• Obama's tax plan would raise rates for some small-business owners
  Some small employers would see their taxes increase under President Barack Obama's proposal to eliminate Bush-era tax cuts for high-earning individuals. Under Obama's plan, the top two tax rates would climb from 35% to 39.6% and from 33% to 36%. Small-business owners say the higher tax rates could make growth more difficult. "[Higher taxes] are going to make me work harder. ... I can't let the things happening in Washington affect my company's mission and vision," said Sam Caucci of Sales Huddle Group, a consulting firm. CNNMoney/Fortune Small Business (10/4)      

• 6 marketing tips for businesses that are still anti-social
  Success with social media marketing is about forming relationships with your followers -- something that doesn't happen overnight, according to Kristin Slice of Three Dog Marketing. "You would not run into a marketing event, throw out a bunch of fliers and yell 'Do business with me!' " said Slice. It's also important to realize that some social networks may be better-suited to your business than others are. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (10/8)      

• Social media lessons from a big yellow bird
  Mitt Romney's promise to stop funding PBS during the recent presidential debate quickly turned into a social media sensation. One key lesson for entrepreneurs is that people share messages that resonate with them on an emotional level. "Touch the heart and it will become viral," Silvina Moschini of Intuic said. The response also demonstrates the power of strong visuals -- Sesame Street star Big Bird is a highly recognizable figure -- and the importance of seizing opportunities to connect via social media when they arise. Entrepreneur online (10/5)      

• How your application process is putting off job seekers
  If you're having a hard time finding qualified applicants for open positions at your company, your application process might be to blame, according to job seekers. Companies might be discouraging top job candidates by making them submit to drug tests or criminal background checks, or by requiring them to complete lengthy application forms. Intuit Small Business Blog (10/5)      

• Stop trying to act like a leader
  The best leaders don't act out the role of a leader; rather, they allow leadership to emanate from their inner character, writes Mike Henry Sr. "By leading from who you are, and bringing life to your team, they bring life in return to you, your team and your customers," he writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (10/4)      

• Take advantage of incentives for moving your company
  State and local governments might offer various incentives for moving or expanding your business. If you're thinking about relocating your company, you can start the process by making a list of your needs and any special incentives that would have an effect on your choice of where to go, according to consultant Justin Erickson. After making a list of possible destinations, you can discuss the move with local officials in those areas. American City Business Journals/Houston (10/5)      

• Simple steps for holiday-sales prep
  Small businesses can start preparing for the winter holiday rush now by keeping orders organized, stocking up on inventory and making it clear to clients when holiday ordering deadlines are, writes Rita Chu, manager of NerdWallet Indie Shopping. Two other steps: Provide holiday discounts with coupon codes and other deals, and prepare the company website to handle a potential surge in traffic. U.S. News & World Report/My Money blog (10/5)      

• How to tell whether your online accounts have been compromised
  CBS MoneyWatch (10/5)      

• How health care will affect small businesses in 2013
  Like it or not, implementation of the federal health care law is moving forward and some parts of the law will take effect in 2013. Open enrollment for health-insurance exchanges begins in October 2013 and a Medicare contribution tax will be levied for high-income individuals. Bloomberg Businessweek (10/4)      

Top five news stories selected by SmartBrief on Main Street readers in the past week.

• New website helps business owners identify bad customers (Bloomberg Businessweek)

• Apps that can improve your Facebook marketing (Entrepreneur online)

• 5 qualities of a character-based leader (Forbes)

• How to make the most of the iPhone 5's popularity (Intuit Small Business Blog)

• Scare up business with a great Halloween promotion (Intuit Small Business Blog)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

The worst thing an entrepreneur can do is not respond when his or her brand is on stage in the social media world." --Catherine Clifford, writing at Entrepreneur online