Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Schwartz.
Melissa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my blog in 2011 as a platform to share about lesser-known attractions in the Chicago suburbs as well as small businesses. At the time, my daughter was quite young and we were always exploring for family-friendly places to enjoy without having to go to the city. I quickly learned how many unique treasures we have in the suburbs. Additionally, I noticed so many small businesses in the area going out of business. So, I wanted to do something to help them. With my passion for small business and love for local finds, I quickly became a resource for friends. I eventually opted to start a blog in order to have a place they could refer to for all of my discoveries.
A couple of years after I started the blog one of the small businesses I wrote about, Norton’s U.S.A. in Barrington asked me to help with their social media and outreach. Through my work with Norton’s U,S,A, I developed new avenues for helping small businesses and the local community at large. I love to work with small business owners on their social media outreach as well as help them locate partnerships with other businesses, charities or organizations. Norton’s U.S.A. is a unique general store that only sells made in U,S,A, items. Working for Norton’s really helped further ignite my passion for locally made items and local businesses. From there, everything blossomed!
In regards to my blog, I have also incorporated family travel ideas throughout the Midwest and beyond. When I explore, I try to present the flavor of the area by incorporating its history, nature and local makers. I love to present my readers with opportunities to visit local makers on their visits. There is nothing like bringing home a souvenir from a trip that is made there. The piece truly brings some of the heart of the place back with it.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We are all faced with challenges. I am a firm believer that what you do with those challenges shows who you are. I try to remain flexible overall. Sometimes, a partnership or idea does not work the way you thought it would. I have found that often what seems to stumble leads you to something you do not expect — something that sparks a new idea or path. My advice would be to stay flexible and be willing to try new things.
Please tell us about A Little Time and a Keyboard.
I basically have two parts of my business. One is my blog, A Little Time and a Keyboard. I specialize in lesser-known attractions, small business, and local finds. I also specialize in nature exploration. Overall, I want to encourage families to explore at a local level whether they are at home or traveling. I also want to encourage families to explore local makers and creators in an area. Throughout my travels, I have learned that each area has unique creators and that is so much of what the fabric of the area. I also encourage nature travel because nature is often a unique element in an area and a bigger part of a region’s history than we sometimes give credit. I have actually learned quite about history in addition to nature facts at preserves. So, I love to incorporate all of these elements into the stories I bring to my audience. I feel that these elements really get to the heart of a place and gives a piece of that to each of us.
In regards to my work with small businesses in social media marketing and outreach, I focus on connection and conversation. We treat our followers as family and share useful information and local stories as well as information about our businesses. We love to work with others and I find that is so important and enriching to the community fabric. We love to work with charities and help improve our community.
Recently, I started a Facebook Group called Chicago Suburbs Small Business Connection as a place where both small business owners and fans can connect. I wanted to create a free space where anyone wanting to work with a small business can do a little shout out and get a conversation going. I also wanted a place where those with a small business passion can bounce ideas off of each other. Additionally, it serves as a resource for people looking for a small business fitting a certain need. I recently held my first connection event launched by the group and am excited to have more events in the future to foster connections and collaboration!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think that I would have done more networking with like-minded people in the beginning. I would have liked to have formed a group earlier on for bouncing ideas and asking questions. Truthfully, I was not sure at the beginning of the direction I was heading with the blogging. But, I know see how such a group would have been helpful.
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