Starting a business is risky. Data the U.S. Census Bureau has gathered show maybe 20 percent of businesses do not last through the first year, and 70 to 80 percent will not be around five years after starting. While that information may be depressing and suggest you not even try, you have ways to increase…
We’re all going to use the same marketing theme this year. You, me, and every business in your town. We’re all going to use Shift Your Shopping. Here are 5 reasons why. There’s a tendency among small businesses in small towns to use the same marketing theme from year to year, the same ads with…
The Brag Basket is open! This one is for September 25-27, 2015. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you do in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your undying love for rural places How…
Small-business owners always are looking for opportunities to build their business. Some of the ways owners do this are through providing what customers want, working hard, and offering the right selection at the right price and trying to attract the right market. These are all needed elements of a successful business. Yet there is an…
How do utility lines get underground? Everything from water, sewer, cable, fiber optic, phone lines, natural gas and even electric lines have to be laid under streets, through yards and beneath buildings. Those lines are laid using a trenching machine. That type of equipment, and an entire industry of manufacturing it, was invented in the…
The Brag Basket is open! This one is for September 18-20, 2015. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you do in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your undying love for rural places…
When working with customers, do you use your language or their language? No, the question isn’t about whether you use English or German or Spanish. The question actually is whether you talk about your product or service in terms of features instead of what the customer wants from the product or service. A simple question…
I was excited to see Washingtonian magazine did a August cover story on Great Small Towns. “Two dozen places that will charm you with old-fashioned hospitality and newfangled vigor,” the website summary says. “Visit for a day, a weekend—or for good.” The spread covered 25 different small towns in the greater Washington, D.C., driving area….
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