Pay Bill
Influence That Matters
CEO/General Manager
Connect locally to make a difference. If you venture into the world of social media—and most people do—you’ll cross paths with personalities known as influencers. From social media platforms like Facebook and X to video sites such as YouTube and TikTok, online personalities have the power to generate attention. With attention comes income, often 6 figures or more.
These people, and they can range wildly in accuracy and professionalism, seem to touch on every possible topic: lifestyle, health, politics, sports, entertainment, and just about anything else. They can attract millions of eyeballs, and some of the largest, most visible companies advertise on their channels.
I don’t mean to imply this is a new trend. It’s not, at all. However, as other types of media fall more into the background, online influencers continue to have greater reach and, well, influence. But in our busy and often highly online lives, we shouldn’t lose sight of the other influencers around us. You don’t have to look far, either.
1 of the things I enjoy about our community, and this is true of many rural places like ours, is that there are individuals who make a tangible positive difference. They lift others up. They provide help where it’s needed. You need to look no further than the pages of this magazine to see stories of neighbors helping neighbors, and what’s more powerful of an influence than that?
You see, every time you smile at someone you pass in the aisle of a store, volunteer with a community organization, help your child with homework or have any of the other interactions that make up daily life, you’re an influencer. This is also something we all can do.
In fact, a commitment to helping others is a core part of our mission at Sandhill. Naturally, it begins with the services we provide—we want our community to have the best communications resources anywhere.
We’ve seen how high-speed internet changes lives, opening doors for local businesses, expanding career options, supporting education, and connecting to an exciting world of online resources. We strive to be the people who can answer your questions, solve your communication problems, and provide the resources you need today while planning for the future.
But that’s only part of the equation. Every year, Sandhill gives back. 1 of our guiding principles is that you benefit not only from the services we provide but also through direct contributions of time and money invested into our community.
So, as you enjoy our industry-leading communications services, if there are online influencers you find informative or entertaining, please do enjoy. But I hope you can also join us in finding opportunities to create beneficial, helpful moments right here at home. It’s that spirit of togetherness that makes this place so special.
As always, it’s a pleasure serving you, and I hope Sandhill remains a positive influence in your life.