How can customers support local businesses? Tips and Tricks
Businesses have been experiencing hard times. At first, the pandemic completely changed our routine. To avoid mass gatherings, we started shopping online. Therefore, companies had to change the communication channels they used to contact customers. Although COVID-19 seems to be abating with people getting vaccinated across the globe, our economy and daily life are still far from getting back on track.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shook the world with its brutality. Companies started leaving the Russian market to avoid any affiliation with the aggressor. The war also caused an oil and gas crisis. Inflation intensified. To withstand these challenges businesses will again have to cut off their expenditures and maximise effectiveness. However, any company needs a loyal and supporting customer ready to use the product or service, give feedback, and help businesses become better. Together with specialists from Jooble, a leading job search engine worldwide, we have prepared some viable tips on how to support businesses in these times.
Shops, offices, boutiques, and eateries seem to be places that are always there when you go for a walk or hurry up for work. They constitute the fabric of communities we live in and make these places cozy. Making small contributions and buying things you need from local owners helps them stay afloat. Thus, grabbing a cup of coffee at the cafe is not just a pleasant morning ritual. It is also financial support. Supporting business means fostering your community to develop. There are numerous options for how to do that. Let’s go over them.
Check out online options
Many local businesses have just recently started moving online. They might have less experience and lack a thought-through online presence strategy. Therefore, find some time and check if your favourite places in the neighbourhood have a Facebook page or are on Google maps. For example, if the working hours on the Internet are wrong, it can scare off some clients. So, if you are well-acquainted with the owners of the shops or cafes, don’t hesitate to ask them whether they would like to have a business page. Help them spread the word about their activity. What if you could even try yourself in social media management and make these places not only more visible but also popular?
Spread a word
The power of social media is hard to overestimate. We discover many things thanks to various news and communication channels. Thus, if one can find your favourite local place online, spread the word about it. For instance, write a review. People examine reviews more than you can imagine. Since we have such a tremendous diversity of options, potential clients tend to check first if the place is worth visiting. If you are satisfied with the products or services, don’t hesitate to share this positive experience. The better reviews are, the more potential customers the business will attract.
Although we are living in a highly digitalised world, a word of mouth is still a powerful marketing tool. In fact, it is the most effective one. We became so good at advertising that people sometimes lose faith in ads or pop-ups offering them to buy something with huge discounts. Therefore, recommend places you find worthy to your family members, friends, and colleagues.
Show support online
Keeping with the subject of online presence, let’s not forget about comments, tags, newsletters, and posts. If the local businesses you support have social media pages, follow them. It increases visibility and helps owners find the targeted audience faster. Post pictures and tag friends, so they can drop by the place one day. If the bakery or a shop launches some charity events in the neighbourhood, comment something on that score.
Don’t stay aside. Even a simple word of encouragement or a compliment about the food can make a difference. If other people see the real users (not bots) show support and satisfaction with the products, they are more likely to buy something too. Subscribe to a newsletter if you are ok with sharing your email.
As a rule, customers benefit from their loyalty, so it is a win-win situation.
Buy small things regularly
This recommendation may sound a bit tricky, especially if you are committed to saving up more money. However, we are constantly running out of small things for the home. If you buy them in the small local shops instead of going to the supermarket, it won’t make the situation any worse. Pick up your favourite shop and buy something there each week. No matter, how small the purchase is, it supports the local economy and business owners. For instance, buy postcards, candles, light bubbles, tissues, or sanitizers. These are things we often need but don’t always have at home or on us. If you need to buy something small like the things we are talking about, don’t put this need on hold. Drop by the favourite shop and get it. You may also find out that you need more things once you’re at the shop. Yet, sure, the best way to go purchasing something is with a list of items you need.
Order take-out food
It is another effective way to support the local restaurants that could have suffered during the pandemic. Check out what places are open for pick-up delivery and give them a chance. Owners offer discounts for take-away food. You could spare some money. Ordering food is an effective way to help local cafes and restaurants. You spend less time on getting ready for going out and can do other crucial things instead.
On the other hand, don’t be greedy and give some tips to the delivery guys. They are your waiters who bring hot and delicious dishes through rain, snow, and heat. These people are working hard, and you’re satisfied with the speed and quality of your delivery, support the local business this way too.
As we see, the ways to support businesses and help them thrive are simple. They are not time-consuming and cost almost nothing. One of the most crucial things about cherishing local companies is that every effort counts. A cup of coffee, a lunch, vegetables you buy from the farmers, all these small things contribute to the community’s growth and development. You don’t need to spend much to make a difference. What could be better?