How to Support Small Business

A lot of heart and soul goes into running a small business. It's not just about transactions but about community, passion, and dedication. Whether it's your favorite local café, the family-run bookstore downtown, or your friend’s craft business, every small action you take can profoundly impact their success. Many of us want to support the small businesses we love but might not always know how best to do it, especially in ways beyond opening our wallets.

This guide is dedicated to showing you how easy it can be to support your local entrepreneurs in meaningful ways beyond financial transactions. From a simple like on social media to reading and sharing their stories, the power to help them thrive is at your fingertips.

 

Ways to Support Small Businesses

Here are some straightforward yet powerful ways you can make a positive impact digitally:

• Know Their Brand, Know Their Work: Familiarize yourself with each business's offerings. Being ready to describe their services or products succinctly can make recommending them naturally in conversations easier, helping to spread awareness.
• Recommend Them When Able: Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool. Recommend your favorite small businesses to friends, family, and colleagues. Whether through a casual conversation, passing along a business card, or a social media shout-out, your recommendation can lend significant credibility and attract new patrons.
• Follow and Interact on Social Media: Beyond liking and sharing, regularly interact with posts by asking questions or giving feedback. This sustained engagement can significantly boost their content's reach and engagement metrics.
• Like and Share Their Social Media Posts: Engaging with business posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts can significantly increase their reach. This simple action helps extend their visibility to your network, which could lead to new customers or more community support.
• Read Their Blog Posts: Spend a few minutes reading and engaging with blog posts by your local businesses. Commenting and sharing these posts can increase visibility and drive traffic to their sites, which indirectly supports their overall online presence.
• Subscribe to Newsletters: If they have a newsletter, subscribe to it. This not only shows support but can also keep you informed about special offers, events, or new products that you might be interested in or could share with others.

• Leave Positive Online Reviews: Take a moment to leave a positive review on platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook when you use the services or purchase their products. Positive feedback not only improves their online reputation but also enhances their local SEO, making them more likely to appear in search rankings. This is especially impactful because potential customers often make decisions based on the reviews they read.
• Attend Community Events: Participating in community events where local businesses are vendors or sponsors is an excellent way to show your support. These events give them a platform to showcase their products or services and connect more closely with their community. By attending, you contribute to the event's success, supporting everyone involved. Share your experiences and pictures from the event on social media to help increase awareness and attract more attendees in the future.
• Support Them During Holiday and Seasonal Peaks: Small businesses often offer special products or promotions during holiday seasons. Supporting them by buying seasonal items or gift cards can provide a significant financial boost. Additionally, sharing their seasonal promotions across your social media channels can help expand their reach during these critical sales periods.
• Ask Your Business Owner Friends What Else Support Looks Like: Sometimes, the best way to help is to ask directly. Business owners may have specific needs or marketing initiatives where they could use more help. Understanding these can allow you to provide targeted support that has a real impact.

 

Empowering Local Businesses: Your Role and SEO

As we've seen, there are numerous ways to support independent retailers beyond just making a purchase. From engaging on social media to leaving positive reviews and sharing promotional events, every small action contributes to their success and growth. These collective efforts can make a difference, helping sustain and grow the local businesses that add so much value to our communities.

Search engine optimization plays a critical role in the success of many business websites. Effective SEO strategies can dramatically improve a business's online visibility and drive organic traffic to its website. Business owners and managers can take many straightforward, actionable steps to enhance their search rankings and ensure they are easily found by their target audience. To learn more about simple and practical steps they can take, check out our blog post on small business SEO tips and pass it along. 

Never underestimate your ability to impact your favorite businesses and independent stores. Whether you purchase a gift card or talk about them on your preferred social media platform, your support is noticed and appreciated. Remember, supporting local businesses is an ongoing journey that evolves with each community interaction. Keep engaging and discovering new ways to support, and watch your favorite small businesses flourish.