According to a new survey from the American Express OPEN ‘Small Business Monitor’, more than a third (35%) of US small businesses are using online social networking for marketing, up from 15% in fall 2009. In addition, 12% of respondents were using blogs as a social tactic, nearly double the figure from fall 2009.

(Via Social Media Optimization.)

Blogs. We all read them to get a sense of what is going on in the world, peeling back layers of the old world in which media was too scripted.

By definition, if you are reading this you read blogs. But should you actually write one if you’re a startup, an industry figure (lawyer, banker) or VC? Absolutely.

This is a post to help you figure out why you should write and what you should talk about.

(Via TechCrunch.)

Many entrepreneurs think the hard part of building a successful business is coding, while it is important milestone, but if no body bought it or used it, your startup will go no where.

Today we assemble a quick list in how to market your startup with zero ad spending, you are encouraged to tweet the method you found most effective and add your say :

(Via ArabCrunch.)

But now, more Emiratis are joining the blogsophere."

http://www.silicon.com/videos/view/features/cloud-computing-explained-61446145/

Most people think marketing is the same as advertising. Not true. Advertising is a tactic designed to bring in customers. Marketing is about knowing the client and what they want from the business."

(Via The Sydney Morning Herald Technology Headlines.)

10 tips for using Gmail at work: "Posted by Michelle Lisowski, Product Marketing Manager, Google Apps

Working with a lot of small business owners who have moved their email over to Google Apps, we’ve found that many started out managing their work email through their personal @gmail.com accounts. So, in honor of National Small Business Week and the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America, we wanted to share some tips we’ve picked up from them (and other people at Google) on how to get the most out of using Gmail at work.

(Via Gmail Blog.)

There are several important documents you'll want to have ready when you meet with potential investors. Your mission statement. Your founding team's resume and responsibilities. A business plan.

But most investors agree: they do not want to sign an NDA.

(Via Read/WriteWeb.)

The Australian Association of Angel Investors (AAAI) has launched suite of tools available under a software-as-a-service model that, it claims, 'will dramatically enhance the ability of Australian entrepreneurs to attract startup investments from angel investors throughout Australia and around the world.'

(Via iTWire Latest Headlines.)