Iowa
Tell me your story
I grew up in Geneva, Iowa population 141. We had a grocery store, gas station, implement store, Methodist and Catholic churches, post office, locker, school and ball parks. (for you urbanites: an implement store is where they sell farm machinery and usually repair it too and a locker is where you take your farm animals…
Read MoreDebworks goes Live on CNN
Deb Brown is the owner of a social media company, Debworks. That’s what CNN said about me today. It’s a little more than that. However I was happy to be on CNN this morning for a short minute to talk about social media and how I connect people to each other. Debworks main goal is…
Read MoreStarting Point
One day Shannon Latham and I decided we needed to do a bloggers tour. We wanted to bring in Midwest bloggers and have them stay in Franklin County and experience farming, history, entertainment and shopping. I know bloggers – and I invited them. Shannon and Jennifer Healey know farming and they organized combine rides,…
Read MorePower of Partnerships
What if we partnered up and created something that could benefit each person/group? Friday a group of different businesses is meeting at TownsEnd Winery in Hansell, Iowa. There will be Country Heritage bed and breakfast, a representative from the Soybean Association, Breadeaux Pizza, Latham Hi Tech Seeds, Franklin County Farm Bureau, Cornerstone Cottage (gifts and such),…
Read More5 Things to Consider
I’ve heard business owners say things like “in this economic climate, it’s hard to get new customers” and “no one has any money to spend, we can’t afford to use new ways to advertise”. I’ve heard customers say “they never do anything different” and “why should I shop local? I can get a better deal…
Read MoreShop Local – It Matters
Consider shopping local today. Don’t carry your phone into the store with the Amazon app on it. You know, the one that checks prices and then offers to give you another $5 if you buy it from Amazon. Will they help you pick the exact perfect gift for your mom? I don’t think so –…
Read MoreMapping Software for Tourism
I love new things! Yesterday I learned about mapping software. You can use Google or you can use ArcGIS to create maps you share links to, or embed in your website. I went to ArcGIS, created a free account and map a map that shows places where activities are taking place in Hampton, Iowa on…
Read MoreSocial Media Conferences in Iowa
There’s a couple of social media conferences coming to Iowa in 2012. I’m lucky in that I’ll be speaking at both! Jody Halsted and the Amana Colonies are hosting the Social Technology Conference at the Amana Colonies – and you won’t want to miss this one. Geared towards small businesses, there will be a lot…
Read MoreThe Power of One Product
I live in a county of 10,000 people. Our Chamber has renamed themselves to the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce – so we can reach out to all the parents and students in our community. That bumps up our count to almost 15,000 people. Our county seat, Hampton, grew by 4% in the last…
Read MoreHarvest Tour 2011
The weekend of September 30 to October 2, 2011 there will be 10 bloggers (and their families) from all over the Midwest in Franklin County, Iowa. Franklin County Tourism, Franklin County Farm Bureau, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds and Debworks have coordinated a Fall Harvest Bloggers Tour. The goal is to bring bloggers here to share in…
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