Category: tools

community | economic development | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | shop local | social media | tools

Let’s Talk Newspapers: Working Together Locally
April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Hometown newspapers are small businesses, just like the hardware store, the cafe, or the auto repair shop. They’re not just “media.” They’re employers, sponsors, storytellers, and neighbors, and their work ripples through every corner of the community. This year, collaboration is a focus of ours at SaveYour.Town, and I want to talk about how newspapers…

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entrepreneurship | management | rural | tools

Buy Inventory Online Using Wholesale Apps: Tips for Small Town Retail Stores
February 4, 2026February 5, 2026

I walked into a local retail shop in Alva, Oklahoma, population 4,000. It’s called Bates & Co., and they are best known for their handcrafted hairbows for infants and kids. But when I walked into their store, they had all kinds of things under one roof: women’s clothes, fashion jewelry, travel accessories and more. It…

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community | economic development | marketing | rural | tools | tourism

Make a “What to do in…” Pinterest Board
September 11, 2024March 12, 2025

— How many times have you heard it? Someone lamenting, “There’s nothing to do here!” Worse yet, hearing someone tell visitors that. “What is there to do around here?” “Nothing, really. I don’t know.” Enough with that. Let’s give people an easy way to answer, and let’s do it the Idea Friendly way. Make a…

Read More Make a “What to do in…” Pinterest Board
entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | social media | tech | tools

Show and Tell – How Video and Maybe Even LIVE Video Are Important for Small Town Business
April 20, 2020April 12, 2020

By Chris Brogan They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes, it might be worth a thousand dollars, too. Over the last ten years, restaurants and bars who post their best dishes or drinks as photos on sites like Instagram have learned that people love seeing examples of what they’ll get if…

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mistakes | tech | tools

Exact Yeti Blue mic volume and Windows settings to reduce background noise
February 17, 2020March 6, 2023

The drawback to Yeti Blue USB Microphones for podcasting Yeti Blue microphones are widely popular for podcasting and home sound recording. They do have a big drawback of being overly sensitive. They pick up too much background noise even when the gain is turned way down. I know because I bought one for my own…

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entrepreneurship | rural | tools

Control your business holiday lights with smart home tools
November 19, 2018January 6, 2019

Older downtown buildings in small towns are a good use for “smart home” technology. Small businesses struggling with vintage or outdated electrical systems can use smart outlets to control displays more easily. I thought of this when I was in a local retail store at closing time. The owner and a clerk were talking…

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social media | tech | tools

The easiest way to podcast is from your phone
June 18, 2018June 10, 2018

Podcasting is a powerful way to build a connection with people. They hear your voice and feel like they get to know you. The problem with podcasting is it seems like a big hassle. You’re going to need equipment like a good mic, software to record and edit your audio, and some way to host…

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Best of | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | tech | tools

How independent retailers can trick Alexa, Siri, and Google Home to capture orders from local customers
January 29, 2018December 9, 2018

People are happily using smart voice assistants more than ever. You know their names: Alexa, Siri, Google, Cortana. It’s so easy (and fun!) to just say what you want, and your magical assistant orders it for you. Then it shows up at your doorstep, and you’re living in the future! This isn’t great for…

Read More How independent retailers can trick Alexa, Siri, and Google Home to capture orders from local customers

Buy Inventory Online Using Wholesale Apps: Tips for Small Town Retail Stores

Make a “What to do in…” Pinterest Board

Exact Yeti Blue mic volume and Windows settings to reduce background noise

Control your business holiday lights with smart home tools

How independent retailers can trick Alexa, Siri, and Google Home to capture orders from local customers

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