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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • Brag Basket is for friends
    brag basket

    Brag Basket is for friends

    BySmall Biz Survival May 24, 2013December 15, 2014

    The Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one May 17-19, 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….

    Read More Brag Basket is for friendsContinue

  • Cowboy re-enactment group the Dog Creek Gunfighters square off for a fight in downtown Alva.
    economic development | rural

    Set your economic development data free

    ByBecky McCray May 23, 2013August 27, 2014

    Economic developers have a reputation for being secretive and even hoarding data. Alva’s Chamber of Commerce is trying to be different and releasing a key set of retail data to the public. Alexandra Mantz (just call her Alex) serves as both director for the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Director for the City of…

    Read More Set your economic development data freeContinue

  • Hiring First Employee is Big Step
    entrepreneurship | success | workforce

    Hiring First Employee is Big Step

    ByGlenn Muske May 22, 2013August 27, 2014

    Hiring the first employee is a huge step for a small business. If your small business has reached the point where you need help because the assistance of family and friends no longer covers the gaps, you may have reached the point where you need bring paid staff on board. (A previous Small Biz Survival…

    Read More Hiring First Employee is Big StepContinue

  • Two successful agritourism ideas
    entrepreneurship | ideas | rural | tourism

    Two successful agritourism ideas

    ByBecky McCray May 21, 2013August 27, 2014

    Last week, I had the chance to tour two agri-tourism operations near my hometown of Alva, Oklahoma. Here are their stories. Bradt’s Menagerie Jerad and JoDe Bradt wanted to get their kids out of video games and more into the real world. Jerad suggested they try raising chickens. JoDe had raised chicks when she was…

    Read More Two successful agritourism ideasContinue

  • entrepreneurship | marketing

    Sell more by giving samples of your services

    ByBecky McCray May 20, 2013September 27, 2016

    Remember the yoga instructor who is going to do a video for her business? She told me that once people come to one class, they usually come back. So how can she get more people to make it to the first class? By cutting down the hurdles that stand between them and the first class….

    Read More Sell more by giving samples of your servicesContinue

  • brag basket

    We do Brag Basket every week

    BySmall Biz Survival May 17, 2013December 15, 2014

    The Brag Basket is our tradition of sharing. The basket is always free and open all weekend, this one May 17-19, 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….

    Read More We do Brag Basket every weekContinue

  • What do we do about a negative review?
    entrepreneurship | marketing | tourism

    What do we do about a negative review?

    ByBecky McCray May 16, 2013August 27, 2014

    Even in small towns, hotels and motels have to cope with online reviews. Sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Local let every traveler become an instant expert. And small town hotel owners are left wondering how to respond. (Don’t see the video? Click through to What do we do about a negative review.) You already…

    Read More What do we do about a negative review?Continue

  • Beware of Small-business Myths
    entrepreneurship | mistakes | planning | rural

    Beware of Small-business Myths

    ByGlenn Muske May 15, 2013August 27, 2014

    A great deal of information about starting a business is available. Some of the information is accurate and helpful. Other information is best called a myth, although it may hold a grain of truth. Probably the biggest myth is that of “free money” available for starting a business. The reality is that there is little…

    Read More Beware of Small-business MythsContinue

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