How to Get Your Business Included in the #SupportLocal Conversation
5 tips to get noticed as a local business
If you’ve been online whatsoever in the past few years, you’ve probably noticed rising support for local businesses of all kinds. Though this movement became particularly popular during the pandemic, which presented tough times to most small businesses, it’s actually been a long-rising trend for people to turn to local businesses over megachains and e-commerce giants.
A quick look at #SupportLocal on Instagram shows more than 46 million posts. That’s a saturated hashtag, but it also presents big opportunities for brands that gain some interest in their own community. So how do you get your business included in the conversation about supporting local? What are the benefits of being considered a ‘small, local business’? And what social media strategies can you use to turn online followers into offline customers? Let’s take a look.
Why are People Supporting Local?
There are a number of reasons people are increasingly prioritizing local businesses for their purchases. Even though local businesses often have higher prices than your average supercentre, many find the upsides to be worth the added costs. Here are some of the main reasons people love supporting local.
Keep Personality in Communities – A neighbourhood is only as good as its best pizza place, or cute boutique, or hardworking local services. No one wants to wake up one day and realize their once cool and unique community is dominated by massive fast food chains and faceless corporations.
Finding Alternatives to Huge Companies – For many, weaning off of huge, exploitative companies (think Walmart) is a big priority. We don’t have a lot of options when it comes to resisting these large brands in our neighbourhoods. But one way we can make a difference is by being intentional in which companies we support with our business.
Helping Out the Planet – Local goods often don’t need to travel as far to get to market, reducing the emissions created by each individual purchase. For those looking to do their part for the environment, supporting local is one great choice.
Having Options – Competition is an essential part of business, ensuring companies are pushed to provide more options, better service, and lower prices wherever possible. When we support local, we help multiple businesses to thrive.
Feeling Connected to the Companies You Support – Last but not least, people are beginning to be extra aware of the companies they purchase from. Gone are the days of mindless consumerism—the average person prioritizes worthwhile purchases that truly add to our lives, and feeling connected to local brands can help with this.
How to Get Noticed as a #LocalBusiness
So now that you understand why people care about supporting local, you might be thinking ‘Well, I’m a local business, so how do I get people to support me?’ We’ve got you covered. Here are 5 tips to help you get noticed as a local business.
Uplift Other Local Businesses
Posting and talking about other local businesses can be a great way to gain a wider audience in your community. We don’t recommend doing this for your direct competitors, but otherwise, don’t be shy! Do you have a go-to spot to get your hair done? Shout them out in an Instagram story. Did you just have an amazing dinner in town? Tag them in your post! Get in the habit of shouting out other local businesses. This will help draw followers of those brands to yours, plus it may encourage other business owners to return the favour as well.
2. Stay Informed on Local News and Events
If you want your community to support you, you need to support your community. Get involved in the goings-on of your local area—not just for networking and marketing, but as a regular old citizen. Go to events, festivals, shows, and anything else that brings the community together. Keep up-to-date on current events in the area. Bonus points if you promote these events and updates on your social media, turning your page into a hub for local info.
3. Get to Know People
Related to the last point, take some time to get to know people in your community. As a small business owner, you should never pass up an opportunity to meet those who will (hopefully) support you in the future. When you meet new people, make sure you’re not constantly in networking mode. People are more likely to support your business if they vibe with you directly—so stay informal, friendly, and classy.
4. Sponsor Local Events
If you can, sponsoring events, charity galas, and even local sports teams can be a great way to build brand recognition and help people learn about your business. Often, the publicity and good press that comes with sponsorship will more than pay for the financial costs of helping out. Plus, this comes back to the essential idea of supporting your community before expecting support in return.
5. Keep Your Community in Mind on Social Media
When it comes to social media, it can be tricky to strike a balance between personal, human, day-to-day stuff, and the constant pressure to market and advertise. However, we’ve seen firsthand what a community-oriented page can do for businesses looking to become more popular in their community. Post about stuff that’s happening in town, whether it’s a huge event or just a nice moment. The more you can present yourself as just another part of the community, the more people will associate your brand with the concept of local business and supporting local.
Nailing Social Media, from Local to Global
Wherever you’re at in the development of your business, building up a presence in your local community is almost always the best starting point. No business went from unknown to globally successful overnight—they started small and simply did good work, slowly but surely building a following over the years.
If you’re looking for support to help your business come to mind when people think ‘#SupportLocal’, BNL is here to help. Our social media unicorns have the experience and knowledge to research your area and market, find opportunities to cement your presence as a local business and help your brand get the attention from the community that it deserves.
Still curious about being included in the #BuyLocal conversation? Don’t hesitate to get in touch today!