“I don’t have time.” Common answer to any sort of suggestion regarding adding something new to one’s business day. Freelancers and small business owners get particularly dazed when I introduce them to being online — being active in social media.
When you fall into a trap, you know it. It binds you — it hurts! — and it prevents you from moving on … It keeps you from your journey and your dreams in the distance — as they fade from view.
The most common trap?
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! Read the rest of this entry »
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
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! Read the rest of this entry »
Twitter Group, Rural Business Development is a new twitter-based group focused upon … obviously … Business development in rural areas. We are just getting started but as we organize and increase in members, we will have regular “tweet sessions” to provide active feedback regarding specific issues. Issues unique to managing and developing businesses and services in rural areas.
Click here to join! We all have something to contribute!
Follow me, stargardener, @stargardener. I look forward to tweetin’ ya’ and networking our tweets!
Rural Business News and Resource Links
