During the recession, many small businesses were forced to cut costs, budgets, and even employees, in some cases. Fortunately, these businesses are starting to see improvements, as the economy is looking more promising.

Who doesn’t like a good discount? For this reason, Anita Campbell, the founder of Small Business Trends, recently wrote about 5 ways businesses could save money with discounts. They apply to both online and offline businesses and are sometimes found in surprising places.

The California Institute of Technology recently conducted a study that looked at how consumers respond to products and, primarily, the presentation of the products. Interestingly, the study found that consumers would actually pay more for items they could touch.

In the marketing world, there are many aspects to properly communicate a marketing message with customers. However, targeting your customer with psychographics and demographics isn’t enough. In order to accurately speak to your target, you must connect the unique benefits of your product or service with the needs of the customer. If the customer doesn’t recognize your value proposition, then your marketing message is lost on them.

In this second series of “How to Boost Your Marketing Strategy,” SBN reporter Abby Johnson offers 5 more ways to market you business. From using social media such as Facebook and Twitter to offering customization and creating new products, this video touches on key elements to help you make your business more successful while not breaking the bank to market your business.

Is it possible to do too much marketing? Not really. In most cases, when you think you are doing too much, you are probably doing just the right amount. So, how can you know if you need to increase your marketing efforts?