Small businesses can benefit from micro-marketing program

MILLERTON — Teaming up with a trio of county entities to offer additional relief to small businesses, Dutchess County government recently announced that applications for the Dutchess County Small Business Micro-Marketing Program are now available for small business that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions.

This recovery program has been made possible through county government’s partnership with Think Dutchess, Dutchess Tourism and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. In a webinar held in early May, Dutchess County Assistant County Executive Ron Hicks said the county remains frustrated by the losses that many businesses have taken over the last year. He acknowledged that, even though some restrictions have been lifted and COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available, businesses must still deal with their losses.

“We decided to launch this micro-marketing campaign… to help you get more foot traffic into your facilities, to get more exposure, to let your existing customers as well as new customers know you are open for business and when and how to promote your business,” he said.

At the same time, Hicks said the county wanted to offer businesses best practices as they relate to marketing “because we know today the only way you can really get out to your existing and new customers is through digital channels.”

Moving ahead with the micro-marketing program, Hicks said the county will be conducting a program where it will customize, add or post placement on digital platforms using geofencing technologies where businesses will be able to identify the demographic they’re trying to target. 

Aimed at boosting business, he said the county will be using geofencing as well as the businesses’ posts, videos and platforms to get their messages out. He also said social media could be helpful when looking to hire.

Hicks added the county will also be offering a one-year membership to the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce with full benefits.

As featured on the Think Dutchess website, www.thinkdutchess.com, the goal behind the micro-marketing program is to help businesses recover from their losses, rehire workers, increase sales and “put the business back on a path to growth and sustainability.” 

This program is open to businesses operating exclusively in Dutchess County with 20 or less employees that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses either had to limit their operations due to the state’s restrictions or have been forced to close at the pandemic’s onset.

As the head of the Millerton Business Alliance (MBA) and a Millerton business owner, Thorunn Kristjansdottir of Main Street Magazine took note of how closely Dutchess County has worked with the local business community in the last year. She also commented on how the county has been working with local officials such as Millerton Mayor Debbie Middlebrook, who Kristjansdottir said has been working closely with the MBA and informing the alliance and its merchants about important programs, like this one.

“We feel there is a great air of collaboration just to get everyone through, to support services and fund opportunities,” Kristjansdottir said.

The application for the micro-marketing program can be found online at www.thinkdutchess.com/dutchess-county-micromarketing-covid-recovery-appl....