In the United States people read an average of thirty minutes’ worth of news per day. This readership supports a variety of news outlets, such as newspapers, magazines, and journals. Presently, the United States has the largest readership worldwide, and the largest number of newspapers, magazines, and journals.

Clearly, the savvy business owner would do well to advertise in print media. Some people suggest that digital media is a more modern option. Still, ignoring print media in favor of strictly online advertisement ignores the large circulation and great popularity of print media in the U.S.

Consider using print media as a part of your business marketing plan for the following reasons:

When an advertisement is published in print media, it does more than simply persuade the readership to purchase a product or service. It provides the business owner with a means for forming a strong corporate image with the publication’s readership. This aspect of print advertising is actually more essential than the more obvious goal of increasing customer base.

Print ads work well because they appeal to a reader’s emotions. The effective advertisement holds out the promise of betterment to a reader. This is accomplished via professional advertising design, including judicious use of color, layout, positioning, and language.

Print marketing professionals have an edge in that they can access readership surveys. These surveys gather data on readers of a publication, and allow marketers to more specifically target which techniques and strategies are most likely to be effective. They may offer incentives such as discounts or specials, or they may suggest to consumers that using a product or service will make them more cool or modern.

Print advertising also has the benefit of being tightly focused on an audience. For instance, a magazine that contains articles and information of interest and benefit to teen girls is going to be marketed to teen girls. Business owners whose goods and services are also marketed to teen girls would be wise to use this magazine for advertising.

Don’t listen to naysayers who suggest that print media is obsolete. They are wrong. Print advertisement is an excellent choice for urging a targeted selection of potential customers to buy your product or service.

Winning in Small Business is as hard as running a race in the Olympics, actually I think harder, but the interesting fact is that the traits to succeed in small business are the same ones athletes use to succeed in any sport. Essentially the ten traits small business owners must have to succeed are the same ones we all must have if we ever think that we will achieve something in our lives.

Trait 1: Know Your Purpose

The first trait all small business owners must have is to know their purpose. First and foremost what is it that you want? What is it that youu want to achieve? Once you know what your purpose is then this will be the force and motive behind you taking this journey.

Trait 2: Have a Desire to Succeed

How many people do you know want to win Lotto? Probably a lot … Did you know that most people who win the lotto actually spend every cent of it in the first 12 months? Why, because they have not got a desire to use this money to succeed. To be truly successful you must have the desire to want it so bad that you will do anything to achieve your objectives

Trait 3: Have Faith That You Can Achieve What You Want

Just like an athlete, you must have faith that you can and will achieve your objective. If you do not have faith that you can achieve success in your business, then you will simply give up when the things get tough and let me assure you as a 10 year veteran in small business, things at some point will get tough and you will skate along the edges of losing everything. You may even fall over the cliff, but you have to have faith to climb up the cliff and continue on your journey.

Trait 4: Have a Clear Plan

Without a plan, you will simply be like a lost animal in the wilderness. Let me ask you this,do you go on holidays without a plan of what you want to do and where you want to go? Absolutely not, because you would simply be lost and would probably see and do nothing. It amazes me though how many small business owners plan their holidays more rigorously than they plan their small business. Remember the old clich

How is the small business owner supposed to cope in today’s tough economy? Entrepreneurs and small business owners talk about this topic frequently. The gist of discussion is that the companies that need assistance are unable to get it, while large companies that are more secure to begin with are able to get the financial and practical assistance easily.

The number of firms with and without employees is a telling measure. In 2006, according to the Office of Advocacy, there were 6 million firms with employees on payroll. By 2007, the number of firms without employees had climbed to more than 21 million.

How, then, is there not a solution for the small business owner? When small businesses make up the majority of employers, why is there not a better way to ensure that their businesses survive, and thrive in a changing and difficult economy?

Consider that the average small business has a host of administrative and paperwork tasks that can fill an eight-hour workday easily. A business owner could do nothing but bookkeeping, paperwork, email, correspondence, customer service, data entry and so on, and not have any time left over for expanding the business.

But expanding the business is the critical task of the business owner. Unless the business owner is able to pursue opportunities to grow their client base and increase revenue, the business will not thrive.

The easy answer is ‘hire help.’ But hiring help is very expensive. In addition to salaries, an employer must provide training, equipment, and office space, if they are to hire additional personnel.

Instead, outsourcing work with the use of virtual assistants can be a viable alternative. To save money and maximize value, outsource administrative tasks through a virtual outsourcing firm.

By using a virtual assistant, you can have help with administrative tasks that can be done via telephone or Internet. Most of the tasks that take up so much of a workday can be outsourced virtually in this manner, leaving the business owner needed time to improve the business.

Don’t suffer another day with juggling business chores and struggling to increase revenue. Hire a virtual assistant, and free up your valuable time!