2 minute read
Help Local Businesses Thrive
By Stephanie Milfeld
Happy November!
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Can you believe it? We are literally almost to the end of 2020. The year that just keeps on giving…maybe not giving us anything we want, but it certainly keeps dishing it out. The best part about the end of 2020 is all the political signs will disappear for maybe a year or so until the next election cycle because, let's face it, between politics and COVID, I think we could all use a break.
The thing is small businesses can't take a break. Small businesses have to hustle ALL. THE. TIME. to keep their businesses afloat, especially in a time when many of their customers are not coming out into public spaces like they used to. I want to explain a few simple ways that you can help your local community businesses thrive.
Social Media
This is HUGE because this is where the majority of people are introduced to small businesses—find their page, like it, follow them, comment on their posts, share a post of theirs with your friends, tag them on your own posts or when you see people asking for recommendations on different threads, TAG a local business. This does not cost you anything, but helps get the businesses out in front of other people who may or may not even know about them. Your friend is likely to take your recommendation over a stranger any day of the week so in addition to the funny memes, family pics, and Tik Tok videos, share a local business special, upcoming event, or post that caught your attention next time to help them out.
REVIEW
Go on Facebook and google and write a simple review. Think about all the times that you have read a review yourself before going somewhere and how many times you have actually left a review whether you enjoyed it or not? Most of the time, people do not leave a review and it is critical for small businesses because it is much more common for you to see someone criticize than to simply praise a business.
SHOP - EAT - LOVE - LOCAL
Listen, I GET IT. Ordering Amazon Prime is so easy; it comes fast, and you can find nearly everything. But guess what? When you buy from a local business they can pay for their kid's gymnastics class, they can put food on their table, they can employ locals to work in their stores. It means SO MUCH MORE to the local economy and your neighbors when you buy local than when you go to Walmart or shop on Amazon.
Check out some of the awesome events coming up in the community, and don't forget to stop in Z and Q – A Children's Boutique located at 1037 New York Ave — open 7 days a week.
