Somewhere on a country road in Iowa

Many people have weighed in on the conversation with National Geographic on why they should visit Iowa in their trek across the United States.  Here’s just a few comments received from blog posts, facebook comments and twitter.   

But none of the glitz and glamour found in the big cities feeds my soul like quiet times spent in the Midwest’s rural areas! That’s why one of the things I enjoy most about my job is traveling the countryside, visiting with Latham® dealers and farmer-customers. I’ve gained an appreciation for the differences in the landscape across six states. I enjoy the raw beauty of each area, whether I’m in the Loess Hills of Iowa or along the Mississippi River.….Shannon Latham  (read entire article here)

Making a living in this tiny town is simpler. Taxes are amazingly cheaper. The air is fresher. The pace, slower. I am forever savoring the bounties and blessings from nature that are ever at my back door. Children ride bikes together through town, and the city park burgeons with baseball players, soccer enthusiasts, and families grilling outside. Yet, sometimes Iowa’s rural beauty is its most poignantly refreshing when first arriving back home from our world-wanderings. ..Pamela Warwick  (read entire blog post here)

I have lived in numerous places(Germany, Japan, Colorado, Texas, N.D., Minnesota, etc.) and far prefer Iowa. I find life in small town America a wonderful place to live!! I enjoy the friendly people, the superior economy, good school system, strong work ethic, firm religious convictions, and a sense of community with safety. I hope I can stay here a long time!! P.S. I appreciate the continuing education from the community college too!! … Shirley Ostroot of Osage  (one of the NIACC students taking my Senior Boot Camp class and she is over 70 years old

‎@NatGeoTraveler, Iowa’s no fly over state!

• Iowa: home to the last designed Frank Lloyd Wright hotel in the world, and recently renovated! (Historic Park Inn, Mason City).
• How about those 76 trombones that led the big parade? Band Fest is coming up in May 24-26, how about a stop in Mason City to pay tribute to the famous Meredith Wilson!
• Love the food you eat? (I know I do!) Without the tractor, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today in our food system. Credit goes to John Froelich, visit his museum near Monona, Iowa.
• We built it, and they came! Iowa is home to The Field of Dreams. Guessing Kevin Costner would agree, it’s a must see!
• And how about that beloved computer you use to take down all your travel experiences, better stop at Iowa State University for that one! First digital computer was invented there in 1942. By the way, Iowa State University was also the first land grant college, and such a beautiful campus I might add.
• Bridges of Madison County, THE Iowa State Fair (Can’t be beat!)
• I could go on and on. The south, yeah that’s been done. Iowa is where it’s at! ….Laura Cunningham

• Worlds Largest Truck Stop: Walcott, IA http://iowa80truckstop.com/
• Antique Archaeology: Le Claire, IA http://antiquearchaeology.com/
• Effigy Mounds: Marquette, Iowa http://www.nps.gov/efmo/index.htm
• West Bend – Grotto of the Redemption http://www.westbendgrotto.com/
• Sergeant Floyd Monument: Sioux City, IA
• Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, IA (Kind of Creepy, but people like it)
• NASCAR racing begins in May at Newton’s Iowa Speedway
• Pella, IA and the Dutch Festivals and Tulip Time. http://www.octulipfestival.com/
• Decorah Eagles
• Ertl Toy Company in Dyersville, IA
• Amana Colonies: http://amanacolonies.com/
• Sullivan Brothers: Waterloo, IA
• Devonian Fossiles: Rockford, IA http://www.fossilcenter.com/
• Louisiana Purchase
• Charles City Oliver Tractor Company
• Herbert Hoover Birthplace: West Branch, IA
• Johnny Carson Birthplace: Corning, IA
• John Waynes Birthplace: Winterset, IA
• Ashton Kutcher was Born in Cedar Rapids
Just a few things that I thought of through out the day. …Amy Hild

Twitter conversation between KCEdventures and @IATraveler — this my friends, is a great example of long tail! 

One last run.

Look at this mural.  The details tell the story.

Young Glen Campbell

I’m helping sell Rotary Raffle Tickets for their Spring Party March 24.  Part of the proceeds go to support the Admiral Leahy Memorial Project I’m helping with.  Admiral Leahy was born here and we are working with our committee, students at the high school and the Historical Society to move some of his Naval items (uniform, desk, photos, a 11 foot ship replica to name a few) to a location here in Hampton.

You can find them in Belmond, Iowa.

You know there’s a story there somewhere.  Yet, I can’t find it online anywhere.

It’s a time to look at what stories of yours are not being told to a larger population.

Get these stories in writing, before there’s no one left who remembers the stories.

Me on a rock at the Parthenon in Greece

I often get asked “what should I blog about?”

The answer is easier than you think.

Everything.

What?  Yes, everything.  If you are blogging as a business owner, the idea is to share not only what it is your business does, but what it is you do.  People want to get to know you.  They want to see how you live.  They want to know your kids are smart, or normal, or average.  They want you to tell them these things, in a nice way.

The idea is you are building a relationship with your readers.  It’s not a contract you are writing.  It’s a story you are telling.  

Here’s some ideas:

Small business owners -

1. why you chose the color of paint for your walls
2. how the last customer of the day is as important as the first
3. why your location is good for business
4. why your son-in-law does NOT work in your store
5. why the regular Friday night band concert is important to you
6. How you support your local schools
7. why you spend money in your local community versus going to Walmart
8. what thought process you use to decide which products you are going to carry
9. how to sell an item to a young person, old person, single woman, married man
10. why you belong to the Kiwanis (or any organization)
11. things visitors can do when they visit your town
12. what other kind of shops are in town
13. how weather affects where you live
14. how to use a product bought at your store (google Kreg tools, it’s amazing how they built their business around this question)
15. why you like facebook (or don’t like it)
16. things kids could learn that will make them better business people

That’s 16 quick ideas for a business owner.  Tell us your story.  We want to get to know you.  Show us why you are the expert in your field (and it’s not because you know everything – it’s because you know how to tell us what we want to hear.)

The picture is me on a rock at the Parthenon in Greece.  I’ll be writing about how Greece changed my life, and how that affects my small business next week. 

It had Larry Sailer, Michael Libbie, Claire Celsi and I on the front cover because we were interviewed by CNN.

I posted on Facebook that I made the paper and they called me an avid blogger, which I rather like.

Jennifer Healey from the Farm Bureau sent me the pdf to post (here it is) and we didn’t know how to load a pdf onto Facebook (you can’t).

So being the avid blogger that I am, I decided to share it with you!

(It was extremely cool to be on CNN, and also in the Spokesman!)

 Find the Iowa Farm Bureau online here and this is NOT a paid blog post, ad or spot. The picture above, in the red shirt is Jennifer Healey.  This picture was taken on the Roy Arends farm last fall, on our Blogger Harvest Tour.  It’s how CNN found us in the first place – Claire Celsi had written a blog and CNN asked that some of those farmers join us in Des Moines for an interview.  

1. There won’t be a double dip recession.  The economy is recovering, or better said for here in the rural areas – we are learning how to survive in this current economy.  We are already learning how to be more comfortable – we’re cutting hours of staff, not buying as much inventory, and purchasing what is useful and needed – not wanted.  We’ve gotten creative with our marketing and thank God for social media.  We know that business growth will be steady, it has to be – we have families to feed and dreams to pursue.
2. Health insurance rate increases will be less.  Most small businesses in my neck of the woods have a husband or wife who works a “traditional” job and carry insurance for their families.  It’s more than they can really afford, but less than if a catastrophe happened.  If the owner is over 65, the donut hole has shrunk and now they only have to really worry about high costs for 1 or 2 months instead of 3 or 4.  There are small business owners with less than 3-4 employees – and a lot of them – who carry no insurance at all.  It’s either pay your employee or pay your insurance.  (Please notice I am speaking from personal experience of owners in my neck of the woods – but I hear these things in all the small towns I go to.   I’d be very interested to hear the numbers and statistics about this.)
3. Obama will win the election.  Okay, the democrat in me says “of course he will.”  I just don’t see any serious competition from the other side – and anyone that might get elected is not concerned about small business.   Sadly, many small businesses are not hiring – they are working on getting by.  So any tax cuts to help hire are not taken advantage of here.
4. Unemployment will improve slightly.  Fortunately, Iowa’s unemployment rate is 5.7% – below the national average.  We are seeing a growth in entrepreneurial business – because people have been out of work for so long, they have to do something.  It’s also reported that more young people (20 to 35) just start their own businesses instead of fighting the rat race. We also see more work from home opportunities taking hold – Tupperware, Avon, Watkins, Melaleuca for example – all create reliable secondary income.  Often it’s enough for mom to stay home and avoid child care costs.
5. Banks still won’t lend money.  Agree with you totally here.  One nice thing in my town, we have three locally owned banks and it makes a big difference doing business with someone you REALLY know.
6. Sales will rise in most consumer sectors.  Agree here as well.  Business owners have gotten smarter and manage their inventory much better and provide value/service before it’s asked for.
7. Fuel prices will still rise.  Good Lord, it’s a circus.  In one day we’ve seen it go from 2.98 to 3.39.  Ironically, it seems higher around the driving holidays – and frankly, with these gas prices most of the holidays are ones you drive for.  Long trips over days have been reduced to day tripping. This is actually a bonus for small business – how can they meet the needs of that kind of traveler?
8. Stock market remains volatile.  Agree again.
9. Housing market will remain flat.  It’s still a buyer’s market in rural Iowa.  Unless you are buying land, and for some wild reason, we’ve seen $15,000 to $20,000 per acre.  Great news for sellers.
10. Social media sites grow, but Google+ becomes stagnant.  Social media is the new marketing.  Learning to respond to and anticipate customer’s needs and wants is critical.  If someone thinks they can shout out what they have and be taken seriously – they are in for a surprise.  Facebook is a common means of communication in rural communities; it’s the new party line.  Google + — I’ll hold my remarks.  I don’t see many of my local friends using it, but hey – it’s Google.  The chance it can be better and more useful for rural areas is a strong possibility.
11. The “Occupy” movement will expand online.  There are no secrets online.  If your company sucks, people will tell others about it.  We just had a big brewhaha over customer service at the local Dollar General.  It spread over Facebook and everyone is talking about it.  Here’s a chance for DG to make a change, we’re waiting to see if that will happen.  Also, our farmers and farm corporations are watching very closely what is happening in their arena.  They will not be ruled out.
12. “Deal of the Day” website offers will slow.  Funny, our towns are too small for those websites.  However, smart small business owners have paid attention and do offer deep discounts out of the blue for just one day – and we see it on Facebook and twitter.

Back story:

Becky McCray (featured in picture above taken by Sheila Scarborough) is writing a book with Barry Moltz called Small Town Rules.  It will be available very very soon.  Becky and I have shared the stage at several 140 Character Conferences, the original Hutch Bloggers tour found us both on it, and we’ve even shared an apartment for a week in New York.  She’s a friend, and I pay close attention to the people she follows, works with and listens to.  Barry is one of those people.  He’s on a google alert in my reader.  He’s also a really smart guy.  Now … you know the rest of the story!

To enjoy a thing of beauty each day.  Take a moment just to breathe and thank God.

I participate in Project 52.  You may want to as well.  

found on Pinterest on Annamaria Bittoni’s page.  It says it all.