Engage Your Community If you are a local business owner, you bring valuable expertise to your community, but how do you share this knowledge? Today we are passing along three grassroots tactics. Guest Columns In Local Publications. Most communities have weekly and monthly tabloid-sized publications that regularly seek fresh content with local angles to fill space on their pages. Submitting guest columns reinforces your identity as a stalwart in the local business arena. Common themes can include marketplace trends, regional events or shared expertise on marketing and advertising--essentially any topic that allows you to provide your unique insight. The readership of homegrown newspapers and magazines is extremely diverse. From the college student seeking weekend plans to the local business magnate in the market for legitimate sales prospects, there is a forum to offer your advice and expertise to a varied audience, which brings a wide-ranging customer base through your doors. Writing Op-Eds. Many hot-button business issues such as minimum wage, unions and mandatory insurance continuously circulate in the media and spur lively debates. By writing an op-ed (opinion editorial) piece or even a letter to the editor that could be placed in daily newspapers with large circulations, you can state your position on a variety of relevant issues and establish wide-range name recognition. Participate In Regional Radio Interviews. While guest columns and op-eds in print have a longer-lasting impact toward your business aims--it is a permanent medium for your thoughts and know-how--radio interviews can provide an immediate boon to your profit margins. Connecting with decision makers through local radio outlets via social media or email is a fantastic first step to donning headphones and contributing in-studio. Many producers and personalities are also active at community networking events, and a brief conversation and a number exchange may lead to an on-air interview. By utilizing your distinct expertise to contribute in other facets of the business realm, you will amplify your reach and cement your position as a business that delivers value in the local community.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 18:07:27 +0000
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