Rural Small Business

The World Needs More Entrepreneurs

February 28, 2010

“Every entrepreneur has the power to change lives as he/she changes his/her own life. Its only the question of stepping up and leading! ” As we all keep our eye on economic indicators, it’s easiest to focus on our local, rural area and market. But sometimes, it’s also important to think about what’s happening in [...]

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On The Road Again: Business Meetings in Rural Locations

January 15, 2010

For those of us who live in rural locations, meeting up ‘half way’ with friends, customers, clients and suppliers between our various small towns is commonplace. But figuring out where that half way point might be, and what places there are to easily meet up or have a lunch meeting, is usually a challenge unless [...]

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Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly for Tourists?

January 2, 2010

Do you know how your website looks to travelers using mobile search to find places to visit ? Making our websites mobile friendly is a road we must travel down ourselves if we want tourists to find us easily.

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“You Can’t Miss It”- Giving Rural Tourists Better Directions

September 29, 2009

We’ve all heard it, and probably all said it to others too. Your own town can seem so easy to get around, when it’s what you are accustomed to. When I moved to the mountains of rural western North Carolina 20 years ago and asked for directions practically every day, the phrase I learned to [...]

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Collaborative Marketing Among Seasonal Rural Businesses

May 25, 2009

Collaborative Marketing on a seasonal basis can bring success to all rural businesses involved. The Red Rooster Route is a marketing partnership of six local family farms that have banded together to create a new self-guided farm tour, offering adventures ranging from picking your own summer berries and vegetables, to learning about naturally grown foods. [...]

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Is Self Employment Changing in Rural America?

May 24, 2009

An estimated 25 million people in the United States call themselves ‘self employed.’ They might hold multiple jobs, run online businesses or other small shops, or function as independent contractors or ‘freelancers.’ The Promise and Peril of the Freelance Economy provides a comprehensive overview of how self-employment has changed in America, and reflects changes in [...]

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Economy Helping Agritourism and Rural Businesses

May 23, 2009

The struggling economy seems to be having a positive impact on agri-tourism and other rural businesses, as vacationers choose to vacation closer to home. In fact, agricultural tourism is emerging as one of the few success stories despite today’s economic challenges. “I think the main reason for the boom is the economy,” Blake Brown, an [...]

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Rural Business Weekly News – April 11, 2009

April 11, 2009

Here are a few interesting blogs and online articles I found this week with news that relates to Rural Business, ending April 11, 2009: Rural Broadband The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began work this week on its national strategy to bring high-speed broadband internet into every American home. Under the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus plan, [...]