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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • finance | Small Biz 100

    2 lenders share secrets to getting a loan

    ByBecky McCray December 7, 2009August 27, 2014

    At the recent Small Business 101 workshop in Alva, Oklahoma, two people with lending experience presented some secrets to getting a small business loan. Maybe these are not really secrets, but they are keys you’ll need to understand to get a small business loan. Laura Girty, REI Laura Girty works with REI, Rural Enterprises of…

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  • brag basket

    Join the community in the Brag Basket

    BySmall Biz Survival December 4, 2009December 15, 2014

    Every week, I open a Brag Basket, so you can introduce yourself or share some good news. Speak up and add yourself or another deserving soul in the comments. We all cheer, and everyone feels great. It lets you meet each other a bit. Reading each others’ stories brings us a bit closer to being…

    Read More Join the community in the Brag BasketContinue

  • social media

    Should you use your own picture for an avatar

    ByBecky McCray December 3, 2009August 27, 2014

    In most social networks, you have the chance to add a picture. But what if you are tweeting for your small business? Should you use a photo, or should it be your logo instead? Here is one reason why I think you should use your own photo, and make sure it’s a good likeness. allcore_tech:…

    Read More Should you use your own picture for an avatarContinue

  • customer service

    What you think you know about customer service is wrong

    ByBecky McCray December 2, 2009August 27, 2014

    Barry Moltz came to my attention with Bounce!, his book on failure. His latest book is BAM! Delivering Customer Service in a Self-Service World, with co-author Mary Jane Grinstead. (Barry and I are already working on his next book, and my first, on rural entrepreneurs.) Barry gave me a copy of BAM!, and it is…

    Read More What you think you know about customer service is wrongContinue

  • tourism

    More ways to use maps and trails for tourism

    ByBecky McCray December 1, 2009August 27, 2014

    A group of local wineries cooperated to create a wine trail, drawing visitors from the nearby metro area. They created a brochure with a map to explain the trail. They hand the brochures out at each participating winery. They intended to post the brochure on all their websites. I love this idea. When two of the…

    Read More More ways to use maps and trails for tourismContinue

  • marketing

    The right way to let customers set your price

    ByBecky McCray November 30, 2009August 27, 2014

    Letting customers set your price sounds crazy. But Radiohead made a $10 million success out of letting customers name their own price to download their album, In Rainbows. Others have experimented with this business model, too. Here is one of the most interesting twists I’ve read: let your loyal customers help you determine the right…

    Read More The right way to let customers set your priceContinue

  • brag basket

    Be thankful in the Brag Basket

    BySmall Biz Survival November 27, 2009December 15, 2014

    Every week, I open a Brag Basket, so you can introduce yourself or share some good news. This week, with Thanksgiving in the US, feel free to share something or someone you are thankful for. So speak up and add yourself or another deserving soul in the comments. We all cheer, and everyone feels great….

    Read More Be thankful in the Brag BasketContinue

  • customer service | marketing

    Idea for customer appreciation events

    ByBecky McCray November 24, 2009August 27, 2014

    Our friend Bruce Christensen, CEO of PartyWeDo, sent me this idea. It’s from a yarn store in Florida, but anyone could use it. Basically, the store allows customers to bring in yarn, or any fiber related gift, all wrapped up like a present. Then at a designated time, they play white elephant exchange. Read the…

    Read More Idea for customer appreciation eventsContinue

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