With all the craziness going on, most people were eager to help small and local businesses at the beginning of the pandemic — bypassing large chain stores to purchase local instead. This community solidarity was heartwarming! Unfortunately, this enthusiasm faded over time… leaving small companies still adjusting and struggling.
Now is the time to show them some appreciation. Do you want to give a little back to those being hit the hardest these last months? Are you a small business owner yourself looking to support others in your local area? Whoever you are, this blog is for you! Let’s see 5 simple ways to support local businesses on social media without spending a single rupee.
Follow Them
Give your favourite restaurants and stores a Page Like on Facebook or a Follow on Instagram. This will mean more to them than you may think. The more people they can connect with, the more people will be able to see their offerings, and it only takes a second or two. While you’re at it, why not invite your friends too? Facebook has made it super easy to invite your friends to some of your favourite Facebook pages. Make good use of it!
Like and Comment on their Posts
This is an easy one — so easy that everyone forgets to do it! Liking your friend’s business post about their new product might seem insignificant to you, but to Facebook and Instagram’s algorithm, it’s not. Whatever it may be, be sure to give it the thumbs up or double-tap to show them the love. And for those who want to go the extra mile, be sure to leave a positive comment. Also, you might often see a call to action in some of their social media posts. Things like “let us know in the comment section” or “what is your favourite…”. So please, let them know!
Share Their Posts
Just like inviting your friends to follow your favourite businesses on Facebook, sharing their posts on your profile is just as powerful. This will allow your friends, family, and acquaintances to see what they have to offer without needing to like their page. In marketing terms, this will greatly increase their Reach, and that’s exactly what they need right now – visibility! This may also encourage your friends to go and follow them for more posts and allow the business to gain a wider audience.
Recommend Them on your Profile
Having a good recommendation works wonders – works just like a digital word of mouth. Tell your friends and followers about a positive experience with a product/service, rave about it in your stories, post a photo of you using the product, and most importantly TAG THEM! Small gestures like this can go a long way for small businesses in times of crisis, and it won’t cost you a cent! Not only will this make their day, but it will help them build credibility and attract interest from people who know you and trust your opinion. Think about how often you went to a restaurant based on a friend’s recommendation. See the power of recommendations now?
Leave a Glowing Review
Never underestimate the power of a positive review on their page. When people are looking for their next purchase or a new restaurant to try, they’ll most likely scrutinise online reviews to guide them on their customer journey. If you were satisfied with a product/service, leaving a positive note in their review section will surely help them build trust towards new visitors. And if you aren’t that great with words, that’s okay; all you need to do is select how many stars you would like to leave. Leaving a 5-star review is better than no review at all.
Do you intend to test any of these strategies to help small and local businesses? This has been a tough time for us all, so supporting each other in any way possible should be our strength. Please share this article on your profile with the hashtag #SupportLocal to spread the positive energy and help boost our local economy (it doesn’t cost anything, remember?)
P.s: If you’re yourself a business owner and need a little help getting your business seen on social media, that’s our playground. Get in touch for a chat.
