Entrepreneur Corner: Unusual promotion and tapping into big markets

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Should you use an investor’s lawyer? – It’s not uncommon in Silicon Valley for investors to suggest their clients to simply use their attorney – and it’s not illegal, either. However, attorney Scott Edward Walker notes there are some practical reasons why this is a bad idea.

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4 ways to tap into the big contract market – Start-ups can earn some much needed capital from government agencies and big business, but they need to have a few ducks in a row first. Phyllis Meyer, director global marketing partnerships and for Dun & Bradstreet, lists some of the ways you can prepare for bidding.

Unconventional ways to promote your company – In rough economic times like today, it’s hard to find ways to get your start-up’s name out to customers, who are holding on tight to their cash. Greg Collier, CEO of Geebo, reflects on the launch of his company, which took place in similar conditions – and discusses how he made the world aware they were there.

Preparing your startup’s patent portfolio for sale – Planning early for the eventual sale of your patent portfolio can not only make the process easier and bring you more money, it can save you a lot of headaches when you hold onto them. Rebecca M. McNeill and Mayssam H. Ali, Ph.D , attorneys at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LL, offer advice on how best to do this.

How to hire (and retain) talent in a competitive market – While the overall job market is hardly thriving, the tech world is a buyer’s market. Successful hiring doesn’t stop when an employee comes on board. Companies have to work hard to retain them as well. Razor Suleman, CEO of I Love Rewards, discusses ways to do both.