This document discusses 7 lessons that can be learned from rural entrepreneurs and applied to online businesses. The lessons are: 1) Plan for zero and have backup plans, 2) Spend time developing your business idea before spending money, 3) Generate multiple sources of income, 4) Be able to work remotely at any time, 5) Treat customers like part of the community, 6) Be proud of having a small business, and 7) Focus on local customers and communities. The document provides examples for each lesson and argues that adopting practices from small town businesses can help online businesses succeed.

1. Online is Like a Small Town Lessons from Rural Entrepreneurs Becky McCray

2. tweet it out

3. Barry Moltz Becky McCray

8. For small towns, this is not news

9. Rain follows the plow The soil can never be exhausted Anyone can make money in a boom New technology always makes things better

10. Lessons learned

11. Why you care

13. Economic change example

14. Lesson 1: Plan for Zero

15. Examples

16. Lesson 2: Spend Brainpower Before Dollars

17. Long-term perspective example

18. Lesson 3: Multiply Your Lines of Income

19. Examples of Multiple Lines of Income

21. As significant a change as rural electric

22. Lesson 4: Work Anywhere, Anywhen

23. Anywhere, Anywhen Examples

24. Lesson 5: Treat Customers like Community

25. Customer Service Examples

28. Lesson 6: Be Proud of Being Small

29. Small Example

30. Lesson 7: Be Local

31. Local Examples

32. 7 Lessons from #STSW

33. @BeckyMcCray www.tourismcurrents.com/revitalizewa Questions?

34. How to act like a small town business If you want to succeed.

35. How to act like a small town business If you want to succeed.

36. How to act like a small town business If you want to succeed.

37. Photo Credits Various: 6: Bull Market: (CC) James & Vilija,Flickr 8: President Obama: (PD) White House 10: Dust Bowl: (PD) Dorthea Lange, Resettlement Administration 13: Foreclosure: (CC) TaberAndrew, Flickr 14: Cornelia: (CC) JimmyWayne, Flickr 20: Multiple crops: (PD) USDA-NRCS 21: Workshifting: (CC) Citrix Online 22: REA Posters: (PD) Rural Electrification Administration Becky McCray: 3: Chicago and Hopeton 9: Alva, Oklahoma 11: Wheat field 16: Harvest 27: Buy Fresh 28: Local Proud 34: Watermelon Feed 35: Boy on Rooftop 36: Parade

38. @BeckyMcCray www.tourismcurrents.com/revitalizewa