Every small town has its own set of assets, issues and opportunities, but many of us share common challenges. We created the Survey of Rural Challenges so you could share your own view of rural, and we could better help you. The first results were released in 2015, and we’d like your help to get…
A young man approached me at a conference last month, trying to figure out how to get started on his big idea. He’d like to start a maker factory in Alberta, Canada. He can picture it filling thousands of square feet downtown with maker equipment, tools, specialized workspaces, and room to grow. But he…
No doubt about it: We all like to have a “wow” customer experience. Yet research has found that, while the “knock your socks off” experience is one you remember, what gets customers back in the door is when they receive ongoing solid, good service from your company time and time again. Consumers like consistency. They…
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…
Building a small business and developing an invention take different skills. I was reminded of this when I read David McCullough’s book, “The Wright Brothers.” Inventors are interested in the development of the idea. They are not put off by trial and error. Business owners are focused on solving a consumer’s problem and doing so…
If you have been reading my Wednesday contributions to Small Business Survival, you know to expect some tip for your business operation or some new idea seen elsewhere. This week you will find something different. I need your thoughts. I have an opinion but am I realistic? Here is the situation. Over the weekend, I…
Rural and small town businesses aren’t limited to the downtown mom-and-pop stores or the businesses recruited into the industrial park any more. In fact, rural businesses today don’t really have to look like any of the traditional business models for small towns. The traditional way to go into business in a small town was to…
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…
Since 2006, this site has been helping people like you in small towns move forward without waiting on outside experts, big budgets, or perfect plans. You don’t need any of that to get started.
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