Keep a library of marketing and sales publications on hand

The best publications for sales and marketing are those that you can use on a regular basis as reference guides for new hires, as well as refreshers for long-time employees. Keep your business library up-to-date and have the most useful sales training publications and marketing periodicals.

I recommend: Find some of the best and current marketing publications from the Free Trade Magazine Source where you can choose a business category and browse. A good sales training book for any library comes from author Van C. Deeb titled "Selling From the Heart."

Find a sales and marketing magazine to meet market needs

Publications for marketing should include advice on how to reach out and sell to small and medium sized businesses. There are many specialized marketing magazines and you can find just about any to meet your particular niche.

I recommend: IT professionals have a variety of resources including Channel Pro, which describes itself as an industry magazine "committed to providing targeted business and technology insights for IT channel professionals." Since a lot of your business marketing comes via your website, a helpful publication is Website Magazine.

Separate your sales and marketing focus

Make sure you don't confuse sales with marketing. You need marketing research to lay the groundwork for your sales. Understand that each offers separate and valuable tools.

I recommend: Lay the selling foundation by choosing a business marketing publication like B to B, which features good small business marketing tips. Then move on to tackling selling challenges by choosing Selling Power magazine, which lists its "Ten profitable ways to generate new business."