What’s your #1 Tip for Developing a Local Business?

Dec 3rd, 2009View Comments

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What a great question!

Question was asked on Twitter ….Answer in 140 Characters or Less – YOU! Yep, that’s right!

What’s your #1 tip for developing a local business? What’s the first tool I should be using?

@acedrew

The #1 Tool for developing local business is You

I’m not sure why this simple and quite obvious tool is so easily overlooked and placed as “when we get some time” on our never-ending list of tasks. Quite honestly, I am guilty of this as well, so let’s go over this again together!

Your Heart

The Question: What’s your #1 Tip for Developing a Local Business?

The key-word here is Local. If your seeking local business, whether on Main Street in Rural America or in Jersey with a 12-Block Radius Local Target, you MUST truly be involved and become a part of this specific and unique community. Their concerns are your concerns, their triumphs are yours – much like the uniting of two in marriage. (Yes, that was Corney!)

Every rural community or block-radius is different. In rural America, often the local High School Football Team is the hottest community activity, bringing a near close to the entire town while games are in progress. It’s almost a no-brainer – but YOU should be there!

Cost: Free Value: Priceless!

Slogan: BE the Community

Your Eyes

The Question: What’s your #1 Tip for Developing a Local Business?

The key-word here is Business. In rural communities, while attending each High School Football Game, in addition to cheering your team on to victory, YOU should Watch. Yep, developing ANY new business requires a careful, continuous watch.

Take a mental note of any competitors in attendance and who they are with. Are the local big business owners there? Who are they with? See any current customers? Say hello and shake their hand.

Keep it casual and soak it in. Make a habit of introducing yourself to at least 2 new people per game. How easy is that while in line for the hot dog or popcorn you know your going to purchase! Important: This is about YOU not your business. Of course if they ask, offer it up like syrup on hotcakes – but only if they lead the conversation there! There is a world of knowledge gained in one simple season attendance.

It doesn’t have to be football. Perhaps your in a rural wine country community. In this case where the wine tastings are YOU should be too! Whatever it is – YOU should be there!

Cost: Free Value: Priceless!

Slogan: BE a Sponge

Your Hands

The Question: What’s your #1 Tip for Developing a Local Business?

The key-word here is TIP. In rural communities it’s important to Tip or Gift your unique business knowledge and expertise to your community and Tip or Gift your time to local causes and concerns.

Cost: Free Value: Priceless!

Slogan: BE a Volunteer

Your Feet

The Question: What’s your #1 Tip for Developing a Local Business?

The key-word here is DEVELOPING. In rural communities, you must make a believer out of them! Developing requires action and dedication. For rural communities, quite simply, “The Proof Is In The Pudding”!

If your seeking local business – YOU must first BE local Business! Let your feet take you to other local business on a consistent basis. Purchase all available supplies and services as possible from within your community.

Cost: Free Value: Priceless!

Slogan: BE a Customer

Now, to answer @acedrew question: What’s the first tool I should be using?

After quickly looking over the services you offer your local community, here’s my suggestion of the first tool I think you should be using.

Your IT knowledge and expertice.

I suggest you hit up your local hometown newspaper and offer a Weekly How-To Column that relates to your local community business environment. Make the articles of a more general topic basis, affording potential for the newspaper to sell small advertising space, if they so need. You’ll get fantastic local coverage and exposure for FREE!

Once your community knows your capability and who you are, local business will begin to roll in.

…just my 2 cents!