We would like to introduce Lindsey Kasprzak founder of the Lone Star Local Guide and Sponsor for Everything You Need to Know About Text Marketing to be Successful Workshop!

Lone Star Local Guide is your Montgomery County fully digital community magazine and marketing company. We help the average small business get their name out to the public by promoting them not only in our magazine but also through our social media outlets that reach an average of 30,000+ a month. We understand that marketing and promoting your business can get expensive which is why we have prices any small business can afford.

~How or why did you decide to start your own business?

Being in the advertising industry for over 16 years, I saw how it was hard and expensive it was for small businesses to advertise. A lot of that has to do with the cost of print.  We live in a digital world today and print media is no longer the only game in town, but it’s also now not the most beneficial, cost-effective, or useful.   This is why I came up with the fully digital magazine. Again, people use their phones now more than anything else so this media is much more effective.  Plus, it has the added benefit of data analytics and targeted marketing- with digital and online media, you can see how often people visit your website, how long they are there, and what pages they spend their time on.  You can also tell generally where those visitors are located.  With print, you pepper an area and hope people look at or read your material.  Most likely, they nowadays just throw it away.  With my pinpointed marketing, you reach your targeted customers directly and, more importantly, you know you did. 

~Tell us about you- the business owner so we can get to know you personally:

My name is Lindsey and I am so proud to not only call myself a Texan, but also a Houstonian.  My family history is not only deep in the heart of Texas but deep in the heart of Houston since I’m a direct descendant of the Allen Brothers. I’m therefore very proud that my digital publication represents the area where I live and where my family is from. I am passionate about my community and the small businesses within it and I love helping them reach their local market. I graduated from the Art Institute with a degree in Graphic Design and Advertising.  I spent several years designing ads and formatting a local phone book and then several additional years providing similar services for a local print magazine.  I started Lone Star Local Guide in 2019.  The pandemic has been hard on small businesses; I think my more than 16 years of experience can be a great asset to anyone trying to get their name out. 

~Why did you choose this business or industry?

I love to help people and have always been a big proponent of supporting local.  Graphic design attracted me because I also have an introverted creative side.  Lone Star Local Guide is my way of marrying the two together. 

~Did you have any major setbacks or obstacles getting started?

LOL! What business doesn’t? When I started I knew I wasn’t going to be have a problem with the graphics and designing part, it was going to be getting businesses to trust me and know that I'm here to help and to support them. I want my customers to know that no matter what, they can come to me with any questions any time and that they’ll get the support they need.  Advertising is a difficult concept for people to understand and they want immediate results immediately.  Part of what I do is try to set and manage expectations from what you should expect from your advertisement.  Yes, of course, we all want business.  But, the only way to get that business is to be seen on a regular basis from the people most likely to utilize your service or need or want your product.  That’s where I excel.

~What differentiates your business from your competition?

Personal experience, affordable pricing and a support system. I spent a great deal of time networking myself and have amassed not only a fairly large sized following, but have made relationships with many other business owners.  I am always looking for ways to get my customer’s names out there, whether that’s by finding a way to schedule an interview with you for the radio, by alerting you to a networking event, helping film and produce a commercial, or by cross-marketing synergistic services and products, like a bounce castle rental place with a cupcake baker.  All my customers have my personal cell phone and it’s not uncommon for me to get a text asking how to make a good facebook post or “Hey can we make a promotion video for my upcoming event?” When someone decides to advertise with me, they're not just a number, they’re a friend.

~What are you most proud of about your business?

Everything! I get compliments all the time on how beautiful my magazine is and how clean my ads are.  We’re proud of how user-friendly the app is (I taught myself how to make the app) and how functional the whole thing is.  For instance, I’ve programmed it so that there is a hyperlink to the business website directly embedded in the digital ad.  All you have to do is click on the ad and it takes you to that business’s website.  I’m most proud of the successes we’ve had with our customers, especially the ones who couldn’t afford expensive print advertising and were struggling to get their names and businesses known.  The love and gratitude they have is humbling.  Finally, I absolutely love  all of my customers.  I support their businesses everywhere I go and with everything I have.  Their success is very important to me. 

~How has your industry changed in the last few months and how do you see it changing in the future (or will it)?

Oh boy! Thanks to COVID small businesses are struggling.  That affects not only them, but their families, and by extension, their communities.  We’ve had to get creative with our processes and strategies.  I’ve been trying everything I can for my customer to help keep them afloat by thinking outside the box. Again, this is the key thing that sets Lone Star Local Guide apart from others- I’m here to help my customers no matter what and if it’s me helping them think of different ways to market, then that’s what I’ll do. I read a few months ago another company say “their customers need to think outside the box” well in my opinion it’s not the small businesses job, it’s my job. 

~Can you please share any pricing info for those interested in your services?

We offer packages for everyone’s budget. From a simple business listing on our website at $50 a month to us promoting them with paid sponsorship ad on social media. What’s also great about Lone Star Local Guide is everyone that advertises gets a full page ad! This helps us track the ad when someone clicks on it to go to the advertiser’s website.  We never want someone to say they can’t afford it.  I’ll do my best to customize an affordable package for every single business.  I’m absolutely confident that If we can’t find a way for you to advertise within your particular budget, it’s not possible.   

~Please visit Lone Star Local Guide here to download their guide today:

www.LoneStarLocalGuide.com

www.facebook.com/Lonestarlocalguide

www.instagram.com/lonestarlocalguide