KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Promoting Rural Tourism News Release

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 19, 2011) - Tourism is the life blood of many rural Arkansas businesses and communities, and small businesses and towns should embrace the Internet's potential for connecting with people who are looking for exactly what rural areas have to offer, says an authority on rural tourism.

At the workshop "Promoting Rural Tourism: Making the Internet Work for Your Business and Your Town" Saturday at UALR, rural tourism expert Joanne Steele of Dunsmuir, Calif., will show participants how regular small-town business practices such as knowing your customers and serving their needs are exactly the principles that are used to create an effective Internet marketing strategy.

"Internet marketing is a perfect medium for rural towns and small businesses," noted Steele. "A powerful Internet presence can be created for little or no money. It can drive customers right to the door of small-town businesses. The Internet is the single most important tool available to revitalize our rural communities, and the skills for its use are easy to learn."

As owner and operator of Rural Tourism Marketing Group, Steele has worked for more than 15 years to help rural communities become tourist destinations. She writes the acclaimed blog, RuralTourismMarketing.com.

At the invitation of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, Steele is spending two weeks in Arkansas presenting workshops around the state. She has already been to Van Buren and Eureka Springs. Remaining workshop schedule:

• April 20-21 - Mountain Home, Liberty Bank, 1-4 p.m.
• April 23 - Little Rock, UALR Reynolds Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• April 25-26 - Hot Springs, Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, 6-9 p.m.
•  April 27-28 - Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Science Center, 1-4 p.m.
• April 30 - Dumas, Dumas Community Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is sponsoring the training, which is funded through a grant award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

"The Internet has given small towns and rural businesses a chance they have never been able to afford to compete with the biggest corporations and most popular tourism destinations," said Steele. "With the advent of Internet marketing and social media, anyone can speak directly to people who are online looking for exactly what these towns and businesses have to offer. But the Internet requires a little knowledge and grit to conquer and get comfortable with. That's my job."

 

Her 6-hour presentation will show how all the pieces of an online strategy - including a business website, social media, e-mail marketing, review sites and directories - work together. Participants will use this new knowledge to create a personalized Internet marketing strategy that fits their business, their time constraints and their skill level. While Steele will teach strategies for using the Internet, participants will not use computers during the training.

 

Registration fee for the workshop is $30 per person. Advance registration is required and available by phone or email. Contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center's Shannon Roberts at (501) 683-7700 or toll-free (800) 862-2040, or e-mail her at sxroberts@ualr.edu.  

About ASBTDC

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center program, a partnership of the SBA and the UALR College of Business, serves new and existing small businesses through a statewide network of seven offices. In addition to the lead office at UALR, other centers are located at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro; Arkansas Tech University, Russellville; Henderson State University, Arkadelphia; Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; and University of Arkansas at Monticello. 

 

ASBTDC, the state's premier business assistance provider, offers free consulting and market research services plus affordable training to the business community. Learn more at http://asbtdc.ualr.edu.