The “Third Quarter 2009: The Economy and Small Business,” states the U.S. economic recovery began in the third quarter of 2009 as real gross domestic product grew an annualized 3.5 percent.

But when it comes to small to medium sized businesses, they are still not out of the woods, and in order to survive many business owners have turned to strategies like invoice factoring. The SBA report says that public expenditures showed signs of growth, especially the first-time homebuyers’ credit and the “cash for clunkers” auto rebates programs. Real consumption rose at a 3.4 percent annual rate. A strong growth showed in real private fixed investment, real imports, as well as real exports. Perhaps this was due to the overall strengthening of the economy worldwide.

Highlights from this report mention the fact that manufacturing output rebounded and industrial production increased an annualized 11.7 percent. In addition, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent in September 2009. Nonfarm payroll jobs that were lost since December 2007 are at 7.1 million.

It appears as if every economic sector has experienced net job losses except for health services and education. Nonfarm labor productivity increased at a 9.5 percent annual interest rate in the third quarter.

The SBA lending went up dramatically, with lending volume up $247 million and 504 loans up $305 million from June to September. However, the number of venture capital deals slipped, but dollar volume rose from earlier in the year. Inflationary pressures remained modest as consumer prices were up an annualized 2.5 percent, with the core inflation rate, excluding food and energy prices, at around 1.3 percent.

The bottom line is that many small to medium-sized businesses are still struggling to survive and stay in business. That is why single invoice factoring to be a popular new tactic allowing companies to factor one invoice at a time. Invoice factoring benefits businesses that do not get paid for 30 to 60 or 90 days by advancing up to 90 percent against invoices. Accounts receivable factoring is not a loan rather it is the purchase of financial assets, or receivables, from a factoring company.

Accounts receivable factoring is different from traditional bank loans in that bank loans involve two parties, while factoring involves three parties. Typically, a bank will base its decisions on a company’s credit worthiness, whereas factoring is based on the value of the receivables. With invoice factoring there are no minimums, no maximums, no long-term commitments and no lengthy application processes. Factors look at the creditworthiness of the client’s customers and can fund within as little as 24 hours.

Factoring is the purchase of financial assets, or a company’s receivables. Bank loans involve two parties, while invoice factoring involves three parties. Typically, a bank will base its decisions on a company’s credit worthiness, whereas factoring is based on the value of the receivables. A factor looks at the creditworthiness of a client’s customers and once approved, pays within as little as 24 hours.

Have you started thinking of what a wholesale video games distributor can do for your business or home savings addiction for many of us in a profitable upcoming year like 2007? Wholesale distributors should start racing for the gaming war for fortune 500 companies like Microsoft and Sony.

The bidding frenzy between who will become 2007 king of hills in the console gaming industry is a battle most consumers like many us have a glued eye on. While research shows that Microsoft should still have the leadership with its capital power. Wholesale xbox 360 technical geniuses developing exciting games marked for profitable distribution in Microsoft should start counting glory thanks to a big time sales boom both for holidays and season entertainment.

This should give Microsoft an increased lead in retail sales both online and locally offline. This meaning that any legit wholesale video games distributor buying consoles and especially accessories for each unit, should benefit from a product that is already in many minds in the developing stage. Today in real power selling thinking, the maturity level is yet not reached in Microsoft Xbox system- it has a wide market to keep covering and profiting.

While Sony with its new arrival in mid November of 2006 with the Playstation 3, a wholesale video games distributor might find it very early to start the selling and giving away PS3 at real wholesale prices since it has not even reached 1 year in the marketplace.

The newsworthy fact to get an understanding and more in-depth knowledge about is that competition will get bigger and evidently grow in faster ways. This actually means more chances to retail outlets have chances of better offerings and magnifying opportunities for the consumer as far prices and services.

Having the opportunity to receive wholesale prices at every possible chance, no matter if it is on audio prices and no matter if it comes from sources relating the video games industry, is a power seller need of any eBay seller that has himself open to major business in wholesale services and has its product lines with major distribution channels in the gaming arena.

Being in business for the sell of wholesale xbox 360 should become a bigger part of a growing boom for the distributors for 2007. The wholesale video games distributor seller should keep setting record highs in sales and business between auctioneers and online mini malls today should evidently get much better in both the consumer view and business marketing exchange.

Here’s some fascinating statistics about mobile-based web browsing in the USA, for the quarter that just ended:

Two-thirds of people use either an iPhone, or an iPod touch. About fifteen percent use an Android-based phone. About ten percent use a Blackberry device.

(Source: Quantcast.)

This is all GREAT news for you. Let me explain.

You may have heard that the mobile web is emerging as a new MASS MEDIA. Like newsprint, radio, television… even the the regular, desktop-oriented internet itself.

And while people have been able to go online with mobile handhelds for quite some time, until recently, it was often more trouble than it was worth. Things are different now.

Think of the ways that a website can help your business be more successful:

Generating leads Sales and order taking Automating customer service Public relations and Marketing (paired with SEO, helps prospects find you)

The mobile web is the first truly personal mass media… personal and intimate to a degree not possible in other outlets. What’s the opportunity? If you can reach prospects and clients through mobile, you have a POWERFUL advantage right off the bat.

Now, back to these numbers I mention at the start. Why are they “great news” for you?

It means those phones providing a better web browsing experience are “leading the pack” in ACTUAL USAGE. That’s the important metric, by the way – how many of your potential clients are using the device to go online.

The iPhone platform is dominant at this point. By many objective measures, browsing the web is currently better – more effective, more fun – on that kind of device that its competitors.

That means your web presence will be more impactful on such devices… translating into MORE ways your company’s web presence can work for you… giving you a bigger bang for your buck.

(And of course, the iPhone’s competitors – like Android and Blackberry – are working hard to catch up. In time this will benefit you even more.)

If your company’s website delivers a poor mobile experience, perhaps now is the time to get it fixed – to let it reach people going online with handhelds.

Fortunately, this has become easier and cheaper to do than ever before.

We have all seen the news stories involving something happening at a local small business. Every news bulletin needs a “fluffy animal” story at the end and they all look hard to find one. Most small businesses can create an event that will capture the attention of news outlets to some degree. And let me stress here that local papers are the easiest to get on board and the most effective for local small businesses.

I remember in the 70′s there was a medium size business in Sydney called Dick Smith Electronics. Dick started as a small operation fixing radios and small electrical goods. He grew to a shop or two or three or more and was doing quite nicely as a medium sized business. In 1979 Evel Knievel had visited Australia to jump buses on his motor cycle. Dick Smith thought it might be fun to see how many motor cycles he could jump with a double Decker bus!

The story goes that he hired the Sydney Cricket ground for a day, lined up fifteen motorcycles, got an old Double Decker bus and lined up Hans Tholstrup, an adventurer of the day to drive it. At the last minute Dick decided to jump on board as conductor. In subsequent interviews some years later Dick has said the whole event cost around $1500 which even in 1980 wasn’t a huge amount. Needless to say it made every 6pm news service and became a part of the Dick Smith story.

He pulled a couple of other practical joke type stunts like floating an fake ice berg into Sydney Harbour and while everyone was enjoying his antics on the news and in the papers his business was growing and he sold it to Woolworths for a reported $20 million.

It’s no secret that generating publicity via online news release sites is good for business.

Continually educating the public and media about what’s happening with your businesses is, well, just good business.

My challenge to clients I work with is to not only submit news or press releases to both paid and free online sites, but to also follow up with any businesses or people who are also involved in your release.

Let me explain. When you craft an effective news release, it’s important to include relevant and timely topics about your business that tie in with other news. This means incorporating relevant information about businesses and organizations that are already well known or newsworthy.

Here is a very specific example. In November of 2006 I invested in a new program via Glazer – Kennedy Inner Circle. Bill Glazer created a certification program for copywriters called Creating Copy that Sells.

After speedy completion of the program and receipt of certification, I verified that I was the first professional copywriter in Idaho to complete the certification. Then, I drafted my news release. I submitted it online and I also let Glazer- Kennedy know what I was up to keeping in close contact and providing them with a copy of the release just in case they might need it for something in the future.

This communication with Glazer-Kennedy paid off. In July, they contacted me to confirm that it was okay to include my press release in a sales letter for the program that was mailed to the entire Glazer-Kennedy list.

Of course it was OK. In fact, it was better than OK! My name, business name and contact information was included and I have received several referrals from that. It truly is a win win situation for Glazer – Kennedy and me. They received free publicity for their program and in turn were able to include my information in sales material as an example of how to leverage certification.

My point is, don’t view your news releases as a one shot deal. Figure out ways to expand their shelf life and follow up. What are you waiting for? Press on with your news to help increase referral flow.

Oh, and it you want to read the original release and listen to a pod interview, click here.

Last night after a good meal and some pleasant family time I found myself with a spare and very rare hour to myself. As I debated between taking a nice aromatic bath or reading my backlog of industry newsletters, my thirst for knowledge won out.

For someone who has spent more than twenty years in marketing and client services, I never turn away the chance to find out more about direct marketing. It never ceases to amaze me how companies and advertisers are able to find new and unique marketing methods to directly market to both businesses and consumers. That is why spending time reading industry news is part of my daily job.

Industry articles, newsletters and whitepapers are wonderful tools. Anyone in business can benefit from reading them. Remaining stagnant with your industry knowledge only serves to allow your clients to look elsewhere for the help they need. And you would have only yourself to blame. You expect your doctor to constantly keep abreast of new and cutting edge procedures and medicines. Why not do the same yourself?

Recently I was reading a paper by Robert Bly entitled “Secrets of Successful Business to Business Direct Marketing”. He makes some interesting and thought provoking testaments thanks to his many years in marketing. In one section he expounds:

“The business buyer is an information seeker, constantly on the lookout for information and advice that can help the buyer do the job better, increase profits, or advance his career.”

I cannot disagree with that. Direct marketing business to business is very different from direct marketing business to consumer. Drip marketing is very effective when marketing to a business as most will purchase a product or service after a long period of research. Consumers however are impulse buyers and one offer is all they need to see before whipping out the credit card. Where we disagree however is when he states:

“Don’t be afraid to write long copy in mailers, ads, and fulfillment brochures. Prospects will read your message – if it is interesting, important, and relevant to their needs.”

Sorry Robert, but most purchasing agents and company owners that I have dealt with over the years are consumers at heart. They purchase needed materials and services the same way a consumer would: what gives me the best value for my money. Directly marketing to them with an overload of information will have them tossing that mailer in the trash or deleting your email with the click of a button.

Whether a company uses direct marketing to attract another business or a consumer, always make sure your advertising makes the recipient want to know more. Show them where they can find out by directing them to a website, opting in through an email or responding with a return reply card. THEN send your brochure or booklet full of information.

When using direct marketing to a business, always be professional, knowledgeable and concise. Grab the buyer’s attention and lure them into finding out more. Your bottom line will thank you for it.

There are many more pieces of information in Robert’s report that have me thinking. Direct marketing experts like him are a wealth of knowledge. I have many more articles yet to read too. Who knows what I might still learn. If I do I will be sure to share.