How will small business marketing be different after 2009? Bob Bly joins Jim Blasingame to talk about the state of connecting with prospects and turning them into customers, including the new ways customers want to connect with you.

How does a small business earn customer loyalty to the level that sustains successful repeat sales? Tom Asacker joins Jim Blasingame to offer a number of valuable tips and best practices on how to make your customers think about you when they need what you sell and come back - and - tell their friends.

What should small businesses think about the social media craze? Jim Blasingame talks about social media, building online customer communities, establishing the values of the communities you build for customers and why you should be on Twitter.

Creating and nurturing a dynamic referral strategy is one of the most important elements of a successful small business marketing plan, according to John Jantsch, who joins Jim Blasingame to talk about specific tips and best practices in giving and receiving customer referrals.

What are the key elements in planning strategy? Business planning guru, Tim Berry reveals and discusses with Jim Blasingame the three critical strategic elements when creating a business plan, identity, market and focus.

What is the future of small business retail? Does the travails of big box retailers have to negatively impact Main Street small businesses? Darlene Quinn joins Jim Blasingame to reveal why the big boxes are on the ropes and they discuss how small companies can learn from those failing national brands.

How can we save Main Street small businesses? One at a time, according to Cinda Baxter who is back to talk with Jim Blasingame to talk about the progress of the 3/50 project she founded to raise awareness in communities of how critical small businesses are.

The most important thing you need to sell successfully is what's in the head of your prospects and customers. Sam Richter joins Jim Blasingame to talk about how to make sure your sales calls are oriented around what's important to them, rather than what's important to you.

What will be the new "normal" for consumers in the future? Pam Danziger joins Jim Blasingame to discuss how consumers will behave during the recovery as well as how they will spend when the economy is out of the recession. They also discuss how consumers will feel about borrowing to buy in the future.

When should a small business ad a sales manager to the staff? Brad Huisken joins Jim Blasingame as they discuss the process of adding a sales manager to the staff, plus specific skills and tasks required of good sales management.