Tips for Small Businesses in Small Towns

Small Town Business

For small business owners, community is necessary for success. If you live in a small town, it’s even more important.

Big cities like New York and Seattle have more opportunities for networking, but a small town has a unique sense of community that can and should be used as the foundation of your small business. Make the most of your small town relationships with these tips from small business owners and marketers around the web.

Build Authentic Relationships

The biggest advantage a small town has over the big city is the opportunity for authentic relationships. Take a page from small business owner, Kate Greene’s playbook. The owner of the Gingerbread House toy store in Bloomington, IL primarily works with local vendors, for web design, outdoor signage, mailing, and graphic design/marketing support.

You’ll meet great people when you do business this way. Plus, you’ll know you have their support because they’ll be just as invested in the well-being of the community as you are.

Advocate for Your Community

As Inc.com puts it, there’s no better way to find resources than to create them. Connect with civic leaders; join local chambers, professional associations, and co-working communities. Local chambers and associations are the best way to meet local business people from different sectors.

Get out of your office or shop and interact with different creative minds. It’s an antidote for isolation that can help you network while brainstorming new business or marketing plans.

Get Web Ready

According to Gifts & Dec, 76% of retailers sent direct mail sixteen years ago. Today, that figure has gone down to 22%. While email newsletter campaigns can be a good way to spread the word, many users have their email accounts set up to filter promotional emails out of their inbox before they’ve ever seen them. Grasshopper.com has a breakdown on email campaigns here.

Customers rely on Facebook and Twitter for communication more than they interact with email or snail mail. So even if you’re not personally a user of social media, your customers are. If you want them to meet you where you are (i.e. your store), meet them where they are first!

You may not be living in the epicenter of commerce and industry, but each community presents a unique opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs. Tap into what makes your small town special and build connections from there.

Posted on 2016-08-01 by

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