Korumburra embraces the net

MORE than 65 business people from the Korumburra attended the Korumburra Business Association’s second community connect event at the Korumburra Railway Station recently.
The topic for the night was technology – the new shop front.
The first half of the program provided a snapshot of three local businesses embracing the use of technology and social media.
Lynda Western from Glentress Farm Retreat in Kardella said modern technology presents a lot of opportunities for small businesses.
“Technology gives us an opportunity to showcase what we have on offer through other avenues,” she said.
Ms Western said she was passionate about technology and because she lives on a farm and people do not walk past her physical shop front, it was an important marketing tool.
“Any time we hashtag anything about Korumburra, it puts us on the map. Technology gives us an opportunity to build on not just our own businesses, but the whole town,” she said.
Korumburra’s Simone Short from Short and Sweet Media said using social media and in particular Facebook, could be beneficial for small businesses.
“It is less like advertising and more like word of mouth on a larger scale,” she said.
Ms Short said the proper management of a business Facebook page was essential.
“It does pay to have a marketing strategy. Businesses should post meaningful, engaging content regularly,” she said.
Joanne Jones from Loch runs Green Frog Media and Design.
She said, “We are well placed here to brand our district and its businesses, and brand ourselves as a food destination to get a piece of the ‘dining boom’ that is coming through electronic media,” she said.
“The most important thing to remember about this resource is that it can be hacked and destroyed. It happens all the time and the threat should be taken seriously.”
The second half of the evening welcomed speakers from CBA and Rewardle to talk about how their technology can help grow businesses.
President of the KBA David Amor said the group was hoping to have one more event before the AGM in late October or early November.
He said the committee was happy with the success of the event.
“It looks like we are moving in the right direction and what we are getting back from our members is great,” he said.
“The KBA now has well over 50 members. At our first open meeting, we only had around 35 so we must be doing something right.”
Mr Amor said the success of the KBA is not just good for its members, but for Korumburra’s whole business community.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase ourselves,” he said.
“Korumburra is the thriving town of South Gippsland. We are really pushing our own wheelbarrow.”

Social media: from left, guest speakers at the recent Korumburra Business Association meeting were Tamara French from CBA, Simone Short from Short and Sweet Media, Lynda Western from Glentress farm Retreat and Joanne Jones from Green Frog Media and Design.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Aug 11 2015. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry