Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting small businesses is more important than ever.
Over 40% of small businesses in the US temporarily closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with some of these permanently closing and others still in dire straits. If you’re in a position to help out, then you might be wondering what you can do.
In this post, we’re going to tell you 3 ways you can support a local small business. Small business support has to start on a community level, so keep reading and we’ll tell you how you can help.
1. Shop Local
The most direct impact that you can make on your local small business is by shopping local. Whether this means taking your family out for a shopping spree at a local boutique or going to your favorite local restaurant, it all helps.
The things that have been detrimental to local businesses are the things that make life more convenient for us – the consumer. Services like Amazon and Door Dash make it easy to get the products and food that we want without leaving our homes. Although food services still bring business into local restaurants, they take a significant portion of the profits.
It’s nice for us but doesn’t do much to support small business. Shop local and you’ll be putting money into the hands of business owners that need it.
2. Spread the Word on Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool, perhaps more than you even realize. Small businesses spend a lot of time and resources trying to build up their social media followers so that they can show off their products and services.
Putting up a photo or some kind words with a hashtag on social media can make a huge difference for a business. When more and more people do this, it can have a direct and lasting impact on a company’s ability to thrive in the local market.
3. Leave Positive Reviews
As with social media, positive reviews can make or break a business. Small local companies need good reviews if people are going to keep going there and buying things. There’s no better way to bolster your reputation as a small business than with your current and former customers saying nice things about you.
72% of customers use Google reviews to find businesses. Having lots of good reviews and a high average rating will help to boost a small business’ local SEO. If a business has a great rank on the Google search results page, then when customers search for a business “near me”, they’ll see that business show up.
Small Business Support Is up to You
Now that you know how to impact your local community, you can get out there and support a small business. It’s not rocket science, but it does require effort on your part if you’re going to make a difference for the local companies you love.
If you’re a local entrepreneur, you understand the role small business support from your community plays in your success. When your community doesn’t know you’re there, it’s hard for them to support you. Contact Buzzhive Marketing to make sure your business is in front of as many eyes and ears as possible.