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Breanna Adelman is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and the founder of Firefly Speech & Language Therapy located in Alexandria. Breanna works with young children through middle-school age on a variety of things from speech sound disorders, to language, and fluency services. She uses a child-led play-based therapy to set the foundation for learning effective communication skills that will serve through adulthood. Learn more at FireflySpeechLanguage.com.
By Tara Bitzan, Executive Director, Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce It’s important for communities to attract new residents to fill job openings, pay taxes, populate schools, spend money in the local economy, bring in fresh ideas and new energy, and more.
That’s why the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is regularly working on programming, services, and collaborations with other community entities to attract new residents – specifically, new workforce. However, the workforce shortage has impacted communities across the country so the competition in this arena is fierce. Therefore, we’ve shifted some of our efforts to retention. Businesses have long understood the financial impact of employee turnover. It can cost from one-half to two times a worker’s annual wages to replace them once you factor in expenses like hiring costs (advertising, sign-on bonuses, relocation packages), lost productivity during the time the position is open, expenses related to hiring temporary workers or paying overtime to existing workers, and the training and onboarding costs for a new employee. Communities are now understanding the impact of people moving in and out of a community as well. It isn’t just a business problem. The pandemic played a significant role in what we are facing today. Remote workplace opportunities allow people to easily move anywhere. Sometimes this allows them to move to a community where they have friends or family members. But in other situations, remote work may cause barriers to social interaction and making connections. Social isolation, which was previously most often associated with the elderly, is now an issue experienced by an increasing number of people of all ages and backgrounds. Because of all this, communities are making greater efforts to focus on being more welcoming and inclusive, and finding ways to combat isolation and get people involved and connected. Community connections create an important sense of belonging. We are fortunate to have no shortage of events and activities in our community. We also have a lot of incredible service and volunteer organizations for people to get involved in where connections can be made. There are also specific programs that were established simply to create opportunities for connections. Following are just a few the Chamber is involved with: Wake Up Alexandria is the Chamber’s most popular “connection” event. It is held the first and third Friday of every month from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at a different host business location. Everyone is welcome to attend. A $1 donation is requested at the door, which is given to a local nonprofit being recognized that day. The event includes a light breakfast and is a great way to learn about what is happening locally while meeting and connecting with a variety of people. For information, visit AlexandriaMN.org/WakeUpAlexandria or call (320) 763-3161. The Alexandria Area Young Professionals (AAYP) organization is a great way for individuals younger than age 40 to connect with others in their age demographic through networking, informative meetings, and social events. Membership is only $35 per year, plus the cost of the monthly lunch. Additional efforts were recently added to promote connection with students at Alexandria College; they can get a complimentary membership to the organization with their lunch fee covered by local business sponsorships. For more information, visit ypalex.org or call (320) 763-3161. Hello Neighbor is a new initiative created with the purpose of helping people working in the Alexandria/Douglas County area integrate into the community. This program was created to help people make connections and find opportunities through a variety of monthly social events. Events are held the second Tuesday of every month. For more information, visit HelloNeighborMN.org or call (320) 763-3161. If you know someone who is new to the community, or even someone who isn’t new but seems isolated, there’s something you can do: Help them connect! Invite them to the above programs and events, invite them to join you at a meeting of your service organization or at a local volunteer opportunity, or ask them what their interests are and help them connect to opportunities that align with those interests. If you aren’t sure how to do that, have them call the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at 320-763-3161, or call us on their behalf. We are here to help make those connections! Our Visitor and Resource Center at 206 Broadway St. in Alexandria has a variety of information that can also help them connect and engage. There is a place for everyone in this community! We’ll help you find it. CJ Nagel is the general manager for Diamond Waves and Wags in Alexandria. The business features many car wash packages or pay by the wash along with self serve vacuums. Also on site are two self-serve dog wash centers complete with shampoo, anti-flea/tick shampoo, conditioner, dryer, disinfectant, and more. New to the business is a 24-hour self serve ice machine that sells 10 and 20 pound bags, along with 20 pound direct-to-cooler, and one, three, and five gallon purified water. Learn more at DiamondWavesAndWags.com.
By Christina Metcalf, Writer/Ghostwriter Social media is a Hulk-size time suck, but it is also one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience. That’s also why it’s so dicey to freelance that kind of thing out. But there are a lot of really talented folks out there who can help you expand your reach and connect. You just have to find the right ones. And since everyone thinks they can post to social, there are a lot of ineffective people posing as social media superheroes. Here’s how you can separate the talent from the try-hards:
Ways to Tell a Social Media Trixter from a SuperheroIt’s tempting to hand your social media over to an intern or the nearest teenager in your life. After all, they’re on the platforms all the time. But they’re connecting in a social way, amassing followers and likes and not concentrating on conversions. You need someone who understands how to nurture a relationship to end in a sale. That’s not to say a teen can’t do that. But you need to have a conversation with them to make sure you are on the same page about your ultimate goals behind social media. Additionally, you’ll want to talk about the following things: ● Stats and KPIs. If you’re working with someone to help you reach more people and increase your sales, you’ll want to know they have a track record of doing so already. If you’re their first client, make sure they can show you how they will gather the analytics and tell what’s working and what isn’t. Identify KPIs. If they tell you “Let’s try this and see.” That’s not enough. How will you “see”? If they guarantee 100 new followers before the end of the month, ensure you know what kind of followers they are. Speaking of… ● Know the target. Make sure your social media person understands audiences and the value of a like as it equates to your business goals. My TikTok is beginning to finally amass some likes. But guess what? They’re all from my teenage sons’ friends who enjoy making fun of my videos. They may “like” my stuff, but they will never buy from me. These are bogus numbers from a business perspective. Make sure your guru understands who you’re trying to target. ● Understand the offerings. Social media is not a science. What works for your ideal audience may not work for others. That’s why social media packages vary as much as restaurant food prices. Some people do retainers, some monthly and some hourly fees. Know what you’re paying for. After you’ve narrowed down your list of social media people who seem capable, dig deeper into understanding how you would work together. Ask them to draw up a proposal or editorial calendar. Pay them for their time. Examine their ideas on how they plan to reach a larger audience. You’re looking for creativity here as well as things you may have already tried that didn’t work. No reason to work with someone who’s doing exactly what you’ve already done. If They’re Going to Be You, They Must Know YouFinally, communication is key when looking for someone who will be representing you on social media. While a good social media person should ask you the following things about your business, if they don’t, make sure you communicate these important details.
The hardest part of handing your social media over to someone else is making sure their efforts fit your goals and remain authentically “you.” Don’t expect that putting someone else in charge means that they will take it off your hands in a “set it and forget it” kind of way. You want to remain a part of the social side of your business. After all, the success in that area is about building relationships and you don’t want to pay someone to do that for you. They can assist with the day-to-day posting, but the relationship should remain yours. Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and talks to her dog like she can understand every word. _______________________________________ Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Medium: @christinametcalf LinkedIn: @christinagsmith |
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