Small, locally-owned businesses are struggling amid the pandemic. How can you help? Here are a few ways you can support small businesses from the comfort of your home.
Write Reviews
Your computer, laptop, or another electronic device you utilize has quite a bit of power. Small businesses can gain more exposure in your community by what is put on the internet. Based on previous experiences you’ve had with small businesses in your community, write some glowing reviews. If you’ve eaten at a local Mexican restaurant, leave a positive review about the excellent food and service. If you’ve recently obtained one of the two roof inspections you’ll undergo this year, write a nice review about your positive interactions with the inspector and how you’ll certainly call the roofing company for your next inspection. Leaving Yelp and Google Reviews are especially beneficial for small businesses and may help them draw more customers.
Interact With Social Media Pages
Alongside company websites and important review websites, social media pages gain quite a bit of traffic and help small businesses promote their services and products in a modern way. By interacting with the social media pages and profiles that correspond with local businesses in your area, you’ll be helping them in unimaginable ways. Simply share, retweet, like, and comment on posts. You’ll help more people see the content, which in turn will help these businesses gain more followers and potential customers.
Shop Online
Perhaps you’re interested in giving your closet a makeover, redecorating your bedroom or living room, or finishing your basement. Since a project like finishing your basement will give you an ROI of 77.6%, it’s important to invest in quality materials and services — all of which you can find online on your laptop in the comfort of your home. Search for small businesses in your area that can help you flip your basement. Shop online for new pieces of furniture and decorations to redecorate a room in your home. Purchase from small online clothing stores and boutiques across the country. By shopping online and supporting small businesses in these ways, you’ll be helping them stay afloat, especially if they can’t open their doors to customers yet.
Purchase Gift Cards and Certificates
You can also purchase gift cards and gift certificates from local businesses in your community or small online businesses across the country. For birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and other special occasions, consider purchasing a gift card for friends, family, and other loved ones. A gift card to an online boutique may be a great birthday gift for a friend, while a gift card to your mom’s local hair salon will come in handy for Mother’s Day.
Offer Your Professional Expertise
Perhaps you’re an IT specialist who understands how imperative data transmission and storage security are in the modern enterprise. Perhaps you’re a marketing expert who understands the best ways businesses should advertise their products and services. If you’re an expert in a professional business field, consider offering your own expertise. Lawyers and marketing agencies across the country have offered pro-bono services and consultations to small businesses in need throughout the pandemic. If you can help, reach out to small businesses in your community via email or phone and offer to provide your own expertise so they can thrive financially and socially.
Order Takeout to Your Door
Not ready to eat in a restaurant? Enjoy eating dinner in your sweatpants and on your comfy couch alongside takeout from your favorite local eatery. Many businesses now offer delivery or partner with delivery services so food can safely be delivered to your doorstep. Simply order your favorite meals from local restaurants’ apps or websites. This is a great way to keep small locally-owned and family restaurants in business during the pandemic. Plus, you can eat yummy takeout in the comfort of your own home.
Your laptop and phone have the power to help local businesses in your community. All you have to do is put in some time and effort to leave a glowing review, like a post, place an order, and more. Take a few minutes out of your day to help a small business near you. You’ll be making a bigger contribution than you think.
