New financing markets offer a ray of hope to credit-starved small firms 
The Economist
With bank finance tight, businesses are expected to turn to less orthodox forms of lending. As one example, “invoice discounting” can be a big help to small firms, which typically have half of their working capital tied up in accounts receivable.

Social Media Conference: Build trust, respect time, tell a story 
TechFlash
TechFlash asked Angelynn Talcott, director of marketing for the Puget Sound Business Journal and TechFlash, to share her biggest takeaways from the Social Media 201 conference Thursday in Redmond.

Dining deals and specials abound during Seattle Restaurant Week 
Seattle Restaurant Week
This April 18th to 29th is Seattle Restaurant Week, which means that more than 100 local restaurants are serving up three-course dinners for just $25.00 – and many restaurants are offering three-course lunches for just $15.00.

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