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5 Simple Numbers Every Small Business Should Track
5 Simple Numbers Every Small Business Should Track If the thought of “tracking KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone. For many small business owners, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) sound like something reserved for corporations with big budgets, bigger teams, and even bigger Excel spreadsheets. Who wants the hassle? But here’s the truth:…
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How to Build Business Connections (Even If You Hate Networking)
How to Build Business Connections (Even If You Hate Networking) Even though being part of the chamber is one of the easiest ways to increase your network, we understand that some business pros can’t make it to networking events. But networking is incredibly important because people want to do business with those they know, like,…
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Fireworks Delay on July 4, 2025
Fireworks Delay on July 4, 2025 Spectators watch fireworks over the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. Due to a technical malfunction, this year’s Independence Day fireworks display over the Astoria waterfront was delayed, going off an hour later than planned and advertised. “We appreciate the public’s patience while our vendor’s team and our shore-side crew…
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How to Win Over Customers with Emotional Marketing
How to Win Over Customers with Emotional Marketing There’s a Jeep commercial circulating right now that stars Harrison Ford talking about choices and how life doesn’t come with an owner’s manual. It’s one of those ads you watch the entire way through because it’s evocative and makes you feel something. You hardly even notice that…
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Embracing Imperfection to Strengthen Your Business
Embracing Imperfection to Strengthen Your Business What do Han Solo (Star Wars et al), Walter White (Breaking Bad), and Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) have in common? They’re terribly flawed and we love them for it. Imperfection can also be a powerful asset for businesses when approached with the right mindset. So stop trying your…
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Travel Powers the Economy, Builds Opportunity & Connects America
Travel Powers the Economy, Builds Opportunity & Connects America National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), held annually in May, shines a spotlight on the U.S. travel industry’s essential role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and enhancing the nation’s global competitiveness. “Travel is one of our nation’s most powerful economic engines—supporting millions of jobs,…
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Asking the Right Questions for Business Growth
Asking the Right Questions for Business Growth Growth isn’t a passive process; it doesn’t just happen. Unfortunately, you don’t open a business and sit back and wait for it to grow. Businesses rarely go viral overnight and planning on doing so is like funding your retirement by playing the lottery every week. Business growth is…
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4 Tasks to Make You a More Intentional Leader
4 Tasks to Make You a More Intentional Leader Whether you are starting your own business or reporting to someone else, you can be the leader you want to be with just a few changes to your weekly routine. All it takes is a little awareness. Before we get into the routines you can incorporate…
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Give These Marketing Strategies a Try
Give These Marketing Strategies a Try The new year is the perfect time for beginnings and setting goals. It also makes for good marketing campaigns and changes to your business. There are so many things you can do to provide value for customers and potential customers. If you don’t use this time to try something…
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Oregon Film Trail: Share your Story
Oregon Film Trail: Share your Story The Historic Oregon Film Trail sign at Hammond Marina was dedicated in July 2019. Share your Story on the Oregon Film Trail The Oregon Film Trail is a statewide network of markers placed at significant filming locations across Oregon—the first trail of its kind in the U.S. This trail…
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