Small Business
This is the place to be October 24
Tattoo: Peony for 60
I turn 60 June 1. It’s a real right of passage and one I’m ready to make. Last year at this time I got my 3rd tattoo – it was a misfit bird with the word ‘fly’ on the tail. My artist friend Jackie drew the design for me, and a local tattoo artist in…
Read MoreSeating for 1000, 47 at a time
Last week I was in Sioux Falls for 3 days for the Midwest Area Chamber Executives Conference. It’s days of training, networking and hearing about what is working in other communities. This year we received a tour of downtown Sioux Falls as part of the training. Connie Larson from Millbank sat next to me and…
Read MoreState of Digital Marketing 2015 Report
I got an email from Smart Insights that included their report The State of Digital Marketing in 2015 and this infographic and a few statistics that stood out to me were: One half (50%) of businesses surveyed do not have a defined digital plan or strategy, although they are active in digital marketing. The…
Read MoreOverheard: Corporate Speak
I was in Des Moines this week and while in Casey’s standing in line I overheard two staff members talking. “Did you read that email from corporate?” “The one about not using the elevators at work? And we should use the stairs? Get our exercise, stay committed to wellness?” “Have they ever been in a…
Read MoreIt’s all about relationships
Every Sunday Chris Brogan emails me. Most of the time it’s just to chat, share a few business ideas and maybe tell me about an upcoming thing he has going on. Yesterday he said this: If you’re not finding ways to nurture a community, if you’re not thinking of ways to build a relationship beyond…
Read MoreSunday Update: Bicycle
I had a good week – I spent a lot of it driving to and from Michigan where I spoke at the Small Town and Rural Conference. I also spent a lot of time in the car – and I have it in my head that I can eat junk food when I’m on a…
Read MoreGot Micro? Most of us do!
VISTAPRINT SHINES A LIGHT ON MICRO BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY Vistaprint is encouraging Americans to support their favorite local micro business, as part of Magnify Micro Business, which launches today. Micro businesses – businesses with 10 or fewer employees – are the back bone of America. They are the friendly faces who deliver the many types of…
Read MoreThinking of Writing A Book?
I’ve written two ebooks and am working a full fledged book called Building Possibilities: 7 Principles. Corrin Foster is with Greenleaf Book Group and she offers the following advice. Frankly, this advice also works for any small business too! Building Online Presence – a Guide for Authors By Corrin Foster, Greenleaf Book Group Nearly 1.47…
Read MoreSmall Business Optimism
Alex Della Rocca with American Express Forum shared this information with us. Encouraging! Small business owners are more confident than they were a year ago and their top priority is “keeping/maintaining their current business and sources of revenue,” according to the 2015 American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor. The survey found 67 percent of small…
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