How is Smaller Indiana helping to grow YOUR business?

[Pat Coyle]

We've been asked a lot lately about whether Smaller Indiana is having any measureable impact the local economy. But have you felt any measureable impact?

From the anecdotes we've heard, and despite our rules against "blatant self promotion" it would appear the anwser is yes for many Smoosiers, but we would love to hear your stories.

Do you have any way to measure economic value / impact Smaller Indiana is having on your business, or non-profit endeavor? Have you earned new business? Signed new clients? Gained valuable exposure?

Please share your stories here, or send them to Pat Coyle via the Smaller Indiana message system if you'd prefer to share your info privately.

[Chris Baggott]

Well I gave some business to Nicki L who I built a 'relationship' with through SI. Never would have met an online marketing expert from Camby without SI! :-)

[Nicki Laycoax]

Thanks Chris!! That is true. I probably wouldn't have met Chris if it hadn't been through SI.

[Kyle Lacy]

In light of James comment I thought I would add in the $$ factor to what SI has brought to my business.

Even though, as a young business owner exposure and networking is extremely valuable to me. I have been referred three clients which have turned into website design projects.

Four branding projects have been a result of my use and networking through out Smaller Indiana.

Also, I have a blogging class coming up on Wednesday and because of promotion on Smaller Indiana we have 11 people registered for the class at $75.00 a head.

The exposure for my brand has built my credibility as a social media consultant. This has been a major influence in selling social media marketing plans, as well as, consulting fees for social media platforms.

I think that is sufficient. :-)

[Kyle Lacy]

Since Scott has Numbers:

Smaller Indiana has brought a total of $17,000 into my business. Rounded down, of course. :-)

[Scott Abel]

I've met new clients and developed new business relationships that have led to tens of thousands of dollars in sales for both my company and for some of my clients. So, my investment in time on Smaller Indiana (which was an experiment for me) has paid off financially. Also, I have sold tickets to events (at $1299 a ticket) and those attendees who paid me found about about the event from Smaller Indiana, so there's another demonstration of Smaller Indiana driving revenue.

However, it should be noted that Smaller Indiana DID NOT do anything itself. It does provide us each with the ability to discover one another, but that's where it ends. Each of our individual contributions -- including what we publish, the voice we use, the connections we make, the groups/discussions we start or join, and our sales approach -- contribute to the actual closing of the deal. So, in that regard, Smaller Indiana is a facilitating technology that helps people like me use my time and talents to develop new relationships that can lead to revenue.

[Kyle Lacy]

Amen Scott

[Pat Coyle]

Yep. SI is a platform. People do the rest. The medium is the message, or someting like that.

[Jonathan Arnold]

As any business owner knows, good talent is hard to find and great talent is even more elusive. Our most recent hire is one such great individual who found our job posting here on SI.

Sure, I have a couple “deals in the works” that I can trace back to a friendship forged or nurtured through SI, but right now, by biggest need is great people and here is where they’re found.

[Eric Stallsmith]

When the Telephone was invented local business operated more efficiently. By how much? When the fax machine was adopted local business was helped. By how much? Then came the voice mail, the Internet, the cell phone....all of these things help local business make money by helping them do what they do.

It is hard to put $$$ value on these things, but anytime you can network with people and learn stuff easier then that is positive for business.

Making ideas and people findable for Indiana people is a good thing.

Smaller Indiana is not optimized for directly making businesses money, it is optimized for making ideas and people findable. So I do not think that the proper metric of worth of this site is how much money local businesses are able to make from the site.

I think we are seeing a hint of the future. We are lucky to have this site in Indiana..

[Nicki Laycoax]

I have to say, Smaller Indiana has been the most influential part of my social media journey. It gave me a sense of confidence that I was seeking as a new marketer, as well as provided a venue to meet tons of people that I wouldn't have met otherwise. I heard a quote recently that goes something like this, "Social media accelerates serendipity"... I think that Smaller Indiana is definitely that for all Smoosiers. It gives us the opportunity to learn about one another on not just a business level, but more importantly, on a certain personal level.

I met with Bob Chenoweth through SI, and he got a deal with a local insurance rep through my recommendation even though he's been his insurance agent for years!

During the course of planning my Community Days, Jon Speer and I were able to get prize donations from Smoosiers, which helped out tremendously!

As Chris B was saying, I was able to provide a service for him, and that was a direct result of our online relationship.

I met Lorraine Ball, and strengthened my relationship with her via SI, and she has been a tremendous resource for me when I've had industry questions. No direct business, but advice that I may not have gotten had it not been for knowing her.

Erik Deckers has referred business to me.

John Lerchen contacted me after my Pink Hardhat blog that I posted on SI, that came up in search engine results when he was seeing how his company was doing in search... I told him how great SI was, he joined, we met, and I told him how beneficial online and email marketing would be for his business, and granted it was not business for me, I was able to help another Smoosier out with business advice! He is writing email newsletters today!

I gained a friendship with Nicole Nonte, that I probably wouldn't have found. She invited me to a NOWIB meeting, and I formed relationships with some of the ladies there, as well as the speaker and her sister, which I am still talking with about starting a chapter for AFC (Ambassadors For Children) here in Mooresville.

Overall, Smaller Indiana has opened my mind up to what is possible on the web. I never would have thought that I'd learn so much in such a short amount of time! It's amazing what "being around" other intelligent people can do for you!

The biggest value for me is knowing that I have a network that I can ask a question to and most likely get a response within an hour. Everyone on SI has so much to offer!!

Thanks guys!

[Jon D. Speer]

You forgot that we met through SI. :(
j

[Nicki Laycoax]

You are correct! We did meet through Matt Theobald, who I met through SI... :)