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Branding isn’t about size. It’s about clarity, consistency, and purpose. Small businesses with strong brands grow faster and retain more loyal customers. A brand is the promise you keep, not just the logo you use. Start with your story and values. Then build visual and verbal consistency. Every customer interaction should reinforce what makes you different. 636 Words ~ 3.5 min. read When most people think “brand,” they picture big names like Nike, Apple, or Starbucks. But in truth, some of the strongest brands belong to small businesses. Like the neighborhood bakery with a line out the door every Saturday. Or the local contractor everyone recommends without hesitation. What sets them apart isn’t budget. It’s branding done right. Branding isn’t just for big companies. It’s how any business, of any size, communicates who they are and why they matter. For small businesses, branding isn’t a luxury. It’s your edge. It helps you cut through noise, attract better-fit customers, and grow with confidence. Yet too often, small business owners treat branding as something they’ll invest in later. That’s a missed opportunity. A strong brand isn’t about fancy design or a clever tagline. It’s about clarity and consistency. It’s the promise you make and keep every time a customer interacts with your business. When done well, branding builds trust, emotional connection, and long-term loyalty. That’s true whether you’re running a restaurant, a retail shop, or a B2B service company. So where should a small business start? Not with a costly rebrand or an elaborate style guide. Begin with your story. Why did you start this business? What do you believe in? What do you do better than anyone else? Those answers are the foundation of your brand identity. Next, translate that identity into a voice and look that feel authentic to you. Choose a tone that fits your values. Whether that’s professional, casual, inspiring, or direct. Then use it across every customer touchpoint. One local accounting firm embraced a tone of friendly expertise in everything from its emails to signage and saw referrals rise 30 percent in a year. Your visuals matter too. You don’t need a world-class designer. Start with a few key colors, a clean font, and a logo that aligns with your message. What matters more than polish is consistency. Make sure your website, signage, social media, and printed materials all feel like they’re coming from the same voice and visual identity. And most importantly, bring your brand to life in how you deliver your service. Your customer experience should reflect your values in action. If your brand is about reliability, you need fast response times and follow-through. If it’s about community, you should be engaging locally and making people feel seen. Small businesses that get branding right build something bigger than marketing. They build reputation. They become memorable, trusted, and easier to recommend. A strong brand turns customers into advocates and consistency into growth. The Bottom Line: Branding isn’t about budget or business size. It’s about being clear on your purpose, consistent in your message, and authentic in how you show up. Take ten minutes today to write down what you stand for. That’s the first step to building a brand that lasts. Further Reading: Unleashing Your Brand's Personality in the Age of AI --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

It may be extraordinarily hot and sunny (at least it is in most parts of the country right now), but it’s also the perfect time to jingle your way to more sales with a Christmas in July promotion. This festive mid-year moment is a golden opportunity to engage customers, clear inventory, and create a buzz—without the stress of December chaos. Plus, it’s becoming more popular over the past couple of years. With Prime Days in July, it’s also quickly becoming a time when buyers are conditioned to expect deals and encouraged to start thinking ahead to the holidays. With costs up, buying early and spreading out spending (instead of bundling it into one expensive month) is good advice for customers as well. Even if you’re not in retail, you can offer many of these sales pushes to bring customers in. 10 Cool Ideas for Hot Sales You don’t need elves or a North Pole budget. Best of all, these ideas are fun and will get your audience talking about you. Here are some easy-to-execute, creative ideas your business can pull off before July melts away: 12 Days of Deals Turn the rest of the month into a “12 Days of Christmas in July” flash sale. Each day, highlight a new product or service with a limited-time discount or bundle. Bonus tip: Use social media countdowns and reels to build excitement daily. Summer Santa Sale Clear out old inventory with a "Santa's Clearance Sleigh" theme. Decorate with beachy tinsel, offer free “reindeer delivery” (local delivery or free shipping), and dress a staff member like Santa in shades and flip-flops for Instagram gold. Gift Card Bonus Fest Offer a free mini gift card with gift card purchases—perfect for summer birthdays or to use later. (Example: Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card.) Host a Mini Christmas Market If you’re a brick-and-mortar business, invite a few local makers or food vendors to co-host a pop-up “Christmas in July” sidewalk sale. Add festive music, cold cider or (iced) cocoa, and you're in business. Frozen Favorites or Cool Combos Restaurants, cafes, and bakeries can create “Frozen North Pole” menus—think peppermint milkshakes, snowflake cupcakes, or Santa sundaes. Pair items for combo pricing: “The Claus Combo” or “Mrs. Claus’s Favorite.” Run a Holiday Throwback Social Campaign Invite customers to share their favorite holiday memories or photos for a chance to win a July-exclusive prize. Use hashtags like #ChristmasInJuly or #SantaOnVacation. Offer ‘Gift Yourself’ Packages Service-based businesses (salons, spas, coaches) can package their services as self-gift options: “You survived half the year… you deserve a little magic” or “The kids are off for the summer survival kit.” Host a Virtual Holiday Party Bring your community together for an online trivia night, ugly tank top contest, or “Hot Cocoa & Chill” movie watch party (featuring a Christmas classic, of course). Offer a discount code during the event to boost real-time sales. Launch a VIP Pre-Holiday Club Give your loyal customers early access to limited holiday inventory, deals, or pre-orders starting now. Tease “Christmas in July” as a sneak peek into holiday magic, minus the wait. Create a “Naughty or Nice” Coupon Draw Let customers draw a sealed envelope at checkout with a mystery “naughty” (small) or “nice” (bigger!) discount. It’s fun, interactive, and keeps people shopping for a chance at the best deal. Not to mention it’s sure to bring some laughs from their friends as they open. Make the Holiday Last Christmas in July may feel hokey, but it’s a great way to get people excited about what’s to come. Cap off your Christmas in July activities with a teaser: “Santa’s headed back to the North Pole… but he’ll be back in December. Make sure you’re on the nice list—sign up for our emails for early holiday deals!” This will bring them back later on in the year and help keep you connected for the next several months. ---------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Most businesses don’t stall because of market conditions or strategy missteps. They stall because their leaders don’t evolve.

Social Media is Constantly Changing.

Every leader wants high performers, but not all high performers are the same.

It's All About Relationships.

(Your success may depend on how honestly you answer these) 

If you’re constantly putting out fires in your business, you might be treating symptoms instead of fixing systems. Systems thinking helps you connect the dots across hiring, sales, customer service, and operations. It’s not theory. It’s a practical mindset that builds efficiency, resilience, and smarter decision-making. Small business owners who think in systems avoid waste, anticipate problems, and lead with greater clarity. 604 Words ~ 3 min. read Ever fix a leaky pipe only to find another bursts a few days later? Running a business without systems thinking is like that. Every fix creates new problems because nothing in your business operates in isolation. Everything is connected. That is why systems thinking matters. Once used primarily by scientists and large corporations, it is now a strategic advantage for small business owners who want to stop reacting and start leading with clarity and purpose. What Is Systems Thinking? Systems thinking is a problem-solving approach that looks at the full picture, not just individual components. It focuses on how different functions, teams, and processes interact, and how those relationships create patterns over time. For example, if sales are falling, it is easy to blame the sales team. But a systems thinker goes deeper. Is marketing reaching the right audience? Are order delays impacting customer experience? Are internal goals misaligned? This mindset addresses root causes rather than surface issues. It gives leaders insight that leads to sustainable improvements. A Real-World Win Consider a local bakery that saw repeat business begin to dip. The owner initially considered staff retraining but instead decided to map the entire customer journey. She discovered supply chain delays were increasing wait times during peak hours, which frustrated customers. By adjusting vendor relationships and revising inventory practices, she sped up service and brought customers back. This is systems thinking in action. Why Small Businesses Need It Smaller businesses operate with tighter resources and greater exposure to risk. One decision can impact multiple areas at once. That is why systems thinking helps owners lead more effectively. It provides structure for understanding cause and effect throughout the business. Here’s how it supports growth: Efficiency: Uncover root issues in operations rather than solving isolated problems. Smarter decisions: Detect recurring patterns and fix their source, not just the outcome. Foresight: Recognize how changes in one area will impact the entire organization. How to Get Started You do not need a formal system or software to begin. Use these simple steps: Sketch your system. Create a visual map of how departments, people, tools, and customers interact. Identify feedback loops. Look for areas where problems tend to repeat or compound. Ask deeper questions. Move from “What went wrong?” to “What in our structure caused this result?” Review regularly. Set time aside monthly to assess how recent changes are impacting other parts of the business.  Free tools like Lucidchart or Miro can help you visualize your system. For more advanced insights, explore Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review . The Bottom Line Systems thinking gives small business leaders the perspective needed to lead with confidence, not just react to chaos. It connects the dots between actions and outcomes, so you can fix what really matters. The most effective business owners think in systems. They see how each decision shapes the whole. That is what helps them grow stronger, faster, and more sustainably. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

The year's midpoint is your wake-up call—refocus now to finish strong. Scrutinize your numbers to find what’s working (and what’s not). Reboot your marketing before seasonal shifts hit. Remove workflow roadblocks to boost team output. Reconnect with your business’s core purpose. 597 Words ~ 3 minute read The midpoint of the year often hits like a reality check: goals half-met, momentum lagging, and a to-do list that keeps growing. But this moment is also a strategic gift: a reset button that can set you up for a stronger, smarter second half. Here are five high-impact moves to help you reset with intention and finish the year with confidence: 1. Run the Numbers, Then Rewrite the Playbook Take a hard look at your financials. Are you ahead, behind, or coasting? Scrutinize revenue trends, margins, and expenses. Identify what’s draining resources and double down on what’s driving growth. Use the insights to reshape your financial strategy for the next six months, because winging it isn’t a plan. 2. Reboot Your Marketing Before the Fall Rush If your marketing has lost steam, this is your window to revive it. Launch a seasonal promotion, refine your messaging, or test new channels to re-engage your audience. And don’t wait to prep for fall. Holiday planning starts now. Review your content calendar, track past performance, and align campaigns with your business goals. 3. Clear the Roadblocks Slowing Your Team Small inefficiencies become big headaches by year’s end. What processes are wasting time? Where’s the communication breaking down? Invite your team to flag friction points and co-create solutions. Even modest upgrades, such as automating reports, streamlining meetings and clarifying roles, can drive major gains. Harvard Business Review explores how better collaboration fuels better outcomes. 4. Recalibrate Your Goals and Reset Priorities It’s okay if the goals you set in January don’t fit anymore. Priorities evolve. What matters is focus. Reassess your KPIs and trim anything that’s distracting from your top objectives. Reset your team’s focus around fewer, clearer targets so execution becomes simpler and more powerful. 5. Reconnect with Your Why Amid the grind, your original mission can get blurry. Take a step back to reflect: Why did you start this business? Who do you serve, and how do you want to show up for them? Realigning with your purpose energizes your leadership and clarifies your brand. Fast Company outlines how reconnecting to your “why” boosts both engagement and performance. Bottom Line: A mid-year reset isn’t just a productivity hack, it’s a strategic imperative. It gives you space to pause, zoom out, and ask the critical questions that get lost in day-to-day urgency. By evaluating your numbers, refreshing your marketing, streamlining operations, focusing your goals, and reigniting your purpose, you give your business the fuel it needs to finish the year not just intact, but thriving. This isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most with greater clarity, consistency, and conviction. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

Who isn’t feeling the pain of being stretched too thin these days? If you’ve dabbled with AI, you may have cut the time it takes you to do administrative tasks by as much as 26 minutes a day (at least according to a recent survey in the UK). However, it’s possible to do a lot more than that when you move past administrative tasks and see where else you can do more with less. One of these areas is content. Most businesses are sitting on goldmines of content and don’t even know it. This article will show you five genius ways to get more out of what you already have by repurposing and restructuring the media. 1. Turn Longform Content into Shortform Gold Feed your existing blog posts, eBooks, or newsletters into an AI tool to extract highlights, tips, or quotes for social media posts. Creative twist: Use AI to rewrite the same message in multiple tones—professional, humorous, casual—or tailor it for different platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook. 2. Transform Video or Podcast Transcripts into Written Content AI transcription tools can convert spoken content into text. Use a language model to turn that transcript into blog posts, newsletters, or Q&A articles. Creative twist: Convert a video transcript into a “Top 5 Takeaways” post, a tutorial, or a visually rich infographic with AI-generated headlines. 3. Create Content for Different Audiences from One Source Take a general piece of content (like a blog post) and ask AI to adapt it for different member personas such as new members, loyal/engaged members, or industry partners. Creative twist: Turn one blog post into: · A beginner’s guide on the topic · A technical breakdown · A “pitch” version for partners or press releases 4. Build an Email Series from a Single Piece Take a detailed guide or blog post and ask AI to break it into a 3–5-part email series, complete with subject lines, CTAs, and value-focused messaging. Email series can be very effective in helping your content get noticed. People may not take the time to read a 700-word blog post, but if you email the summary points across several days, they’ll get the gist of the message and will most likely remember it better than reading it all at once. Creative twist: Include AI-generated teaser lines or questions at the end of each email to boost open and click rates. 5. Reimagine Content as Interactive Tools or Experiences Use AI to turn tips, FAQs, or how-to guides into interactive quizzes, calculators, or chatbot scripts that educate and engage users. Example: Turn a skincare routine blog into a “What’s Your Skin Type?” quiz, or a business checklist into a “Startup Readiness Scorecard.” The titles you choose for the materials can make the content a lot more appealing. You can even use reimagined, designed pieces as lead magnets. People often won’t recognize it in another format. Speaking of, upload any written content onto NotebookLM and create a podcast on the topic. You can even tell it which parts of the text you want it to pay attention to or avoid. There are so many things you can do with existing content and marketing collateral you already have. If you can’t think of any creative ideas on how to repurpose those critical pieces, ask AI. Tell it your audience and your goal behind repurposing the content. Then ask it to suggest some ideas to you. You’ll be surprised what it comes up with. ------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Pause to Stabilize: Cut costs and renegotiate to create breathing room. Pivot, Don’t Panic: Explore new markets or customer segments while staying agile. Learn Fast or Fall Behind: Turn setbacks into insights through rapid experimentation. Guard the Downside: Hedge risks and protect what matters most. 600 words ~ 3 min. read Even seasoned leaders know the sting of a strategy that’s no longer working. But the real measure of leadership isn’t avoiding failure—it’s how decisively and creatively you pivot when the path ahead shifts. When strategic plans falter—whether due to market turbulence, internal missteps, or external shocks—leaders must act not with panic, but with precision. Drawing from Harvard Business Review’s “How to Rescue a Failing Strategy,” here are four pivotal moves to help regain strategic traction. 1. Pause to Stabilize If your strategy is wobbling, the first priority is to buy time without triggering chaos. Consider: Reducing burn rate by cutting non-essential expenses Freezing expansion plans that strain resources Renegotiating contracts or vendor terms to ease cash flow Retailers, for instance, might pause new store openings to refocus on e-commerce logistics. Nonprofits may temporarily halt new program rollouts to concentrate on core impact areas. This strategic pause buys clarity—and the space to think critically. 2. Pivot, Don’t Panic Locking into one approach can be dangerous when conditions change. Instead, design options: Enter adjacent customer segments Test low-risk partnerships or distribution channels Pilot tweaks to product offerings or delivery models For manufacturers, this might mean adapting existing equipment to serve a neighboring industry. Professional services firms could pivot to virtual delivery or a subscription-based model. Related reading: McKinsey on adaptive strategies 3. Learn Fast or Fall Behind Use turbulence as a catalyst to turn your organization into a fast learner. That means: Running controlled experiments on pricing, offers, or ops Creating real-time feedback loops from customers and staff Making strategic reviews more iterative, less static Construction firms might beta-test prefab components for speed and cost. Tech startups could A/B test UX changes weekly. Also worth reading: Bain on learning organizations 4. Guard the Downside Pivots come with risk. Your job? Minimize exposure while staying bold. Cap investments in unproven ideas Increase controls around key financial or operational processes Develop contingency plans for likely risk scenarios Think of this as smart aggression—pushing forward without leaving your core vulnerable. Bottom Line Every organization will face moments when strategy falters. The difference lies in the response. Leaders who act with focus—stabilizing, experimenting, and protecting—don’t just recover; they reposition for smarter, stronger growth. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

Great service is expected; hospitality creates emotional loyalty. Hospitality isn’t just for restaurants—any customer-facing business can benefit. Small, personal gestures yield outsized business results. Leaders must build a culture where empathy and attention to detail are daily practice. Hospitality is your most human, and most strategic, competitive advantage. 613 words ~ 3 min. read Hospitality is the Hidden Edge: Why Emotional Connection Drives Customer Loyalty In a world where convenience is king and automation handles most transactions, one thing still sets great businesses apart: how you make people feel . That’s the difference between service and hospitality—and it’s more than semantics. It’s a growth strategy. The Key Difference Service is the technical delivery of a product or task. It’s checking the box, fulfilling the need, moving on. Hospitality is emotional. It’s about making someone feel seen, valued, and cared for. Here’s the truth: service can be excellent and still forgettable. But hospitality? That sticks. Why It Matters in Every Industry Though rooted in restaurants and hotels, the principle of hospitality applies everywhere—retail counters, healthcare clinics, banks, car dealerships. Anywhere there's a customer, there's an opportunity to offer more than service. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that emotionally connected customers are more than twice as valuable as highly satisfied customers—they spend more, stay longer, and refer others. Read more from HBR . That’s the business case. Here’s how to deliver it. Go Beyond the Transaction What turns an interaction into an experience? A name remembered. A birthday acknowledged. An unspoken need met. A hotel staffer notices you’re reading a mystery novel and suggests a nearby bookstore. A coffee shop barista starts your regular order when they see you walk in. These aren’t luxuries, they’re leverage. The CARE Framework To make hospitality a habit, leaders can use the CARE model: Connect: Greet with intention and attention. Acknowledge: Recognize repeat customers, life moments, or feedback. Remember: Note preferences or previous interactions. Empathize: Tune into emotional cues and respond thoughtfully. Train for this. Celebrate it. Build systems to support it. Build a Culture of Hospitality Hospitality can’t be scripted, but it can be cultivated. It starts at the top. Leaders must value it, model it, and reward it. As Gallup research shows, emotionally engaged employees are the ones most likely to create emotionally engaging customer experiences. Read more from Gallup Make hospitality a hiring priority, a training pillar, and a performance metric. The ROI of Being Human  Customer experience is today’s biggest differentiator—and hospitality is its heartbeat. It's not about doing more; it's about caring more. Businesses that prioritize human connection see better reviews, stronger loyalty, and increased revenue. Bottom Line Anyone can offer good service. Only intentional, caring businesses deliver hospitality. And those are the ones that win—not just customers, but communities. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

Small businesses everywhere are realizing that success isn’t just about how good your product is—it’s about how connected your customers feel to you and each other. The new growth model that’s gaining serious traction? Community-led growth. This approach focuses on creating value and shared experiences before the sale ever happens. When done right, it doesn’t just build customers—it builds advocates and connections. But when done incorrectly, it turns potential fans into skeptics. Why Community Matters More Than Ever  Building a community isn’t just a feel-good strategy—it’s a competitive advantage. In an era where trust is low and attention spans are shorter than ever, people crave connection. A strong community gives your audience a reason to stick around, even when they’re not ready to buy and, like your favorite binge-worthy show, it has a lot of seasons and variations. For instance, it looks like a group where people share wins, ask questions, support each other, and celebrate progress. It’s people tagging their friends in your posts, offering advice in your Facebook group, and proudly using your templates or tools. Community turns one-time customers into long-term advocates, and it transforms your brand from a product into a movement. Let’s look at two recent real-world examples of multi-day webinars run by small business owners with something to sell. Both had a course or community behind the scenes. But the difference in how they built interest and trust made all the difference. Example 1: Teach First, Sell Later Tanya, a branding expert and course creator, ran a three-day webinar series on visual storytelling for small businesses. From Day 1, she delivered value. Each day, she taught a specific concept—like choosing brand colors, creating consistent visuals, or writing engaging captions—and gave attendees practical takeaways they could use immediately. There was no bait-and-switch. She also created a pop-up Facebook group where participants discussed what they learned, shared examples and wins, and supported each other. The sense of collaboration and energy in the group was palpable. People weren’t just learning from Tanya—they were learning from each other. She gave away free Canva templates to help people apply the lessons, and many posted their before-and-after visuals right in the group. By the time she introduced her paid course on Day 3, she had already built trust and delivered results. Her offer felt like a logical next step, not a sales ambush. The result? A strong conversion rate and a thriving community that stuck around long after the sales window closed. Example 2: Sell First, Hope They Stay Then there was Ashley, who held a webinar to promote her custom sales page software. From the first five minutes, it was clear the goal wasn’t to teach—it was to sell. She framed everything as “only possible with our proprietary system.” Instead of offering insights or techniques for improving sales pages, the entire event was an extended infomercial. Participants didn’t walk away with tips or strategies—they left with a pitch. Worse, the attendees were asked to “design their dream page” using mock-ups—but could only create fake versions unless they bought her software. No free templates. No tools. No shared community. Just a vague call to action: show off what you built… or could build if you paid. The lack of value meant there was no momentum, no conversations, and no community. Attendees didn’t connect with Ashley—or each other—because they weren’t given anything to connect around. What We Learn from These Two Designs Tanya and Ashley both had something to sell, but only one built a following. Community-led growth isn’t about avoiding the sale. It’s about earning it. When you give people real value first—before asking for a commitment—you build trust. And when you create a space for people to share, learn, and collaborate, you build something even more powerful: belonging. In a world saturated with content and competition, that’s the difference between being scrolled past and being remembered. How Small Businesses Can Embrace Community-Led Growth You don’t have to be a mega content producer to be like Tanya. Tanya and Ashley had the same resources at their disposal. Tanya saw sales as a final destination after a courtship and period of getting to know one another. She was confident that once they knew her and what she offered, they’d continue on with her paid program. Ashley, on the other hand, came at sales hard from the beginning and expected everyone would be so wowed by the tech that they’d hand over their credit card. To be more like Tanya and less like Ashley, you need to: · Teach before you pitch : Share something useful and actionable for free. Make your audience feel smarter, better, or more equipped just by showing up. · Create a space to connect : Whether it's a Facebook group, Discord server, private community, or Slack channel, invite attendees to join a space where they can talk, share, and celebrate wins. You’ll get the best results if your community is somewhere people are already connecting so it’s an extension of their online habit and not one they have to remember to log into and visit. · Provide tools to succeed : Templates, checklists, worksheets—something they can use right away goes a long way in building goodwill. People will feel like you’re interested in them and their success, not their wallet. · Make the sale a next step—not the first step : Let your offer feel like the natural progression of the learning journey, not the destination. Community-led growth isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of small business marketing. Those who lead with value and create spaces for connection will be the ones people follow, buy from, and tell their friends about. -------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Have you ever wondered how you can compete with large companies like Amazon (or Walmart)? Well, the more important question may be more not be how but why. Mega retailers, like the two mentioned, aren’t looking to only sell their own products. They have launched large programs encouraging small businesses to use their distribution platform. So, do you really need to compete when you can harness their traffic to sell your goods on their sites? How Do I Sell on Amazon? According to Amazon, over 60% of its product sales now come from independent sellers, the majority of which are small businesses just like yours. These sellers have generated more than $2.5 trillion in sales over the past 25 years and now support over 2 million jobs in the U.S. alone. That’s not a side hustle—that’s a serious economic force. If you’re looking for a way to grow your reach, attract new customers, and build passive revenue, selling on Amazon might be your next smart move. Here's what you need to know if you’re considering it: 1. Pick a Selling Plan That Fits Your Goals Amazon offers two selling plans: Individual Plan – Great for new sellers or those testing a few products. You pay $0.99 per item sold, with no monthly fee. It’s a good low-risk starting point. Professional Plan – Costs $39.99/month regardless of volume. You unlock powerful tools, eligibility for the Featured Offer (formerly Buy Box), and better exposure. If you plan to sell over 40 items/month or want to scale, this is the plan to choose. Pro Tip: Amazon doesn’t advertise the Individual Plan as clearly—it’s usually hidden at the bottom of the signup page. 2. Understand the Fees (So You Don’t Get Surprised) Selling on Amazon isn’t free, and it’s important to plan ahead. Key fees include: · Referral Fees – Amazon takes a cut of each sale, usually between 8–15%, depending on the category. · Fulfillment Fees – If you use Amazon’s fulfillment service (FBA), you pay for storage, shipping, returns, and more. These vary based on size, weight, and season. · Inventory Storage Fees – Charged monthly and can spike during the holidays. · Other Potential Costs – These include ads, removal fees, long-term storage, refund administration fees, and high-volume listing fees. Use Amazon’s revenue calculator before listing to understand your costs and profit potential. 3. Choose How to Fulfill Orders Amazon offers two fulfillment options: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) – You ship products to Amazon, and they handle everything from storage to returns. Bonus: Your products become Prime-eligible, which can dramatically boost sales. Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) – You pack and ship orders yourself. You keep more control but also take on more responsibility. Most sellers opt for FBA for its convenience and exposure, but FBM can be a good choice for custom, perishable, or local products. 4. Create Listings That Get Noticed Your product listings are your virtual storefront. To maximize sales: · Use high-quality images (1000x1000 pixels recommended) · Write clear, keyword-rich titles (up to 200 characters) · Add bullet points that highlight product features and benefits · Include a compelling description Don’t skip keyword research. Knowing what your customers are searching for can make or break your visibility. There are affordable tools available to help you with this. And if you own your brand, register it with Amazon Brand Registry. It gives you added protection and access to advanced features like A+ Content and analytics. 5. Price for Success Amazon shoppers love a deal—but that doesn’t mean you have to race to the bottom by trying to be the lowest one out there. Instead: · Monitor competitor pricing (inside and outside of Amazon) · Use Amazon’s Automate Pricing tool to stay competitive · Understand the Featured Offer (Buy Box) – Winning this spot can dramatically increase your visibility and sales Being competitive doesn’t always mean being the cheapest. Customer service, shipping speed, and seller ratings also play a role. 6. Advertise to Drive Sales While Amazon brings the traffic, you still need to get your product in front of the right eyes. While the eyes are many on this site, so are the products. Most people will only scroll through so many pages of listings. To stand out, consider using: · Coupons and discounts to grab attention · Sponsored ads (pay-per-click) – Sellers say 30% of their sales come from Amazon Ads Start small, track results, and adjust your campaigns to improve performance over time. This is not a “set it and forget it” undertaking. 7. Track Performance and Scale Strategically Amazon provides a robust Seller Central dashboard where you can monitor: · Order defect rate · Shipping performance · Customer feedback · Inventory levels Keep an eye on your Account Health metrics—Amazon holds sellers to high standards, and consistently poor performance can lead to penalties. Also consider programs like: · Amazon Vine – Helps generate early reviews · Multi-Channel Fulfillment – Fulfill orders from your website using Amazon’s logistics · Global Selling – Reach international customers · Amazon Business – Sell in bulk to other businesses Is Selling on Amazon Right for You? Selling on Amazon offers enormous opportunity—but it’s not a perfect fit for every business. There’s a lot that goes into being successful on this platform. It’s great for consumer products, scalable inventory, and businesses ready to play in a high-traffic marketplace. You might want to think again and consider your options if you sell low-margin items or highly niche goods. If you’re a business seeking full brand control, it might be a painful stretch for you. Only you can answer that. Still, many businesses find Amazon to be a valuable addition to their overall sales strategy—not a replacement for their own website or in-store sales. Amazon is not just for mega-brands. It's a proven sales channel that can help your small business get discovered, grow, and thrive. With the right plan and preparation, it could be your gateway to new customers and lasting success. Additional Resource: Did you know your Chamber Listing can be converted to sell products and services? Click Here for more information ! Not a Member? Join Today ! Or visit our " Get Listed " page for a new option available to Leavenworth County businesses. --------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

You’ve probably heard a lot about how AI is changing everything, especially how people search for local businesses. Tools like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot are being used every day to answer questions like, “Who’s the best roofer in town?” or “Where can I find a local accountant I can trust?” And guess where these tools look for answers? Trusted, local sources, like your chamber of commerce. That means your chamber listing isn’t just about visibility anymore. It’s also about credibility. When your business is featured on the chamber’s website, you’re getting more than a backlink with hundreds of dollars. You’re being associated with a respected, established source of local business information. That sends a powerful signal, not just to Google, but to the AI tools that are shaping how people find and choose who to do business with. This kind of trust is hard to build on your own. The chamber helps you shortcut that by putting your business in a position of authority. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your online reputation and as AI continues to grow, that value will only increase. If you’re already a member, make sure your profile is current and complete. If you’re not yet a member, this is one more reason to join . The future of search is changing fast. Being part of the chamber means you don’t have to keep up with every trend because we’re already doing that for you. Additional Information: Are you a new business? Already budgeted your expenses for the year? We've created a new opportunity to be included in our online directory. Visit our Get Listed page to learn more!