Woodward, Oklahoma, played host to a terrific small business workshop today, presented by Lt. Governor Jari Askins. Kimberlee Smithton and Jeanne Cole offered great insights on customer service and small business assistance. I talked about old and new tools for small businesses to market themselves online. You can download a copy of the handout, with…
When the big Wal-Mart has already run the little chain grocery store out of business, is there any chance that a totally independent, locally-run grocery could compete? Yes. Alva, Oklahoma. Population just under 5000. My hometown. In 2002, the last grocery store in town, Homeland, locked its doors, leaving only the Wal-Mart Supercenter in the…
At the September Bartlesville (Oklahoma) Marketing and Communications Association meeting, President David Austin stopped me for a quick interview. I shared my Simplified Marketing Plan, and gave away some small town secrets. New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
Our friend Chris Brogan introduced us to Workshifting.com. Their tagline is “anywhere is my office.” I want to take that a step further. Don’t just work where ever you want, live where ever you want! So I offered Chris and Justin Levy a guest post on the small town perspective on workshifting. (Don’t tell anyone,…
If you’re in business in a small town, you know something valuable. Seth Godin is pointing it out for everyone, in Welcome to island marketing. If you run a business on a small island, every interaction matters and every customer is precious. There’s a finite number of people you’re going to be able to sell…
I love the idea of getting kids from big cities out into small towns and rural areas, giving them new experiences. Here’s the press release info from one organization that does just that, The Fresh Air Fund. THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million…
When I checked into the Crystal Mountain Resort in Michigan, the desk staff person handed me a paper copy of the events and activities calendar for the week. That’s a tourism idea that has been around forever, and we can make something more of it. First, let’s adapt it for a small town. Don’t think only…
Now is a great time to be growing your business. Really! Most other businesses, big and small, are still hiding. That means it’s time for contrarians like you and me to move ahead. I talked about this at the Oklahoma Entrepreneurs Conference, so I’m glad that My Venture Pad contracted me to help promote SAP’s…
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