Talking Domain Names and Local Search with Rural Missouri
I spent today speaking at 2 seminars focused on showing small businesses in rural Missouri how to take advantage of the opportunities they have to grow their business online. As the rural broadband stimulus money is doled out to telecommunications companies rural America will change the way they use the Internet and small business, which is really the backbone of American business, will need to be able to compete with large corporations who have been using search marketing and working online for years. It was an absolute pleasure meeting and discussing how business gets done on the Internet with the business leaders that came to the seminar sessions today.
I want to personally thank all fo them for attending and for Big River Telephone for sponsoring and bringing the group together. And I want to thank the radio station personnel and the people from the SE Missourian newspaper who were open minded and attended the discussion today that had a portion focused on the failure of legacy media and advertising companies to take advantage of the new business models that have shown themselves on the Internet. The open mind show in attending a session such as the one today shows that the companies you are working for have a chance.
It is always enjoyable to speak directly with the small businesses that do not have technology as their focus. Sometimes those of us that are focused so strongly on online media forget that that most business owners do not really care about the details, they care about what the technology changes mean to their business. Days like today prove that. We had comments come in that this is overwhelming but that the importance of changing the way they approach marketing is understood.
Other discussion topics included about how to use social networking to get customer feedback, promote the company website, and how even if the business owner themselves do not use the Internet their customers do. That is something important for small businesses in rural America to remember, as rural broadband spreads, and it will no matter what some industries want to believe, the people with the disposable income are the ones searching for products and services online.
Thanks to all that attended! The next session is being planned for Farmington, MO in the very near future.
Kudos to you for speaking at these seminars. If there were more opportunities for domainers to get in front of business owners and explain to them the power of the internet and good domains, I think our industry would grow by leaps and bounds.
Keep up the great work Bruce, and thanks for sharing.
Michael,
Thanks much. Its been great to get out and do it. We truly want to help businesses understand how to take advantage of the changing landscape of how they do business and make sure people are not selling them snake oil. I have heard some horror stories as we have got out there.
Bruce
Bruce great job, keep the momentum going. In addition to what Michael said you have made your mark in the domaining world and are now paving a way for domainers to achieve similar goals. Small businesses need online services and if you are able to provide these services then you are definitely on the right path. Traditional media and larger conglomerates have overlooked the buying power of small businesses. Your solutions will fill that gab. Domainers across the nation and across the world can learn from what you are doing.
Jason,
Thanks very much. Getting out with people that are new to the thought of having their business on the Internet has been great and I look forward to continuing the drive. As we launch our network of states I look forward to doing the same even outside of our home state. I appreciate the support and nice comments, thanks much.
Bruce