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Small Biz Survival

Small Biz Survival

Practical ideas for small town business and community builders

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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • QR code with caption, "scan for video instructions on how to use wood chips."
    marketing | mistakes | rural | social media

    An almost-useful QR code

    ByBecky McCray April 15, 2013August 27, 2014

    QR codes continue to expand in popularity, but most still suffer from fatal mistakes. Here’s one that get close, at least with its description. This is a retail package that includes barbecue accessories including a bag of wood chips. Some customers who use gas grills may not be sure how to use those special wood…

    Read More An almost-useful QR codeContinue

  • A boardwalk trail winds beside a rock face.
    rural | social media | tourism

    More photos for your tourism promotions

    ByBecky McCray April 9, 2013August 27, 2014

    Photos are key for tourism promotion, so you can never have too many great photos to use online. However, most photos you find online are NOT public domain, so you do not have the right to use them. One great resource that brings together many different types of images that you are allowed to re-use…

    Read More More photos for your tourism promotionsContinue

  • Mobile hot dog vendor accepts a credit card payment with a Square reader.
    entrepreneurship | finance | rural

    Square changes the way Small does Business

    ByBecky McCray April 8, 2013August 27, 2014

    Small businesses used to have a hard time getting approved to accept credit cards. Getting set up for a merchant account involved passing a credit check, agreeing to a long-term contract, paying monthly fees even if you didn’t accept any payments, and acquiring specialized equipment often with another monthly payment.   Square and its competitors…

    Read More Square changes the way Small does BusinessContinue

  • community | economic development | marketing | rural | shop local

    Shop local idea to get everyone playing

    ByBecky McCray April 4, 2013August 27, 2014

    You get what you measure. That is, anything you actually go to the trouble to keep records on, you will pay more attention to and likely improve. If you make yourself write down everything you eat, you’ll find yourself feeling accountable. You’ll actually eat less or eat better things so you won’t be embarrassed to…

    Read More Shop local idea to get everyone playingContinue

  • A stone fireplace with mounted hunting trophies flanks a rugged natural bar.
    rural | tourism

    Getting started with heritage tourism

    ByBecky McCray April 2, 2013August 27, 2014

    Small towns are a natural fit for heritage tourism. That’s tourism that shares our common heritage, whether it’s historical, cultural or natural. Heritage brings together your historical museum with your festivals, artists and musicians, your agritourism and parks and nature folks. At its best, heritage tourism is active and engaging. People getting hands-on and actively…

    Read More Getting started with heritage tourismContinue

  • Woman tries a wine sample.
    entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | Small Biz 100

    Educate your customers without being taken advantage of

    ByBecky McCray April 1, 2013August 27, 2014

    Small town businesses have certain advantages over big city businesses. One is that we have the luxury of educating customers, knowing that if they like what they learn, they are likely to make the resulting purchase from us. In a big city, running a tasting or a sampling or a class takes the risk that…

    Read More Educate your customers without being taken advantage ofContinue

  • entrepreneurship | marketing | rural

    Staying visible with the 3 Ms

    ByGlenn Muske March 27, 2013August 27, 2014

    Whether your business is just starting or it has been around for 100 years, the need to remain visible is constant. You need to give today’s consumer a reason to stop at your business. Some have forgotten you exist, others get busy and still others may not realize what changes you may have made, such…

    Read More Staying visible with the 3 MsContinue

  • Becky McCray and Chris Brogan
    rural

    A conversation with Chris Brogan

    ByBecky McCray March 21, 2013August 27, 2014

    Chris Brogan was one of the first people I connected with in the blogging world back in 2006. We talked recently about farming and ranching, and how that is changing, about urban and micropolitan places, and about being on the front edge of a lot of change. I thought you might like to listen in:…

    Read More A conversation with Chris BroganContinue

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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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