Being a small business owner has a lot of perks! One of the most rewarding parts of owning your own small business is bringing products, services, and value to the people of your community. Helping the people in your community is not only personally gratifying and the right thing to do, but it is also a very good idea for growing your business, building engagement, and promoting your brand. The holiday season is a great time to start community engagement because there are often many opportunities to get involved with your community and to get your brand in front of potential customers.
Sponsorship
With the holidays comes many opportunities to sponsor local events. Sponsoring a local local event will not only feel good, but it will get your name out to hundreds of volunteers and participants. Many of the events need donations to make their events fly. Even if the events are virtual, many of them still send out goody bags or tshirts which give you the opportunity to get your brand into dozens, if not hundreds of homes.
Volunteer
From toy and canned food drives, to meal delivery and coat collections, there are a plethora of charitable events and missions that you and your team can take part in. Volunteering for a community event is a great way to get involved and experience the joy of giving; likewise, you will also increase your brand recognition locally. Giving your time is a great way to show your community that you are invested in their wellness, and if you invest in them, they will want to invest in you.
Partnerships
Consider becoming year-long partners with a charitable organization or nonprofit that benefits the community. Choose a cause that is near and dear to you and your team’s hearts. They are often very grounded in the community and have a large following of people who benefit from their services but also a number of people who contribute to their cause. You and the organization can work together to find ways to help them, and they will in turn help grow your small business with their local following.
Now more than ever, we are all looking for signs of humanity, generosity, and kindness in our world! Why not let your small business be the ambassador for all those things? By sponsoring, volunteering, and partnering locally, you will not only be providing for your community, but your small businesses will also benefit greatly with increased engagement, brand recognition, more sales, and valuable community relationships!