Great Ideas

Thursday, January 1, 2009
Great Ideas! How about social media? What is social media/social networking? Watch this and then read the story below!



DANVILLE - The Danville Register and Bee's editorial this week called for "Great Ideas,' but the newspaper is ignoring one of the best ideas to happen in Danville in a long time - "Danville Business."

Danville Business, a social media site for local businesses and individuals, is a free website with information, news, blogs and groups for anyone who wants to join. Small businesses often need support, help and information when they start-up and Danville Business is just the place for them to get that help and information FREE.

If you are a small business owner you can meet and talk with other small business owners about things like how to grow your business, how to advertise and how to start your own social media group to increase customer traffic.

Started by The Longwood Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the site has more than 60 members, with more joining every day.

Businesses may advertise and post free on their site, everyone has free email and a free blog where they can post ads, hours, menus and other information about their business. It's not a place for "hard selling" and in fact, that is discouraged. True sales take place through connecting with others. Watch the video below and see what social media is all about. Then consider joining Danville Business. Just call or email Diane Arnold or Dave Slayton at the SBDC:

Longwood SBDC
300 Ringgold Industrial Parkway
Danville, VA 24540

Telephone: 434.791.7321
Fax: 434.791.7341

Diane Arnold
Director
arnoldjd@longwood.edu

David Slayton
Program Coordinator & Business Counselor
slaytonjd@longwood.edu

Reasons why The Danville Register & Bee won't write about it? Because I set it up and play a part in making sure that small business don't waste their advertising dollars, that they understand the landscape of small business, even big business is changing and that social networking, not large expensive, worthless newspaper ads are the way things are going. Don't believe it? Then look around and ask yourself why so many newspapers are failing. The OLD way of marketing, selling and reaching customers is dying. The new wave is social networking and social media.

And if YOU and YOUR business want to learn HOW to do it effectively - FREE, without being charged an arm and a leg - then join Danville Business. No, you do not have to be from or in Danville to join. But is is invitation only. We promote NO hard sell and the kind of environment described in the video - one of people getting to know people. So check us out. You have nothing to lose...but don't expect to read about it in The Danville Register & Bee.

Remember, their idea of social interaction was filming......yeah..yeah...you know. Read the rest of this blog if you don't. They will NEVER apologize and will continue to insist nothing is wrong with hostile work places... so, our prayers go out to them.