• Survey
  • Book Becky to speak
  • The book: Small Town Rules
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

Small Biz Survival: Small town advantages

By Becky McCray

Running a small business is tough enough. But if you’re running a small business in a small town, there’s a secret you need to know… it’s more fun than being in the big city!

You don’t believe me? Well here’s the top 5 small town advantages …
1. You don’t need GPS Navigation
2. Out network is smaller, but we care about you and your business
3. No “rush hour” – only “rush moment”
4. Random encounters are good for business
5. People are helpful

If you recognized your small town in that list, then join us for more articles, tools, resources and more fun at Small Biz Survival, The Small Town, Small Business Resource

Cast: Becky McCray, Laurie Reyes, Jeanne Cole, Glenna Mae Hendricks, Jodell Durkee.
Music by Frenz, from Pod Safe Audio.

Feedback?

We can refine this now through May 2, 2008, so I would love your feedback! All I ask is you find something positive to say, along with suggestions, ideas, and criticisms. :)

UPDATE May 2008: Thanks for all your feedback! The contest is closed, and we got lots of positive comments. We didn’t win the prize, but we certainly had fun! Thanks for your support!

UPDATE May 2010: Utterz aka Utterli is no more. I’ve replaced the video with a copy posted at Blip.tv.

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Downtown is your town’s core: How to make your case - February 22, 2021
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020

April 18, 2008 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, rural Tagged With: video

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Comments

  1. communicatrix says

    April 18, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Oh my god, you guys are so CUTE!!!!

    Sorry, that might not be the most helpful, but…YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE!!!

    I don’t even want to make a commercial. I just want yours to win.

    Overall, it’s sweet and fun and I think the style fits the message–homey and small-town-y–so you don’t *need* to change a thing. If things are a little slow in the ol’ small town and you want to play…

    1. Re-tape Becky’s part and change the line to “Running a small business is tough anywhere. But if you’re…(etc.) (Parallel construction is your friend!)

    2. You may want to fiddle with cutting to title card that says “Top 5 reasons”. Not necessary, you’re understandable, just for variety and emphasis.

    3. You may also want to play with sound. An old-timey needle scratch stopping the music when you lean in an say “It’s more fun.” Or change to some fun, upbeat music over the rest of the spot, for a real contrast. Maybe even go nuts with hiphop or something way out there. (In comedy, opposites are your friend.)

    4. I kind of love that your friend says “People are helpful” and then just picks up the bag, even though there’s no one there. But someone who was dotting “i”s and crossing “t”s might say “have a ‘customer’ read the line, and the helper read the other line.” (Like I said, I like it the way it is–just pointing that out.)

    Becky, this is such a great commercial! I really would say, just go with it as-is. But you asked, and you can’t ask a former copywriter and not get *some* comments. I’d feel like I wasn’t holding up my end.

  2. Becky McCray says

    April 18, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Colleen, thank you so much! I appreciate every single kind word. And I will consider each idea. I’m so glad you took time to make such detailed suggestions.

    See you at SOBCon! AND you better get your own commercial! I’m dying to see what you could do!!!

  3. Corinne Edwards says

    April 11, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    Dear Becky –

    Liked some of Colleen’ suggestion.

    But as a former TV person, I look at the video not the copy.

    Loved the commercial. It was so real.

    My suggestion would be to open with a shot of the town sign.

    Like “Welcome to __________”

    And if you should be so lucky – maybe a “You are leaving _______________?

    Corinne Edwards

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Shop Local

Buy local buttonReady to set up a shop local campaign in your small town? You'll need a guide who understands how we're different and what really works: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns.

Best of Small Biz Survival

What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2021 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in