Itasca Area Blandin Broadband Community (IABBC)

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The Itasca Area

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Integrated strategies to improve the use of Broadband

Expanding the USE of broadband technology for Itasca County business

Social Media Breakfasts(Discover Social Media)

I.T. Professionals Network

(connecting I.T. resources)

Community Portal (Community engagement)

Business Technology Assessments & Loan Program (transform your web presence)

Social Media training (improve knowledge

and use)

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• Traveled to 122 small businesses in the surrounding towns

• Visited businesses in Bovey (3), Bigfork (8), Cohasset (4), Coleraine (9), Deer River (11), Grand Rapids (67), Hill City (3), Marcell (3), Nashwauk (5), Pengilly (1), and Remer (8) across Itasca County

• Highly effective strategy to cross-market all Itasca Area Broadband programs

Student Intern Business Outreach

Social Media Breakfasts(SMB: Last Tuesday of every month)

• Local and non-local speakers

• Interactive and engaging

• Attendance ranging from 20-45 per meeting, even when it’s 30 below!

Technology Assessments

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Business Technology AssessmentsWhat businesses are saying…

“We have a more organized approach to improve our online and social media marketing.”

“Fabulous input – very helpful. They understand the small business challenges of implementing effective Social Media advertising.”

“Nice to have hands-on help for social media “crisis management.” If we have a glitch, it’s nice to know you’re there.”

“Through this process, I was encouraged to think about my logo and how it might be limiting my growth.”

“Nice to have an objective look at our strategies and tools. It’s hard to evaluate something effectively when you look at it every day.”

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I.T. Professionals Network

• Representatives from businesses and organizations– Itasca County– City of Grand Rapids– Magnetation– ICC– Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital– MNSTAR– Blandin Foundation– Essar Steel– Lake Country Power– Bigfork Valley Hospital– MCIS– And more …

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Community Portal

• Stronger Marketing Collaborative for Itasca Communities• Create NEW Digital Marketing Strategies• Brand Marketing…”It’s in Minnesota’s nature”

www.minnesotasnature.com

• 100+ Total

Attendees

• Attendees ranged

from small

businesses to

bigger companies

across a variety of

industries

Social Media/Online Marketing TrainingGoal: To bring a deeper level of Social Media

education and hands on training to Itasca Area businesses.

Social Media Training

We offered 12 classes including:

• Facebook Basics for Business

• Marketing with Twitter

• Understanding Google Analytics

• Advanced Facebook

• Social Media Strategy

• Blogging for Business

• Making Money Online

Provided eBook, video and worksheet resources

Lessons Learned

To move forward effectively, strategy is key Grassroots leadership enables sustainability Program alignment is vital Face to face contact is best Always meet people where they’re at Timing can be everything