Seems like every rural downtown has a few: empty buildings or buildings used for storage. Those empty buildings are actually a potential advertising tool. Look at these examples that Vienna Lee showed me in Elkhart, Kansas. Both buildings are empty, with only the front windows used to advertise other businesses. The hardest part may be…
“You have to be odd to be Number 1” – Dr. Seuss. What makes your business different from the competition? This question is one to constantly think about. Being different, or being odd as Dr. Seuss writes, is just another way of reminding you to help your customers identify your business and your business niche….
How can local businesses build more sales through social media? Just ask for requests, then answer them. Your fellow reader Julie Barr wrote in with this example she spotted: Hi Becky, I knew you would appreciate how our local liquor store took to social media to increase their business! Here’s what they did: The…
By H. E. James, MBA Rural businesses occupy a unique place in their communities. If you own one, you know that you have a corner on your market while possibly having a market on the corner. This is especially the case for niche businesses like real estate agents. In small towns, there is unlikely…
Let’s begin with a story. It’s a story about a man who was upset with the way things were done. The man decided to compile his issues and then post this for people to see and comment. Because of a new technology, his message was not only read by the community but reached far and…
When Google has you in the wrong place, it matters! Google Maps, Google Local, and mobile Google searches all share the same basic data, so if your address is wrong in one, it’s wrong in all of them. When I view the Google insights for my own business, it reports hundreds of people viewing my…
Seems like there’s been a lot of retirements announced in my small town newspaper lately. There’s usually an ad giving a profile of their career, their smiling photo, and details of the retirement reception. As I read the latest one, I thought it seemed like a shame. Here was the story of a well-qualified person,…
What holds local businesses back from selling online? Local retailers have a lot of natural advantages in selling online. It’s part of being Rural OmniLocal, but several key challenges hold them back. This article is adapted from an interview I did with Bob Dunn. Hear the whole interview or read the transcript at BobWP.com The first…
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