Small, Smart, & Savvy: The microzine for real stories from real people marketing a small business

2021 Note: this project was backburnered in early 2020 from Covid.

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Where are the stories about the joys and journeys of running a small business? 

We live in a tension of creative freedom and client focus. Many of us are starting out on our own, in a variety of ages, from 16 to 60. 

But, whenever we think about ‘marketing,’ we take inspiration from all the big brands adblasting us daily. That scares us. Or makes us feel uneasy. 

That needs to change. 

We need to be filled with stories of people like us. Sign up right here to my mailing list.

Successful people who are smart and savvy with their marketing. 

We can’t do marketing like a billion dollar brand. We have an edge; being personal and being fast. 

Today, every screen is a word of mouth machine. Our stories are the stickiest things we can share to stand out.

It’s business the old-fashioned way, renewed. For humans.

Read the first issue!

What the heck is a microzine? It's like a magazine, but micro. Teensy. Maybe 4 pages, so that it comes out more frequently. And it's dedicated to you.

Hi, I’m Dominic de Souza, a storyteller and marketer with a love for wildly-passionate small businesses. 

I firmly believe that a culture of generosity, creativity, and collaboration can solve any problem we face. 

But when you Google ‘small business movies,’ the top 10 include ‘Wall Street’ ‘Jerry McGuire’, and ‘The Social Network’.

Only one of those is actually about someone building a small business.

One massive problem we have is a lack of stories. Stories that teach. Stories that share. Stories that help you see. 

With so many of us small businesses around, there’s no reason why we should be failing at marketing. 

The key reason we do is that we’ve been conditioned by a 100 years of bad business. We’ve grown up with it.

Today, our world is shaped by word of mouth. It’s everywhere, on every social network. More than before. 

But we’re still using the mindsets of yesteryear. 

We need examples of the smart thinking and savvy practices from people like us who are nailing it. 

Small businesses face a ton of hardship, and many don’t survive. But there are plenty that sure deserve to.

Who knows? Perhaps one of these issues will give you the excitement, the insight, the examples to give it another go? 

The future needs you and your creativity. And I want to share your story. 

Small, smart, & savvy is how I’m giving back, paying it forward, and making a difference. 

Sign up. Seriously.

Story prompts

• Who are you, the person behind the brand? What's your story?
• What did you want to be as a kid? Did something happen in your teen/early adult years that pointed you in this direction?
• How would you describe where you live to someone from Tibet?
• Why is this brand important to you? Where do you dream of taking it?
• What was your lowest moment, and how did you bounce back? 
• How are you making it work, bringing your goals to life? 
• How are you using online tools with your business? What's your marketing strategy? 
• What advice would you give yourself in the past?

Do you know someone with an amazing story who deserves one of these?

Nominate them! Tag them below, and I'll follow up with them. Or even better, introduce me!