If you’re a small business owner, you know how challenging it is to keep your head above water. Nowadays, the competition is fierce, and it has become increasingly harder to stay relevant. Moreover, not everyone can support your small business financially. But don’t give up.
Thanks to the staggering number of free online tools, it’s always possible to get support and recognition from your community. In this blog post, we will discuss how to support a small business for free in 2022.
Key Points
- Share Social Media Content
- Engage With Content on Social Media
- Leave a Review
- Sign Up for an Email Newsletter
- Visit the Store
- Attend Company Events
- Check in With Business Owners
- Our Takeaway
Supporting Small Businesses in 2022
One of the best ways to support small businesses is to share their brand on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn—just to mention the most popular ones.
Nowadays, social media is among the most influential tool for any marketer, including small businesses. It’s possible to market to potential customers, keep repeat consumers up to date, and generate valuable leads. It’s recommended to share a brand’s social media with at least five people and encourage them to like and visit the brand’s page.
Engage With Content on Social Media
In addition to sharing a small business on social media platforms, it’s also crucial to engage with its content. Liking, commenting, and retweeting posts can help small businesses gain a wider audience. By doing so, you are showing the business owner that you are interested in what they have to say. This can help you create a strong relationship with the brand.
Write a Review
Leaving reviews has become a great way to support a small business in this online-dominated world.
Platforms like Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp have massively contributed to providing valuable feedback that can help business owners improve their products or services. On top of that, a positive review is by far the best way to bring in new customers—here’s why.
People tend to believe a customer’s personal experience with the brand more than any other form of advertising.
Sign Up for an Email Newsletter
Although social media and online review platforms are among the most effective marketing solutions, email marketing shouldn’t be taken lightly either. Subscribing to a newsletter shows the business that you’re interested in its products and services and will most likely buy something in the future.
If you sign up for an email newsletter, you will be the first to know about new products, sales, discounts, and events.
Visit the Store
Whether business owners are running a brick-and-mortar store or an online shop, you can support them by visiting their store.
Even though you might not want to purchase on the spot, you can take a look at a product you wish to buy in the near future. If it’s an online shop, you can put specific products on your wishlist.
Attend Events
If you are looking for a more traditional way to support your favorite brand, you should participate in the events organized by the company. This way, you have the unique opportunity to learn about a specific product or service, connect with other people, and meet the business owner.
Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, online events have become increasingly popular in the last couple of years. Many small business owners will most certainly continue hosting events and webinars online.
Check in with Business Owners
Last but not least, it’s possible to show your support to the business by checking in with the business owner.
You should take the time to talk to them about how they are doing, give valuable feedback, and offer support. By doing so, you’re letting them know that you care about their business and want to see it succeed.
How to Support a Small Business for Free: Our Takeaway
Why should you consider supporting your favorite small company? The benefits are quite clear—not only do small businesses pump money into the local economy, but they also create jobs and support the community in countless other ways.
So, if you’re looking for a way to make a real difference, look no further than your nearest small business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to support a small business for free on Instagram?
Just like any other social media platform, Instagram allows its users to like, comment, and share content. Being relevant on a well-known platform such as Instagram can make a difference.
Other than staying up-to-date on what the brand is doing, you can encourage family members and friends on the platform to spread the word about the brand.
How to support a small business for free in person?
Even though engaging with a business online is the fastest way to reach a wider audience, it’s also possible to support a local brick-and-mortar store entirely for free. For example, customers can directly check in with the business owner, attend events, and spread the word to the closest circle of family members, friends, and colleagues.