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Small Biz Survival
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    Best of | economic development | entrepreneurship | ideas | rural | Survey of Rural Challenges | tourism

    Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

    August 28, 2023June 27, 2024

    Our latest Survey of Rural Challenges said natural resources are rural communities’ best rural assets, but most places don’t have enough outfitters to take advantage of them as tourism development. Here’s how rural people like you can take small steps to grow into outdoor outfitters.  Gather Your Crowd to attract groups and organizations that want to help…

    Read More Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bankContinue

  • Slide text: Times are changing. Putting new destinations on the map: rural towns, countryside, and back to cities. A domestic rediscovery. Blended travel creates longer stays and workcations. Brighter light on wellness.
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | tourism | trends

    Rural tourism trends say small towns are still cool

    March 27, 2023March 23, 2023

    But you already knew that Tourism Currents, experts on social media for tourism, wrote about 5 travel trends to blog about right now, and there’s a lot for rural communities to latch onto there. 1) Wellness Travel Sheila says, “where people can go to relax, detox, relieve stress, get a massage and spa treatments, eat…

    Read More Rural tourism trends say small towns are still coolContinue

  • Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors
    Best of | economic development | rural | tourism | trends

    Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors

    January 15, 2023March 25, 2023

    Electric vehicle chargers are a perfect place for tourism wayfinding signs. EV charging stations are popping up in lots of rural places, especially along interstate highways and along the coasts in the US. They’ve become relatively common at some motels as well. Chargers are also popping up globally in rural places. Deb Brown reported seeing…

    Read More Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitorsContinue

  • Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCamp
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | tourism

    Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCamp

    December 12, 2022March 12, 2025

    After we discussed Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome, our friends at Marketing Delmarva pointed out HipCamp. One of our local blueberry farms does this with an app called HipCamp. Folks literally camp in the middle of a historic fruit farming operation. Well, not quite the same; they don’t trade blueberries for campsites, but you DO…

    Read More Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCampContinue

  • A van-sized RV parked in a green field under trees at a winery
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | tourism

    Harvest Hosts attract vanlifers and RV tourists, Boondockers Welcome

    December 2, 2022

    RV travelers, vanlifers and other self-contained nomads can stay at interesting destinations with Harvest Hosts. Stays feature wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and more.  There’s a membership fee for campers to join, but no camping fee when they stay. Guests are encouraged to buy at least one thing from their hosts during their stay. One guest…

    Read More Harvest Hosts attract vanlifers and RV tourists, Boondockers WelcomeContinue

  • Wide view of a prairie landscape with a walk-through gate in a fence
    Best of | economic development | rural | tourism

    Tourism: Make the most of scant remains and “not much to see” sites with a look-through sign

    October 11, 2022March 25, 2023

    Here’s a tourism tip from a roadside stop from my long drive to visit rural communities in Eastern Colorado. The Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts are still visible near Lakin in Western Kansas. You can walk across the little dam, past the tree and right out to the original trail, but there isn’t a lot…

    Read More Tourism: Make the most of scant remains and “not much to see” sites with a look-through signContinue

  • Archer City, Texas, Royal Theater, side view facade and roofless building behind
    community | rural | tourism

    What to do with a building that’s falling down: The roofless Royal Theater in Archer City, Texas

    January 23, 2022January 27, 2022

    A building that is falling down or where the roof has fallen in can still be useful. One example is the Royal Theater, in Archer City, Texas. The Royal Theater was featured in the movie “The Last Picture Show,” and production crews did the work to shore up the facade. The space behind has a…

    Read More What to do with a building that’s falling down: The roofless Royal Theater in Archer City, TexasContinue

  • How to publicize your biking trails before they’re finished
    economic development | marketing | rural | tourism

    How to publicize your biking trails before they’re finished

    June 10, 2019June 9, 2019

      Have you got a “coming soon” biking trail? Or a biking trail that is not completely finished yet? Well, don’t keep it a secret! A couple of places I’ve visited lately, I’ve heard about trails that are in the partially-finished stage. Some segments of the trail have been improved, others are still rough. “Once…

    Read More How to publicize your biking trails before they’re finishedContinue

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More of the best of Small Biz Survival

TREND 2025: Retail’s Big Split: what small town retailers can do now

Posted on December 11, 2024

99% of the best things you can do for your town don’t require anyone’s permission

Posted on January 2, 2024

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

Posted on August 28, 2023

How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores

Posted on February 19, 2023

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