It’s surprising how many businesses open their doors without a business plan. You may not have to have every element of a business plan written down to be successful, but without financial projections and a marketing plan, you have no roadmap to success.

The marketing plan section of a business plan is generally a complex document requiring many hours of thought and planning. If you’re a small businessperson and need something quick to get going, plan need not be extensive, however, it should be written down, followed consistently and updated periodically. In order to get people started and avoid overwhelm, I’ve devised a formula for a simple, straightforward marketing plan. It begins with a six-step outline and then progresses to a chart. Each of these can be completed in about 30 minutes and will provide day-to-day marketing decisions every business owner needs to make.

A press release is a powerful tool just about anyone in business can and should be using. Submitting regular press releases is one secret that can bring your business more new customers for FREE than some of your more costly forms of marketing! Newspapers, magazines and radio and TV stations offer option of promoting you and your business for free. That’s right—for FREE! They have space, they need to fill it, you have something important to tell community. There are also online PR sites that are free and some that charge a reasonable fee. For ones that are free, you’re not guaranteed placement. So more you know about how to write a press release, greater your chance of getting them accepted.

Don’t know how to write one? Not to worry! Here are some tips on what you need to know to get your name before your clients and prospects effectively and inexpensively!

1.Know your Media – Every newspaper, magazine, radio or TV station or online PR Web site has a different format. Study each one so you give them what they want. The more you conform to their standards, less will be cut from your release. 2.Include Basics – What, when, where, who and why. Put important facts including dates, times and location at beginning, because cutting is usually done from end. 3.Follow with Details – What will be happening at this event? Who is invited? Who would be interested in knowing about this? 4.End with Contact Information – Always have contact phone numbers or e-mails both for media and for public. Let people know where they can get more information.

Don’t think you have anything worthy to say in a press release? Think again. The purpose of a press release is to inform community of something media feels is newsworthy. If you lay out a yearly calendar of business events, you might find worthwhile submissions on a regular basis. Here are some examples of newsworthy items suitable for a press release: