The October Downtown Rogers Merchant Meet-Up brought together Downtown Rogers businesses at Honeycomb Kitchen Shop with refreshments provided by Butter & Bloom. DTR small business owners and staff gathered to learn about the significance of establishing a robust online presence. The event was organized by the Rogers Lowell Chamber, with Brittnie Simon, founder and owner of Collab Design Co., as the guest speaker.
Simon shared why it's essential for small businesses to build and maintain a strong online presence. She emphasized how being visible online helps small businesses reach a broader audience, build credibility, compete with larger businesses, and directly engage with customers. Most customers search online to find local businesses, making it essential to be easily discoverable and to present a professional image that builds trust and engagement. Simon covered best practices for creating a professional website, using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to be found easily, and leveraging social media to connect with customers.
Key steps include:
- Building a Strong Website: A website is your digital storefront, and its design, functionality, and mobile optimization greatly impact credibility and user experience.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing website content and using tools like Google My Business helps businesses rank higher in search results and attract more customers.
- Effective Use of Social Media: Consistent posting, engagement, and use of video content and keywords help businesses connect with their audience and boost visibility.
- Building Relationships: Fostering trust through customer reviews, interactive content, and community engagement builds long-term loyalty.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Regular updates and analytics tracking ensure businesses remain active, relevant, and responsive online.
Overall, the program emphasized that an active, well-maintained online presence is key to growing and sustaining small businesses in today's digital landscape.
In addition to the presentation, participants were updated on several upcoming fall events in Downtown Rogers:
- Goblin Candy Crawl: October 31, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- November Art on the Bricks Art Walk: November 14, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm, featuring the theme "There’s No Place Like Gnome."
- Shop Small Saturday: November 30
- Shop Small BINGO: November 30 – December 11
- Rogers Christmas Parade: December 6, 6:30 pm
- Rogers Christmas Village: December 6, 5 pm – 8 pm, and December 7, 9 am – 3 pm
- Sips on the Bricks Holiday Edition: December 7, 4 pm – 7:30 pm
For more information about future Downtown Rogers (DTR) Merchant Meet-Ups, small business owners were encouraged to contact Karen Wagaman, VP of Downtown Development, at [email protected]. These meet-ups are part of the Chamber's ongoing efforts to support small businesses and foster entrepreneurship in Downtown Rogers.
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