Reimagine Main Street supports local business owners
Submitted
Small business owners know all too well the demands a business requires.
From ordering supplies to maintaining payroll, the job of an entrepreneur is multi-faceted and often, the thought of advertising or maintaining a website and social media account is overwhelming.
In 2013, the Observer-Reporter recognized a need in the community among small and regional businesses, and they decided to do something about it.
“Reimagine Main Street (RMS) was established to help fill in those gaps, to serve as an educational partner for the community and work alongside multi-media advertising representatives,” said Natalie Gloady, digital strategy manager.
What the support looks like is entirely up to the client.
Though sales representatives can offer comprehensive packages for branding and visibility in the community, it isn’t required to utilize RMS services.
“We also work with business owners who say, ‘I don’t have a website, or I need a logo designed.’ We’re working with clients who are just getting started, to those that are established and want to take the next step,” Gloady said.
A client may work with RMS to create a simple, one-page website or they might ask to create and maintain their entire website, social media and digital advertising needs.
Gloady said the things she most commonly hears are, “I know this is important but I don’t know where to start” or “There are dozens of platforms, and I know I need a website but I don’t have the time to do it.”
Business owners are correct. Promoting a business on social media, targeting audiences and having a user-friendly website can make a world of difference.
For this reason, RMS also offers seminars throughout the year, often partnering with chambers in the area.
They’ve shared information about getting the most out of social media, websites, advertising platforms like Canva and other resources for business owners. They are currently developing classes about other popular platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok.
They’ve also worked diligently to keep pricing affordable for all businesses.
“We’re very mindful of our pricing. We’ve increased very little over the past 11 years because we want to keep our pricing attainable and doable for all business sizes,” Gloady said.
The team enjoys watching the business owners thrive and succeed through the many different avenues offered through RMS.
“When you’re able to see that growth and track the increased foot traffic from an ad or read positive comments about a new website we’ve launched, that’s the rewarding part for us,” Gloady said.
Representatives sit down with the client each month or toward the end of an advertising cycle to go over what’s been done and what still needs to be done.
“It’s a completely transparent report that breaks down the increases and what’s been successful. It’s exciting when the client looks at you and you can tell, they’ve got it, this is working for them and they understand where their advertising dollars are going,” Gloady said.
Visit http://reimaginemainstreet.com/ for more information or follow their Facebook page for upcoming events.