you experience what may be unprecedented cuts, keep in mind that this is an opportunity to look within and reevaluate strategies, implement new ideas, and seek greater marketing efficiencies. At the onset, it's important to take inventory of the marketing channels you use and any existing resources that you may have overlooked. Here are some efficiency tips to get you started.  More