Blogging (and being social) conversation versus content

Image Credit (I like this visual, too. )

There has long been discussion regarding how to increase traffic and “circulation” of one’s blog. I myself tend to lean on relationship (conversation) and networking-servanthood.

However, it has never been about the numbers for me.

I blog because I have been an advocate and resource person since I was self-employed in college. It has been my experience that when one person has a question or a need, said person is merely the first one in a line of others who seek the same. Engaging in conversations and networking what is learned have always (always!) inspires action!

Twitter 101 Guide for Business

While I realize the jury is still out for some of my local micro- and small business friends, I remain a proponent of Twitter as an essential business tool.

So, of course I was delighted to learn that Twitter has compiled a list of key business practices and how-to’s for its innovative social media offering. They created a downloadable guide, “Twitter 101 for Business” which is brimming with useful, easy-to-implement information and helps.

Twitter is a communications platform that helps businesses and their customers do a number of useful things. As a business, you can use it to quickly share information with people interested in your company, gather real-time market intelligence and feedback, and build relationships with customers, partners and other people who care about your company. As an individual user, you can use Twitter to tell a company (or anyone else) that you’ve had a great—or disappointing—experience with their business, offer product ideas, and learn about great offers. — Source

• A related resource, The Twitter Guidebook, is available from Mashable (the fabulous social media guide!).

Summer Harvest

Wheat Harvest, Grady County, Oklahoma
Photo Credit

It seems that both my online and local business buddies (as well as myself!) are officially on summer break! Planning and writing and brainstorming become somewhat second banana to outdoor activities, family gatherings and surviving the heat of the July sun!

However, with only a few minutes this morning (before I officially start an early weekend!) I decided to share some excellent resource links. It was inspiring as I scheduled an early morning “appointment” with Google Reader to catch up — and I am eager to share a few links!

Starting with Becky McCray‘s Small Biz Survival, Brag Basket. I do so because she was one of the first folks I connected with via Twitter as the result of a keyword search of “rural business” … Remarkable stroke of luck on my part! She is multi-faceted and her mind is brimming with ideas and inspiration!

Who is in your focus group?

Every business — regardless of size — has regular customers.  Businesses in a rural area may have customers from both the locale and online sales and service offerings. These folks are an especially excellent source of feedback — and represent a possible focus group for your business!

Most people enjoy offering their opinions. Why not benefit from your best source of information regarding your business?

We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we’re in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. ~Steve Ballmer

Accountability Partners

Amazing results occur when we allow ourselves to become accountable to like-minded people. Having regular contact — online, in-person or even by e-mail — with another person or a group is an excellent opportunity to build a quasi-advisory team for all concerned, yielding:

1.  A benchmark for the progression of your goals.

2. The opportunity for brainstorming ideas and solutions.

3. Encouragement and professional relationship.

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~Stephen R. Covey

Moving Along

The irony to simplicity is that it is not always simple to achieve. During the past few weeks — as I tweet and sip coffee over conversations with local business owners in my area — I have busily compiled notes regarding their comments and input. Notes to assist with this site, building a team of rural business owners/freelancers interested in sharing their expertise via articles and resources.

A common challenge for businesses in rural areas is the lack of a full-service Chamber or other services to assist them with start-up and management. Even when a Chamber is established, most businesses find their ability to provide a tangible member benefit to be minimal. And in rural areas, where there are no incorporated towns or cities, Chambers don’t even exist.

But what exactly are the benefits that will effectively aid rural business development?

While we know there are numerous government entities with their answers to this questions, small business owners also know there exist countless opportunities being ignored to attain tangible results that, in truth, do not require millions of dollars.

So, let’s set up a dialogue. What services do you have? Like to have? See as vital?

Leave your comments, links and suggestions … Let’s make a difference for rural business development.