Getting favorable word out on a tiny budget is one of the perennial challenges facing small-business owners. Advertising is often too expensive, so most business owners rely on good old fashioned networking and word of mouth. However some are better at it than others (see BusinessWeek.com's Smart Answers podcast, 4/18/07, "Instituting a Client Appreciation Program").

Here are seven rules that will guarantee a strong first impression and a powerful, lasting one.

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