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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
  • Tour guide Chris Baird leads the economic development team across Norfolk County checking out new developments. Photo by @NorfolkCounty.
    economic development | tourism

    Take your locals on a local tour

    ByBecky McCray June 11, 2013August 27, 2014

    Last week, two local tours caught my eye. No, not local as in “my town,” local as in “taking your local people to see what’s local.” Hamilton County, Indiana, was taking their tourism staff out for a tour: Some of our staff is touring the county today to get acquainted w/ Hamilton Co.’s history! What…

    Read More Take your locals on a local tourContinue

  • Celebrate your independents!
    entrepreneurship | marketing | rural

    Tie-in to Independents Week and Small Business Week

    ByBecky McCray June 10, 2013August 27, 2014

    Two special weeks honoring small business are coming up: Small Business Week and Independents Week. Both are basically U.S. celebrations. Either one could be a good tie-in for your small town business. (If you know of special small business celebrations in other countries, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.) June 17-21, 2013, will be…

    Read More Tie-in to Independents Week and Small Business WeekContinue

  • brag basket

    Let’s have a picnic in the Brag Basket

    BySmall Biz Survival June 7, 2013December 15, 2014

    The Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one June 7-9, 2013. Bring your good news and we’ll have a picnic. What good news will you add to the brag basket? Don’t hold back because of that word, “brag.” When you hold back, you hide…

    Read More Let’s have a picnic in the Brag BasketContinue

  • Connecting on commonalities: small business and ag
    rural

    Connecting on commonalities: small business and ag

    ByBecky McCray June 6, 2013August 27, 2014

    Guest post by Michele Payn-Knoper Sensationalism sells. Civility lacks sex appeal. Besides, do those ‘city folk’ even care about rural businesses? So why even make an effort to build bridges when contentious issues arise? Simple. It’s called interdependence. Let’s look at bridging the gap from an agricultural viewpoint. People require food. Businesses depend on people for…

    Read More Connecting on commonalities: small business and agContinue

  • Brochures, maps and recipe books from Norfolk County
    rural | tourism

    Make your small town tourism delicious

    ByBecky McCray June 4, 2013August 27, 2014

    In January, I spoke in Norfolk County, Ontario. It’s a rural county with several small towns and lots of farms, and a beautiful coastline. They sent me probably the best speaker-preparation packet I’ve ever received. Looking at the Official Map and Local Food Guide, the local recipe booklet, the Ontario’s Garden brochure and much more,…

    Read More Make your small town tourism deliciousContinue

  • entrepreneurship

    Coupons and discounts: two rules

    ByBecky McCray June 3, 2013August 27, 2014

    When I spoke to small business owners in Ponca City recently, one audience member asked about offering coupons and discounts. So we talked about her business (basically, a franchised frozen yogurt parlor), and how they’ve gotten started with coupons and discounts, so now people seem to expect them. I made up these two rules for…

    Read More Coupons and discounts: two rulesContinue

  • Two baskets, one in focus, one blurred.
    brag basket

    Focus on the good news in the Brag Basket

    BySmall Biz Survival May 31, 2013December 15, 2014

    The Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one May 31 – June 2, 2013. What good news will you add to the brag basket? Don’t hold back because of that word, “brag.” When you hold back, you hide your good news and accomplishments that…

    Read More Focus on the good news in the Brag BasketContinue

  • community | rural | youth

    The secret to finding more volunteers in small towns

    ByBecky McCray May 29, 2013December 16, 2021

    Every Thursday, I publish a special newsletter. It’s a personal conversation with me and over a thousand rural friends that gives you a positive view of rural business and small towns. If you don’t already get it, join us right here: I won’t ever sell or rent your email address to anyone else because I wouldn’t…

    Read More The secret to finding more volunteers in small townsContinue

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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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