Targeted TV ads have traditionally been too expensive for small business owners to buy. But a new website called SaysMe.tv is leveling the playing field. It allows you to target specific parts of a town and get ad quotes on a variety of channels.

For example, SaysMe.tv lists an ad on MTV in the Raleigh, N.C. market at 4 p.m. as costing $130. If you wait until midnight, the price drops to $44.

This service was developed with small business owners in mind, but it has really been embraced by people who are passionate about the '08 election. They're buying ad time and populating it with their own content. So you've got a slew of homemade ads airing that are either for or against McCain or Obama!

One final word on advertising: Repetition counts. If you are a small business owner, don't think that buying a single ad will net you results. You need a strategic plan to buy a number of spots on the right channel at the right time.

Not all states are created equal when it comes to employment. While Michigan, Ohio and Indiana are seeing jobs leave, other states can't find enough workers. Wyoming and Texas are both examples of the latter situation.

Americans have always been a migratory people in search of better opportunities elsewhere. Now the newest wrinkle is that many entrepreneurs are going mobile by coming to customers -- instead of waiting for customers to come to them. For example, mobile dentists in RVs are going to patients or specific businesses. Dog-grooming services and legit massage therapists are also doing the same thing.

While it may cost entrepreneurs more in fuel to go to customers, they also enjoy lower overhead if they don't have a storefront. The Boston Globe reports one mobile spa company has 700 technicians in 50 states and revenue is up 300%.

So if you're an entrepreneur, what creative thing can you do to generate more customer traffic? Is there a cost-effective way for you to go to the customer?

On the other hand, if you're a worker and you find that opportunity is lacking where you are, you may have to go mobile too!

Clark has news about a new hip trend in frozen treats that has entrepreneurs going crazy.

Years ago, frozen yogurt was the hottest thing. More recently, it's been Cold Stone Creamery as a franchise opportunity. But Cold Stone has proven to be a big debacle.

The latest "in" thing is tart frozen yogurt. This craze started on the West Coast and is now sweeping the East Coast. The Washington Post reports that people camp out the night before a new tart frozen yogurt store opens up. However, Christa sampled some and didn't enjoy it.

So here's a special warning to entrepreneurs about jumping into the latest "can't lose" opportunity. While early adoptees may profit, the second and third waves of people who get on board often wind up losing money. Just because it's hot, that doesn't mean it's an automatic money maker. It might just burn a hole in your pocket.

In the midst of all the doom and gloom about employment forecasts, Clark recently told you about certain opportunities in the job market. But there's an underground opportunity just around the corner that could go mainstream in the next few years. You've heard of white collar and blue collar jobs, right? Well, how about green collar?!

There could be potentially millions of jobs coming in the environmental sector. Clark thinks back to the UC Davis professor he had on the air who worked for 20 years to develop plug-in hybrids. These kinds of cars start out electric and then switch to gas when they run out of juice. After years of pooh-poohing plug-ins, GM is now advertising a plug-in called the Volt coming in 2010. Likewise, Toyota spent years being hostile to the idea of modifying the Prius to be a plug-in hybrid. Now they're going to launch that version in 2010 for fleet sales before entering the general market with it.

Here's another example of a green business: Our old electronic waste is often shipped to Third World countries where kids disassemble computer monitors and get exposed to dangerous chemicals. Clark recently read a Forbes story about an independently wealthy man who thought there had to be a better way. So he launched a business called ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) in Fresno, CA. ERI employs ex-convicts who follow safety standards in taking equipment apart and recycling it. It's been a real money-making venture. And it also benefits ex-cons by providing employment and opportunity for those who haven't had much in their lives.

Look around each corner and you'll see green opportunities going forward. Clark thinks retro-fitting houses to make them energy efficient will employ those laid off in construction. Bringing home green by working green will soon be more of a reality.

This is an extraordinary time for entrepreneurs. There's no better time to start a business than during a recession. Think about it: There's a surplus of vacant office, retail and commercial space that can be had for below-market value. Ditto for high-quality labor.

Clark started his business in the midst of the 1980s recession. The reality is that you always lose money with a startup. But if your overhead is lower to begin with, then as the economy recovers you're poised for faster growth than you might have been otherwise.

The New York Times recently ran a story about people who wind up going the entrepreneur route after they've retired. Economists call this the "micro-businesses" trend. These are people who may have had a beloved hobby, but they never really got to pursue it during their working life.

It might also be a good time to try out a micro-business if you've lost your job. However, what was fun as a hobby does not always prove fun as a job. But Clark's longstanding belief is do what you love first -- and then figure out how to monetize it later.

Clark encountered political turmoil with some listeners recently when he praised one presidential candidate's health insurance plan. People see Clark as a beacon of non-political discourse in the talk radio world, so what was he thinking wading into the fray?!

Well, Clark believes that it's reasonable to step in from time to time, especially if a politician has an idea that he thinks has merit. It's not as if he's endorsing a candidate.

But in the interest of bipartisanship, Clark today spoke about another health proposal from…wait for it…2 Democrats and 2 Republicans!

Their joint proposal, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), would make it possible for small business employees and entrepreneurs to receive a tax credit for buying health coverage. SHOP would also allow multi-person risk pools that would lower premiums.

Entrepreneurs have long suffered without readily available healthcare. If they do have coverage, they're often individually rated. So while an illness may initially be covered, they'll face exorbitant future premiums designed to drive them out of the insurer's pool.

The tax credit idea would extend the help that large corporations get to the world of small business. They'll have money coming back from the government to buy private healthcare.

Meanwhile, the issue of redlining is a hot one in the insurance realm. Clark wants transparency in health coverage and thinks it could be achieved if there were only 8 plans offered to small businesses: 2 HMOs, 2 PPOs, 2 HSAs and 2 of the traditional 80/20 splits.

Every insurer would have to sell identical plans, and they could charge what they wanted for them. That way you could switch to another insurer's HMO plan No. 2 if your insurer's HMO plan No. 2 is too costly. As always, Clark says the real risk to insurers if they don't shape up will come from the threat of socialized medicine.

If you have a small business, you know that software can be expensive. Surprisingly, only 6% of people have ever used software alternatives to Microsoft Office. But our Free and Cheap List has no-cost options like OpenOffice.org, which is now offering the newest version of its office suite-style software for free. Clark's not an anti-Microsoft person, but he'd rather you save the dough. OpenOffice is inter-operable with Microsoft Word if it's used correctly. What if you're a small business owner burdened by the hassle of making appointments? You might want to check out GenBook.com for free online appointment scheduling software. That way you can focus on making money, instead of playing phone and e-mail tag with clients.

It's no secret that people are feeling squeezed and living on fumes during these slow economic times. This has been an ever-present issue among the presidential hopefuls. Meanwhile, President Bush is set to propose an economic stimulus package and the Democrats will do the same. But is this all too little, too late? After all, we may already be in a recession right now; for one thing, unemployment is up from 4.7 to 5 percent. Stop for a moment and think back to our last recession in spring 2001. Economists didn't recognize or confirm it as such until a year later! Of course, you know from your own life if things slow down -- you'll see less hours at work, slow business if you're an entrepreneur, etc.

We're definitely seeing the early warning signs of recession, so this is the time to get your act together. A slow economy actually yields opportunity. It's always best to start a business at this point of the cycle because space and labor come cheap. Entrepreneurs who can keep costs under control will survive. Technology can help in this respect by allowing you to work at home or remotely. At-home businesses are ideal, but beware of zoning laws if you're in the retail or restaurant fields. Meanwhile, what should you do if you face a layoff and feel the entrepreneurial spirit? Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. You've probably spent years developing knowledge, a skill set and contacts in your field. Stick to what you know -- you'll find your greatest opportunity there.

We're in a cyclical time of increased entrepreneurship right now. This usually happens whenever the economy slows down and people get laid off. That's when mid-career corporate employees decide this is the last chance to go into business for themselves. They get swept away by presentations at hotel ballrooms touting the hottest business ideas and franchises. The funny thing is that the best time to open a new business is when you're in a down economy. That's when space and employees all come cheap. But beware that you must do your homework before buying a franchise. Very often corporate types who are used to bureaucracy have difficulty being the sole decision makers in their newfound businesses. So Clark's advice is to get your hands dirty first. Go and work in the field of the franchise you want to open. Don't tell the employer you're doing research, just get in there and empty out the garbage or sweep the floors! Make your mistakes on somebody else's dime and decide if you want to be in the business. Remember to keep your costs low and your risks lower.

Many people want to do part-time work at home, especially when they have a newborn. But a lot of work-at-home offers are scams. One stat has it that for every legitimate offer you may see, you're going to come across 42 scams. So Clark wants you to be careful if you're looking to work at home. Be sure to avoid the ads in the back of women's magazines about envelope stuffing, doing medical office paperwork and the like. There is, however, one area that's proven legitimate over time: becoming a call center worker from your home. Employers like this option because they don't have to rent office space for you, so it costs them less than setting up a call center. Typical costs for a call-center employee could be $31, while it only costs a company $21 to set you up to do the same work at home. Bear in mind that these figures are not what you'll be earning; they represent what the company pays out of pocket to set you up as an independent contractor. Fortune magazine reports that there are now about 100,000 people involved in such work-at-home businesses. That number is expected to triple in the next 30 months. Be sure to check out Clark's list of legitimate vendors in this field. Not many people know it, but JetBlue was one of the pioneers in the home-based call center industry. Now companies like 1-800-Flowers and J. Crew are also getting in on the action.

On his recent book tour Clark met a gentleman who was about to become a refugee from corporate America due to company downsizing. He decided that buying a franchise was the right way to go from here. Clark asked him what he knew about the industry, and he said "nothing." He said the franchise company promised incredible profits, but you can't always trust their word. Clark asked what his previous field was...he answered computers. Clark asked him why he wanted to go into a field that had nothing to do with his business experience...was he burned out? He said no, he just thought he could make a lot of money with this franchise. But Clark wants you to think long and hard before you do buy one, especially if you're a corporate refugee. Clark's advice: work in the industry first and see if you really like it. Learn it from the inside out, even if it means emptying trash cans at first. Franchises are much harder to sell than buy, so you want to be 100% sure you want to stick with it. Corporate refugees, you have to be especially careful, since what you used to do was very specific, typically. You'll have to be a multi-disciplinary person--a utility player-- if you're going to go from an office into running your own business. If you're not, you're probably not the kind of person who should own a franchise. So what do you do if you have experience but can't find a regular job?. Try consulting. Use the knowledge you gained in the corporate world and put that to use helping others who can benefit from your advice and experience. If you've gained the currency of knowledge, education and training and just kick it to the curb, you'll be throwing the baby out with the bath water!

Clark is a big fan of small businesses and loves to hear stories from entrepreneurs who are jazzed about branching out on their own. The successful entrepreneurs find a niche in the market – usually a service that hasn’t been met - and they offer it to consumers. One recent story Clark saw featured a woman who started a mobile haircut business. Her employees drive around in Winnebagos and do on-the-spot haircuts at businesses and corporations. Revenue in one year increased 800 percent and she keeps buying new RVs to meet the demand. Check it out at onsitehaircuts.com for more. Another story focuses on a man who drew what he thought was “the perfect pen” while in middle school. As an adult, he took the idea to engineers and had the pen created. Now, they are flying off the shelf. It’s an ergonomic pen that eliminates hand cramps and calluses. Find out more at penagain.com. If you can come up with an idea that serves a need in the marketplace, you could be a millionaire.

Through the years, Clark has had lots of calls from people wanting to publish a book. Most of these people didn’t know where to turn. They’d either been turned down by huge publishing houses or contacted by fake publishing houses that wanted to take their money. It’s taken a while, but there are some new companies making a buzz in the self-publishing industry. The first is lulu.com, which has been around for a bit. The second is blurb.com, which his fairly new. With these services, you can do any number of arrangements. At lulu, binding your first book is $4.50, plus 2 cents a page, for example. Blurb has several more features and the costs are a bit higher. But these are legitimate alternatives to the gigantic publishing houses, which charge quite a bit per book. Or, if you’d like to publish something small, such as a family history, these are great.

Clark is a huge fan of small business owners and entrepreneurs who are willing to take a risk and put something new on the market. Typically, as companies get larger, the ability to respond to customer needs gets tougher and corporate brains seem to shrink. It paves the way for smaller companies to come in and compete for part of the market. One of those companies is Tom’s Toothpaste, which you might have seen in health food stores. A couple from Maine started this company with $5,000 and had no idea what would happen. The toothpaste was all natural, unlike most others on the market, and people took a huge liking to it. Well, Tom and Kate recently sold the company for $1million to one of the monster toothpaste companies out there – Colgate. Tom’s was killing Colgate on the shelves, so Colgate bought them up. Clark says good for them. He hopes more people catch the entrepreneurial bug.

Yahoo recently conducted a survey showing that three-quarters of Americans have the entrepreneurial bug. Many people want to have their own businesses, and half of the people surveyed want to start their own business in the next five years. No. 1 on a list of reasons why was that people wanted to do something they loved. Second on the list was that people wanted to be their own boss. Much lower on the list was making money. Clark thinks this is great. The American City Business Journal reported people who start their own business end up loving it and are very financially stable.

Clark has been on the air since the 80s, and for years he had to warn hopeful authors about all of the self-publishing scams out there. Up until 1998, one in particular, known as the “Vanity Press” industry, would charge people outrageous sums to publish a book for them. It wasn’t unusual for someone to pay $8,000 to $12,000 to these phony publishing houses. Luckily, about five years ago, legitimate organizations, including some bookstore chains, got involved in the self-publishing business. Now, it’s possible to hire a publisher for $500 and have your book published. Occasionally, these self-published authors end up with a huge hit. It’s very hard for someone who hasn’t been published before to get published by a traditional publishing house. So, these houses are real alternatives, and the prices are reasonable. Two of the main ones are xlibris.com and iuniverse.com. But be realistic. Publishing a book yourself probably won’t make you millions.

Clark has been very fired up about the renewed entrepreneurial spirit spreading across the country. In the past couple of years, a large number of Americans have decided to go out on their own. In fact, so many people are branching out on their own that the Small Business Association has run out of money to lend people. Last fall, it was clear that people were forming businesses at a rapid rate, and the demands on the SBA were off the charts. And Congress never got around to approving more money for the SBA. So, Clark hopes that Congress realizes what’s going on and steps in with some more funding. If you are in corporate America and you would like to get out and go into business for yourself, you may want to consider working part time for someone in that business first. You should try it out for about six months before you go into this business. You want to know if you’ll excel at being the one who calls the shots, or if you’re better off in a corporate setting that is a little more structured. Having your own business is not for everyone.

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Also, you should consider some real estate factors when making the decision to start your own business. If you can work out of your home, you can lower the cost of doing business by quite a bit. And, if you’re looking to rent office space, you can get a much better deal these days. You can negotiate and you don't need a lot of space, so don't let the agent talk you into buying too much space.