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Consumers Do Homework Before Buying This Holiday Season

Government, Politics, and the Economy
Is It Too Early to Start Thinking About a Rebound?
It may not feel like it yet in your town or in your industry, but there are indications that things are getting better. NYtimes.com

Management and Operations
How to Not Go Out of Business
Start by studying how your best customers interact with your brand and its competitors, then brainstorm ways to address any shortcomings. BusinessWeek.com

Management and Operations
Creating Real and Lasting Performance Improvement Through Behavior Change
In most medium or large companies there exists a training or learning program. Unfortunately in most circumstances, when the "training" session is over, the learning stops. ManageSmarter.com

Management and Operations
Dress Up Your Online Store for the Holidays
These tips will give your customers--and your business--plenty of reasons to celebrate the season.  Entrepreneur.com

Management and Operations
When Your Spouse Is Your Business Partner
If you have to be a little crazy to be an entrepreneur, going into business with your spouse must represent a special kind of lunacy. NYtimes.com

Management and Operations
How to Work ON Your Business, Not IN it
We get so caught up in the daily life of running a business, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. SmallBizTrends.com

Management and Operations
To Find Best Hires, Firms Become Creative
'Speed Dating' Interviews and Personality Tests Help Winnow Deep Applicant Pools, Improve Matches. WSJ.com

Financial Issues
For SBA Loans, Stimulus Well Runs Dry
Two popular stimulus provisions that drew hundreds of banks back to the small-business lending arena ran out of funding Monday, setting the stage for a potential new credit squeeze for business owners. WSJ.com

Financial Issues
Supporting Underserved Entrepreneurs
Goldman Sachs' initiative to help small business has drawn headlines. Here are some programs targeting microenterprises and inner-city entrepreneurs. BusinessWeek.com

Financial Issues
Quiet Black Friday on Main Street
No frenzy in Red Bank, N.J., where merchants expect bigger sales as Christmas draws closer. A group of artists in Iowa gets an enthusiastic turnout at their buy-local market. CNNmoney.com

Health, Benefits, and Labor Issues
Environmental Sustainability and You: 4 Myths about Going Green
Now, the phrase “Going Green” has been replaced by the more business-like “Environmental Sustainability.” BusinessKnowHow.com

Branding, Sales, and Marketing
4 Secrets for Selling Value Instead of Price
Do you find that your prospects are focused on the price of your products and services and often pressure you to give them discounts? BusinessKnowHow.com

Branding, Sales, and Marketing
Consumers Do Homework Before Buying This Holiday Season
Analysts say consumer's money will be spent carefully by putting more time into research before making their purchases. ClickZ.com

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