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The Do’s and Don’ts of Email Marketing Content

Few would argue that a finely-tuned message is key to the success of an email marketing campaign. At the same time, the styling and delivery of the message can be equally, if not more, important than the message itself. The way your email appears to both people and spam filters can make or break your campaigns. Unfortunately, the preferences of users and spam filters are directly opposed in some cases. The only way to ensure that your email gets delivered and received well is to create email content with both sets of preferences in mind. For your convenience, here are our set of email content do’s and don’ts. Do Proofread Your Content – This one should be self-explanatory. Spam filters key in on typos and sentences that don’t make sense as signs of spam. For human recipients, errors look unprofessional and careless. More from HiP

States take aim at HR and social media of employees

Employees' Twitter and Facebook accounts may be a rich source for HR analytics, but laws in many states could block or limit access to some of the data. A top employment lawyer said that at least 21 states have HR and social media laws that restrict employers from accessing employees' Twitter, Facebook and other such accounts. Most of the laws prohibit employers from requiring an employee or applicant to disclose a username and password for a social media account. MORE from TechTarget

Preliminary Statistics From the 2012 Survey of Business Owners are now Available

The preliminary results from the 2012 Survey of Business Owners (SBO) are now available from  American FactFinder . As part of the Economic Census, which is conducted every five years, the Survey of Business Owners uses a sample of 1.75 million employer and nonemployer businesses. The results provide estimates on firms, receipts, payroll and employment by gender, ethnicity, race and veteran status. The preliminary release provides a high-level snapshot prior to the final release.

What Small Businesses Need to Know About The Switch to Chip Card Technology webinar 8/26

Did you know that an important shift is occurring with card payment technology that might impact your business? Keeping up with the newest, most secure card payment technology is very important for small business owners. SBA has teamed up with Square to help small businesses navigate the upcoming transition from magnetic stripe to chip card technology. Webinar | What Small Businesses Need to Know About The Switch to Chip Card Technology Wednesday, August 26, 2015 | 2:00 pm ET REGISTER NOW !

Quarterly Lending Bulletin for First Quarter 2015

The Office of Advocacy has released its Quarterly Lending Bulletin, Small Business Lending: First Quarter 2015 . This report shows that small business borrowing conditions continued to improve gradually in the first quarter of 2015. For example, the percent change in small business loans outstanding (in amounts of $1 million or less) remained positive or unchanged for the sixth consecutive quarter. Small business loans outstanding totaled $595 billion and remained relatively flat from the previous quarter, but year-over-year (Q1 2014 to Q1 2015) showed an increase of 1.7 percent. Small Business Lending: First Quarter 2015, can be found on Advocacy's website here.

The Basics of Branding

Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business, large or small, retail or B2B. An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets. But what exactly does "branding" mean? How does it affect a small business like yours? Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from your competitors'. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be. Are you the innovative maverick in your industry? Or the experienced, reliable one? Is your product the high-cost, high-quality option, or the low-cost, high-value option? You can't be both, and you can't be all things to all people. Who you are should be based to some extent on who your target customers want and need you to be. The foundation of your brand is your logo. Your website, packaging and promotional materials-

Grant Money for Artists in the Capital Region

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Our well loved Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy is sending out a call to artists and arts organizations. The NYS Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Decentralization program is in partnership with the Arts Center to reach possible applicants in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties. Even more money has been allocated this year than last. The Arts Center will even help with the process.  Deadline to register is October 23, 2015. All the details are available on their website along with other programs for playwrights, poets and other creatives.