• Test Your Banner Ads
  To find out if your banner ads can pull interest and click-throughs, test them on your own Web site first. Try different ads and see which pulls the most response.
  

• Don’t Go It Alone
  Entrepreneurs are famous for going it alone. But executive coach M. Nora Klaver makes a good case for getting help in her first book “Mayday! Asking for Help in Times of Need” (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2007).
  
  

GET CONNECTED TIPS
Nifty ideas you can use to build a better business

• Trick Or Treat!
  Good news for small retailers who want to stock their shelves with Halloween tricks and treats. According to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the average person is planning to spend $64.82 on the holiday compared to $59.06 last year.

• More Web Site Sales
  You can increase your small-business Web site sales by showing visitors exactly what actions they should take. Don’t be shy. Prominently display colorful buttons that encourage visitors take immediate action.

GET CONNECTED TAXES
Savvy strategies to help reduce your taxes

• Hard Hat Tax Gap
  Not reporting or under-reporting business income contributes to the tax gap – the difference between the amount of tax that taxpayers should pay and the amount that is paid voluntarily and on time. To help small-business owners in the construction industry understand their tax responsibilities – and narrow the tax gap – the IRS offers a fact sheet.

• Tax Credits For Hybrids
  In the market for a hybrid vehicle to save your small business some gasoline money? You might be able to get a tax credit, too. The IRS says that certain Honda hybrids still qualify for a tax credit.

GET CONNECTED TO-DO
Trade shows, conferences, seminars and workshops to boost your business

• Effective Interviewing
  This two-day interactive, skill-based workshop presents an organized approach to conducting employment interviews. Identifying selection criteria, developing the interview format, asking the right questions, and legal cautions are included.

• Assertiveness Skills: Communicating with Authority and Impact
  Professionals need the ability to project their thoughts and ideas with an assertive communication style. The skill of expressing opinions confidently and clearly is critical. With this two-day workshop from Learning Tree International, you’ll gain the confidence to respectfully ask for what you want.

GET CONNECTED TRAINING
Know-how you need to succeed

• Set The Right Price
  It’s time to hike prices. But you don’t want customers to abandon your services. Follow these three steps before increasing your fees.

• Referral Marketing
  Link your small business with non-competing but related businesses to expand your marketing. The result: more customers and sales.