Retailers who count on the 20% lift of holiday sales know they can't wait until October to formulate their seasonal sales strategy. Although consumers spent some $475 billion during the 2007 holiday season, the mixed forecasts for 2008 increase the pressure to make the holiday selling season extend beyond the traditional September-to-December window.

Here are some top New Year's resolutions to help small businesses improve e-mail marketing performance in 2009.

E-mail ROI continues to outperform all other direct marketing tactics and is expected to reach $45.65 for every dollar spent by 2008, according to the Direct Marketing Association. Conversely, reports persist about declining e-mail deliverability and response rates due to spam and fierce inbox competition.