If you’re a small business owner, you know your company is more than a job − it’s your identity.
I’ve spent 35 years working with small businesses across Tennessee to develop logos and authentic brand identities. I help clients use them in digital ads that stretch every dollar and deliver real results.
For the folks I work with, digital advertising is a lifeline. More than 197,000 Tennessee jobs rely on the internet and with over 221,000 small businesses employing Tennesseans and online advertising is one of the few ways they compete with big corporations.
Through geotargeting tools, ads are targeted to the people most likely to walk through my clients’ doors. The ads tell customers about promotions, events, or new products. Plus, spending as much or little as you want on digital advertising makes it an accessible option for anyone.
But my clients tell me this option is at risk due to a growing national movement. Dozens of states have restricted access to advertising data through laws that erode digital markets. It’s now harder for local shops to reach customers beyond their ZIP code. And with each state crafting different rules, it’s nearly impossible to keep up.
Tennessee is an emerging tech hub, leading the Southeast in job growth for businesses with under 100 employees. To maintain momentum, we must encourage our lawmakers to protect access to anonymous advertising data.
Pulling the plug on digital advertising doesn’t level the playing field. It tilts it in favor of corporations with deep pockets and harms businesses in our own backyard.
Tommy Stokes, Tommy Stokes Design Inc., Knoxville, TN