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…
Are you looking for new product ideas for your business? Have you asked your customers? First rule of product ideas: The people in field doing the work always come up with the best ideas. Lisle Corporation (Clarinda, Iowa, population 5,500) makes, among other things, automotive specialty tools. You know, the funny hand tools mechanics use for all…
The Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one March 22-24, 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 might inspire others….
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:…
What makes us make a purchase? The answer is not entirely clear. Yet we do know that six behaviors are part of the buying decision process. Knowing the behaviors is a good first step in helping small-business owners develop a business strategy. However, business owners also must understand that for each person, the behaviors are not linear but…
Recently, I listened to a session on How to Market a Community with Roger Brooks of Destination Development International. I wanted to share my notes with you. The first fact he mentioned is about how we search when we’re looking for somewhere to go. We search on activity first, then location second. So we’ll search…
It’s hard to ask for help, isn’t it? We hate to admit we need help. It hurts our pride. We hate to let go of our independence and control. All of that is scary. If it’s hard for you to ask for help, imagine how hard it is for your customers. That makes it your…
The Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one March 15-17, 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 might inspire others….
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