Why Emerge?

why Emerge

A common question many people get asked is, “So what do you do?”, but many people don’t go further to ask, “why do you do what you do?” or “why do you like your job?”. Questions that are arguably more important when it comes to a career. We asked ourselves what drew us to Emerge Marketing and why we are passionate about the work we do.

ShellySHELLY – OWNER OF EMERGE, MOM OF THREE, WORKING FROM MANNING, IOWA

Emerge is my dream, my vision, and my passion. This business has allowed me to not only pursue my dreams of owning my own business but also make an impact in my community and the businesses/organizations around me as well as revitalize rural Iowa and our country.  I absolutely LOVE helping other entrepreneurs and community leaders attain the unthinkable – to pair a visual identity with tactical tools and a strategic approach that allows them to achieve their vision. I believe I am using God’s gifts to better the world and nothing could be more satisfying. I believe this truly is the work of our Lord.

My favorite thing is connecting with our Emerge team who holds each other accountable, lifts each other up, and challenges one another to be the best we can be in the name of the Lord.

KATIE – FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AND NEW MOM, WORKING FROM STORM LAKE, IOWAKatie

The opportunity to work for Emerge just fell into my lap, and to me, that was a sign that it was meant to be. In college, I did everything from broadcast journalism, marketing, event planning, public relations, to sports and rec management and human relations, so I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue after graduation. Working for Emerge has allowed me to combine so many of my interests and skills without having to pick just one.

I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that values family, faith, and friends. Our mission to revitalize rural Iowa has also really made an impact on me and opened my eyes about how much I love living in a small, Iowa community. The flexibility of working from home while still being able to meet in person occasionally is a great balance. I love the collaboration our growing team has as well as the variety of projects we get to work on and the different clients we assist.

ClaireCLAIRE – FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WORKING FROM SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

I enjoy having a collaborative team to work together with, and we each have our own skill sets that blend beautifully! The flexibility of working from home and getting to catch up and have in-person meetings every once in a while is nice. We aren’t limited by our location, so we have the flexibility to live wherever we want and still work with a great group of people! I like that we have different projects to work on for clients in a variety of industries. I also love our focus on revitalizing rural Iowa as I am passionate about small businesses and business owners too!

COURTNEY – PART-TIME EMPLOYEE, MOM OF FOUR, WORKING FROM RURAL CARROLL COUNTY Courtney

Emerge is not just a job; it’s truly fun, interesting, and meaningful work. I love being able to contribute to Shelly’s faith-filled mission of revitalizing rural Iowa with a wonderful group of women and clients. Emerge has made it possible for me to balance working part-time while still being able to do what’s important to me as a stay-at-home mom and wife.

AnnieANNIE – PART-TIME EMPLOYEE, MOM OF THREE, WORKING FROM RURAL CARROLL COUNTY

I enjoy working for Emerge because I get to combine so many elements of things I am passionate about with fun, new experiences! I love getting to focus on rural revitalization and keeping our slice of Iowa thriving and moving forward while maintaining our small-town way of life. In the short time I have been working with Shelly, I have met so many interesting people and learned how they are making an impact in rural Iowa. Emerge is also rooted in the belief that we are doing God’s work, and I am blessed to work alongside other women who share this belief.

PAIGE – SUBCONTRACTOR, MOM OF A TODDLER, WORKING FROM ROCKWELL CITY, IOWA Paige

I love working for Emerge Marketing Solutions because my job as a subcontractor allows for flexibility. As a stay-at-home mom to a very active toddler and a farm wife to a first-generation farmer, I am always busy. With my role at Emerge, I can still spend quality time with my family while making a little extra cash to help with the seasonal cash flow of farming. An added bonus is that the Emerge team is rooted in Christian beliefs, so I feel right at home with these amazing women who share similar core values. Not only am I able to serve my family because of my work at Emerge, but I am also able to work for the glory of God!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” -Colossians 3:23-24

Improve and Transform Your Downtown Community

downtown community

Have you ever driven through a town to discover that it is basically a ghost town? If so, you’d likely drive right through and never think twice about the town or remember its name, let alone plan a trip there. If this describes your community, here are some tips to help improve and transform your downtown community into something exciting and memorable!

First things first, check these things off your to-do list before any major transformations!

  • Hold meetings with downtown business owners and community members. During the meetings, hold a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to better understand what your downtown has to offer, and more importantly, what it doesn’t. Then, brainstorm potential improvements, communicate these needs to the appropriate people and determine the best plan of action.
  • Ensure that your community has a chamber of commerce and they hold frequent meetings. These are often the groups who have the community’s best interests in mind and will help make improvements.
  • Get young adults involved in meetings and decisions. Ask for their opinions on what could help improve downtown functionality. There should be activities for all ages downtown, not just business owners, families and older community members.Young adults laughing at an outdoor bar
  • Photograph your downtown buildings to help discover what improvements need to be made. And once improvements have been made, you can share before and after photos!
  • Take inventory and determine the quality of the trash cans, benches, streetlights, art, lines for parking spaces, trees, etc. Doing so will help you determine what improvements need to be made.
  • Update and utilize social media and Google pages. Does your community have an appealing and user-friendly website and social media page(s)? If so, do they have updated information regarding activities, recreation, places to eat and stay, etc.? You don’t want people to find outdated information, old images or business hours, or even worse, nothing about what your community has to offer. If these pages don’t exist, create them! It’s also important for downtown businesses to check out what shows up in a Google search when they look for their business. When they do, ensure they have claimed their business (click here to learn how to do so) and their information is up to date on Google.How to claim a business on Google
  • Are there empty buildings downtown? If so, find a way to promote the space and encourage someone to rent it out and start a business!

Now for some easy ways to improve and transform your downtown community!

  • Host fun events! Things like annual town/holiday celebrations, trivia nights at local bars, children’s activities, concerts, sporting events, etc are all great ideas. Then, create a calendar of events to share and promote them locally and regionally to bring local people as well as tourists.
  • Create a strong relationship with local media! By doing so, it makes it much easier to share stories, events and news and get coverage when needed.
  • Have volunteer opportunities often and recognize community members who help.
  • Town clean-up day! Bring people together and help make your downtown beautiful by planting flowers, painting, planting trees, cleaning, etc.Store front display
  • How do the store fronts look? Encourage business owners to have new window displays frequently and preferably lighted at night. And consider filling empty windows with something (historical artifacts from town, promotional items for school or local organizations, etc.)
  • Use BINGO cards or a Passport to encourage community members to shop local and get out in the community. Then use chamber bucks as rewards. (More $$ spent downtown is a win-win!)
  • Have “Small Business Saturday” or a shop local day along with fun events in your downtown area. This will give local businesses support and encourage community members to get involved downtown.
  • Having nice, bright lighting is important at night. No one wants to walk downtown if it looks dark and uninviting.Storefront display lit up at night
  • What is the parking situation like? Make sure people are able to easily park downtown and that lines are visible. No one wants to drive around the block five times looking for a parking spot or question if they’re going to get towed.

Looking to go even further to improve and transform your downtown community?Manning, Iowa's logo and slogan in a park

  • Brand your town! Create a logo and slogan that are fun, easily recognizable and memorable and can be utilized for many things!
  • Signage is important! Use your community’s logo and slogan for signs throughout downtown. This makes it easy for people to find their way around.Branded town sign
  • Look into grant programs and apply for ones that could help make improvements to your downtown.
  • Create a brochure that highlights your community with things to do, places to eat and stay, attractions, recreation, etc.Example of a town brochure
  • Join the Main Street program.
  • Hold fundraisers to make improvements to your downtown community.A mural painted on a downtown building
  • Use local artists to help paint the town with murals, utility boxes, benches, the opportunities are endless!
  • Are there housing options above businesses downtown? This will keep people downtown and encourage them to eat local, hang out downtown, etc!
  • Research popular downtown communities who have implemented many of these tips or are known for having a thriving downtown. Check out our feature we did on Rapid City, South Dakota’s downtown. Then plan a visit to get some new ideas!

Looking for more tips? Check out one of the leaders in downtown revitalization: Roger Brooks and the Destination Development Association. And if you have questions about how to improve and transform your downtown community or just need a little help, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Engage Young People in Your Community

young people enjoying a night out

Many communities focus their efforts on making their spaces family friendly, but what can community leaders do to attract and engage young people in their community? For our specific case, let’s consider young adults to be those in their 20s to low 30s. Many people tend to assume that once someone graduates high school or college that they may bounce around until finding their forever home. But what if your town is one of those pit stops? What can you do to help make your community appealing to young adults and encourage them to stay put and become involved and engaged in the community?

  1. Define your target audience. Make sure you know what age groups you are trying to engage and recognize what appeals to them. If you focus too much on ways to attract families or older adults, then young adults will likely feel out of place or not welcomed. Many young adults like to go to big cities because there are more people their age, more things to do, places to eat and they feel that there is something for everyone. However, there are many small towns that do invest in amenities that engage young people in their community.
  2. Take inventory! What does your community currently have to offer? Research the best places for young people to live and identify what makes them so appealing. Some small communities cannot fully compete with large cities, but there are certainly things you can do to encourage young adults to visit your town initially and then actions you can take to show them the value your town holds. Especially if your community is smaller, capitalize on this and find ways to show young adults the advantages to living in a small town! Fun Happy Hour Events
  3. Hold fun events often! Events such as Thirsty Thursdays at a local bar, karaoke nights, drive-in movies, concerts, pub quiz nights, farmer’s and craft markets, local vendor fairs, town celebrations, cultural and music festivals are all enticing ways to bring young people together.
  4. Hold town meetings and invite young adults to attend. Allow them to speak and give suggestions for additions or improvements that could be made to the town. However, don’t put them on the spot and make them feel uncomfortable. You don’t want to risk scaring them away. Find out what their interests are and allow them to hold leadership positions so they have the opportunity to become involved and gain a vested interest in local projects. Giving them ownership of community development will help them to develop a sense of pride.Mentorship Programs
  5. Implement a mentor program! This a great opportunity for young people to meet other leaders in the community that they may not otherwise come in contact with. Offer a program in which a local, older member of the community is paired up with a young adult. Young professionals value networking and creating relationships, and older professionals may benefit from the new, innovative ideas of young professionals.
  6. Recreational options! Young people like to be active and stay busy. What is the condition of the city parks and facilities, walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, etc.? Is there a lake or river nearby? If so, what is the condition of the public beach? Are kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, tubes, fishing poles available for rent during the summer? If these are not present in your community, is it possible to change that? What are the workout facilities like? Are fitness classes offered anywhere? These are all very appealing for young adults, especially in the summer! Think tourist attractions.
  7. Local transportation. Does your town or region have a taxi service, Uber or Lyft? You might not think your small town needs a full-time taxi, but if you want to offer a safe and convenient option for young adults to visit your community, consider having someone sign-up to be a driver for your community. Many young people appreciate having peace of mind knowing this is an option, especially if they plan to go out and have fun with friends. It also lets people know that you value their safety.Reliable Wi-Fi
  8. Reliable Wifi! It may not seem like a big deal, but if your town has slow internet, it will be a huge turn off and inconvenience. Streaming TV, virtual conference calls and meetings, Zoom and Facetime happy hours with friends and family, you name it, are the new normal these days, and if people are unable to easily do these things, it will be very frustrating. If fiber optic internet is an option for your town, take advantage of it and make sure you promote thy convenience.Social Media Presence
  9. Presence on social platforms!! I can’t emphasize this enough. What do young people do when they don’t know something? They look it up or try to find it on social media. Ensure that your town has a welcoming website with updated information, a well-run Facebook page and Instagram if appropriate. Many towns have a chamber of commerce that will take care of this. Encourage local businesses, especially retail and restaurants to do the same. Having a consistent and engaging presence on social media will allow you to promote upcoming events, share news, post job openings, recognize community members, display photos and testimonials of your town, its attractions, and more. It will also reflect well and make it easy for people to look up upcoming events, business hours, menus, etc.! Just make sure that your website and social pages are not outdated or poorly run because that is sometimes worse than not having them at all.Downtown Main Street Manning Apartment
  10. Variety of housing options. Young people may not be ready to buy a house, especially right out of college. Are there affordable, updated condos or apartments available in your community? Nothing is a bigger turn off than getting a new job in a new town and then realizing that all of your housing options are run-down, old apartments that cost more than they are worth. Take inventory of the housing options your town has to offer and if there is a need for more, talk to community leaders as well as other locals about the need or consider applying for grants to help fund the development of more housing. There are even grants available in Iowa to establish downtown housing. We love this downtown loft apartment on Main Street Manning.

We recognize that every community is unique in its own way and that each town has particular strengths and weaknesses. While some of these options may not be viable for some communities, we encourage you to gather a small group of passionate leaders and take a look at your town, determine what the demographic consists of and why this is the case. Challenge yourselves to implement a few of these suggestions to attract and engage young people. We think your future community will thank you. If you are interested in unbiased, third-party recommendations for your community or have specific questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Q&A With Kait Miller

Kait

Welcome to the second feature in our series of Q & A’s with Emerge Marketing Solution’s employees and subcontractors! In this blog series, Emerge subcontractors share their stories and why the quality of life in Iowa is better than anywhere else! Our purpose in sharing this series is to inspire others to invest in Iowa, inform others about what it’s like to live and work here, and to show the impact (great or small) you can make as a result of your dedication to community and business in Iowa.

Kait Miller was my first subcontractor to come on board with Emerge. You know, when some people come into your life, you just know they’re going to be a life-long friend and colleague, and that was the case for Kait. She began working as an intern for me when I worked with the Iowa 4-H Foundation back in 2010. We worked together coordinating the annual 4-H Gala among many other fundraising projects. Upon graduation and throughout her early career, Kait and I kept in touch and would keep each other posted on what was happening in our personal and professional lives. Having always wanted to start my own business, I knew from day one that Kait was someone whom I wanted to work with forever!

Kait Miller

When it came time to start Emerge, Kait was one of my first calls. She had known that I was considering starting my own business, and she was finishing grad school. It seemed like a perfect fit and perfect timing for her to be able to work a few extra hours beyond her day job to really help get Emerge off the ground.

When you’re a one-person show, it’s hard to keep yourself motivated when you have billing, prospecting, process development, and strategic planning to do. Definitely working a different part of my brain than I’m used to. But with Kait providing support, I knew that no stone would go left unturned. We have enjoyed working together for 3 ½ years now and wouldn’t have it any other way (well maybe besides her working full-time for Emerge!!).

Kait Miller and Steven Miller with birdsWhen it comes to her work with Emerge, Kait deals with project management, business operations, and content writing/proofreading. Kait is DEFINITELY my right-hand girl and I don’t know what I would do without her! She keeps me on my toes and makes sure all details of every project are progressing.

Kait currently lives in Altoona, Iowa with her husband Steven and their two dogs, Athena and Atlas. What I LOVE about Kait’s perspective is that she has such a sense of adventure and has traveled all over the world. She’s seen it all, and she still chooses to live right here in Iowa!

Kait Miller and Steven Miller skiing in the mountainsEMERGE MARKETING SOLUTIONS: What is your connection to Iowa?
KAIT MILLER: My family moved from Nebraska to Urbandale (a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa) when I was two years old. I graduated from Urbandale High School and went to college at Iowa State University in Ames. After college, I got a job in Des Moines and continued in my educational endeavors locally, receiving my MBA from Drake University. I have lived and worked in the Des Moines metro area ever since.

EMERGE: Why have you chosen to live in Iowa?
KAIT: In all honesty, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. My home has always been in Iowa and all of my family lives here. There are so many things to do and explore while still having more of a small town feel than other cities. The cost of living is unbeatable and the job market in Des Moines is continually growing. The schools are excellent for our future children. Although we love to travel and visit different places across the country and world, Iowa is our home. The quality of life in Iowa is second to none!

EMERGE: If someone asked you your perception of Iowa, what would you say?
KAIT: I think the common misconceptions about Iowa are that it’s all rural farm towns, there is nothing to do, and there are lower quality amenities. I remember once in high school when I was on a mission trip in another area of the country and when I said I was from Iowa, someone asked me if I learned to drive on a tractor; I couldn’t help but laugh. I think that summarizes what others often perceive of Iowa.

Kait Miller and Steven Miller hikingEMERGE: What can we work on to attract and retain more families and young people in our state?
KAIT: Iowa has so much to offer families and young people, it’s just a matter of communicating and marketing that so others have a valid perception of what it’s like to live here. Many young people who grow up here and even go to college in Iowa leave after they graduate, looking for more “exciting” places to live. I believe there is a major opportunity to market the amazing quality of life Iowa has to offer to people approaching graduation so they don’t feel they need to leave to find the life they’re looking for.

Iowa has so much to offer families and young people, it’s just a matter of communicating and marketing that so others have a valid perception of what it’s like to live here.

Downtown Des Moines has done substantial work to be marketable and appealing for recent college graduates, adding a great deal of housing, grocery stores, gyms, boutique shopping, etc. West Des Moines has also become a hotspot location for young adults. But showcasing that is crucial for people to truly understand everything they can have and enjoy living in this area.

Kait Miller and Steven MillerPersonally, I never considered living anywhere else because I can find everything I’m looking for here. My husband and I have flourishing careers, enjoy a low cost of living and housing, have the opportunity to raise our children in a safe environment where the educational system is strong, and live close to our family and friends.

EMERGE: What visions and goals do you have for the future?
KAIT: I can’t wait to eventually have children and raise our family here; to instill in them the same small town values I experienced as part of my own upbringing in Iowa and to enjoy everything our state has to offer for young children. I love the opportunity to work with Emerge and make a difference in revitalizing rural Iowa through the important work we do. I’m so excited for this to continue!

I believe there is a major opportunity to market the amazing qualities Iowa has to offer to people approaching graduation so they don’t feel they need to leave to find the life they’re looking for.

Kait Miller and Steven Miller scuba divingIn Closing…
Thank you Kait for sharing your perspective! We hope that others are seeing the same value that you see regarding the quality of life in Iowa and will consider moving here when they, too, are ready to live the best life, raise a family, and be successful in their careers!

Stay tuned for more features with Emerge Marketing subcontractors. We think you’ll be delighted to hear the great things they have to say about Iowa and why they’re proud to be from here. Read another Emerge feature here>>