Supporting Small Business Through Social Media

We all have our favorite local stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and more that we love to visit. This year has been nothing short of challenging for them. From shutdowns to loans to limited capacity and limited staff, our small businesses are hurting. The people behind these beloved businesses are doing everything they can to keep their doors open in the midst of the pandemic. With the holiday season in full swing, I would like to propose a couple of easy ways to support your favorite small businesses this year.

As a small business owner who works with other small businesses, it is my hope that we can help keep as many businesses open as possible this year. More than ever, businesses are using social media to stay in contact and engage with their customers. I know that businesses have had to pivot in significant ways to reach people at home and beyond just to keep their doors open. We, as communication professionals, can help. We can give back without spending much if any money at all.

One way to support small businesses is to leave a stellar review. Your opinion matters and your friends take your thoughts into account when selecting where to shop, eat, or drink. Consider giving small businesses in your community a five-star review on Facebook this year and encourage others to do the same. This could be the gift that keeps on giving.

Another way you can support small businesses this year is to interact with their social media. By liking, commenting, and sharing a business’s social media posts, you are not only helping to spread the word about their business, but you are also helping improve their organic reach via social media algorithms. Your efforts can benefit their ability to reach more people without changing what they are doing. Sounds like a pretty nice gift.

Finally, consider spending your dollars locally. While Amazon and big businesses are convenient, no doubt, small businesses offer more for the community that you actually live and work in. Post about your experience and tag the business in your post. Creating content that they can then re-share is invaluable and pays major dividends in the long run. Your post will encourage others to post and could spark a social media campaign in itself. Plus, who doesn’t want to be “insta-famous”?

In a year that has left us feeling out of sorts and helpless, take heart in knowing that you can do something good this year. Your efforts cost you little to nothing but could be the difference in a business staying open or closing this year. Use your communication skills to benefit those around you and spread holiday cheer through your support of small businesses on social media.

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