The Small Business Bonfire Blog’s Standout Posts of 2011: Our Top 10 Picks

Now that 2011 is behind us, we decided to look at our stats to see what our readers enjoyed the most during the year. If you want a quick reading list to start 2012, you’re in the right place! Here are the ten most popular Small Business Bonfire posts from 2011, beginning with the top favorite.

Tell us in the comments which 2011 Bonfire post was your favorite!

1. Sample Marketing Plan Template – This is a one-page template with targeted questions to help you complete each section, plus links to more marketing tips and resources.
2. Swipe File: Customer Welcome Letter – Jason shows the impact of a welcome letter and offers a great example to add to your marketing swipe file.
3. 81 Services for Sending Online Invoices – A comprehensive list of services to help you send online invoices, manage billing, and ensure timely payments.
4. Marketing Plan Basics for Small Business Owners – Emily discusses the importance of a marketing plan and outlines the essential data it should include for small business owners.
5. How to Promote Yourself without Being a Jerk – Self-promotion doesn’t have to feel icky. Here are some ways to promote yourself and get others to help, without coming across as a jerk.
6. Three Ways to Get the Word Out about Your New Business – Stacey shares three strategies she used to promote her business in her local community.
7. Five Ways to Find the Right People to Follow on Twitter – Tips and resources to help you efficiently find the right people to follow on Twitter.
8. Five Essential Small Business Apps That Use the Cloud – A list of five apps that show how powerful the cloud can be for busy entrepreneurs needing instant data access from anywhere.
9. How to Get Deadbeat Clients to Pay Up – Emily provides useful tips for dealing with clients who have outstanding invoices and won’t pay.
10. Six Steps to Stop Giving Away Too Much for Free – Becky suggests six steps to handle free requests for your expertise in a way that attracts more paying customers.