How To Support Your Favorite Small Businesses
Small businesses and nonprofits are the cornerstones of our communities. Without them, the unique charm of our hometowns would dissolve into nothing. Our favorite coffee shops, restaurants, car dealerships, insurance agencies, boutiques, breweries, creatives, farms, and so on are what define us. They are as essential to the identity of a community as its topography and people.
Small businesses are so special because along with having the charm of familiarity that keeps us coming back, they also employ our neighbors and friends, and as a result, the majority of the money that we invest in them is redistributed into our local economy.
The same can be said for the local nonprofits that exist in our communities. Their goal is to solve a problem that is unique to its region and that other establishments, such as the government or larger nonprofits, are not concerning themselves with. They are feeding your child’s friend at school, pulling invasive milfoil out of your lakes, and responding to traumas that are too difficult for any of us to fathom. Without these nonprofits, so much extra pain would exist in our communities.
We are in month 13 of the COVID pandemic and recession. There have been weeks at a time where businesses have had to close. The national unemployment rate peaked at 14.8% in April of 2020. 97,966 businesses have permanently closed their doors during this pandemic; meanwhile, 9 Million of the small businesses that have survived the pandemic are not sure they could stay open any longer without continued assistance from the government.
It may be warm out, a vaccine may be coming to an arm near you soon, and case counts may be low, but do not let this fool you, now more than ever our small business owning friends need us.
As a person who has worked in small business communications for over four years, and who grew up in a small business, and who now owns a small business, I know a thing or two about how to make one of them survive. Therefore, I have collected a list of ways in which we can support the small businesses and nonprofits in our area.
Bonus, most of these are completely free.
Interact with their social media accounts. Follow them. Like, comment, share, save and send their posts as often as possible. Engagement like this is so important to helping a business’s posts thrive. The more interaction, the more likely a platform is to show it to more people. This is one of the best ways for a business to advertise themselves for free. It will help their account grow, and it will almost definitely help them to acquire new clients/customers.
Write them a Google/Yelp/Facebook review. Leave them 5 stars. This is equally so important! Doing this helps a business to be findable on the web, and desirable to new clients and customers. It can also help their website be more searchable on search engines. It could be the most impactful thing you do for the business you love.
Post about these businesses on social media! There are a few ways that you can do this easily. First, you can check-in when you are at a business. Post a picture of whatever you purchased, talk about how much you love the place, and tag them! Second, be on the lookout for people looking for recommendations on social media. Whenever possible, be sure to recommend your favorite business to someone. Referrals either passively or actively, are how I personally get the majority of my bookings.
Be a walking billboard. Wear or use your favorite business’s merch and put their bumper stickers on your car, water bottle, skis, or laptop. If this business is a photographer or creative who has done work for you, make it a profile picture on your social media and make sure to tag them in it. This is just another way to help people learn about your favorite business and nonprofit.
Finally, FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THEM! You heard me! Shop and donate locally! Give as many small businesses as you can your money. In the end, this will benefit you as you will be supporting your local economy in a way that shopping at a large business couldn’t do. I know money is tight, but, if you want to see this recession end, the first place to go to stimulate the economy is to your favorite local business. Now, more than ever, they need this financial support.
Most of these ideas will take you less than 5 minutes. They can be a part of your everyday life. What these accomplish is helping to ensure as many people as possible hear about your favorite business-- and via free avenues. As people see information about a business they are more and more likely to try it. Having a searchable website, active social media, and their logo everywhere, will help a business to succeed.
As we go into month 14 of this never ended pandemic, we must ensure that we are taking care of our own. It is up to you and me to do it. I hope you are ready for this not-so-difficult challenge.
Until next time,
Amy xoxo
