How to support local businesses without spending a penny
Liz Jeffery from Faversham’s Shore Way Marketing encourages local people to go the extra mile and support local shops and businesses, even when they’re closed for lockdown. There are some businesses at Brogdale Farm which have been forced to close and we want to offer them all the support we can.
It’s been a tough year for businesses in general, and with Lockdown 2.0 there’s no sign of things getting easier this year. Many of us what to shop local and support our fantastic local independent traders through these tough times, but what if you can’t?
Ideally, spending money on products and services is the best way to keep independent businesses running, but there are many, many more ways you can help and support your local high street and beyond.
How you can help
- A personal recommendation is without a doubt one of the best ways to support local businesses. Shoppers who have a personal recommendation are far more likely to buy.
- Like social media posts. If you see a local business share a post on social media, give them a like. This really helps the algorithms and gets the post in front of more potential buyers. It only takes a split second of your time.
- Comment and share. Commenting and sharing a post really helps get businesses in front of more buyers. The more you can do this, the more it helps.
- People often ask for recommendations for services and products online. Tag a local business and recommend them.
- If you had a great service or bought a great product, write a review. We are too quick to write bad reviews on poor service. Writing positive review (it doesn’t matter where) not only really helps local businesses to shine and for new customers to be reassured that they are dealing with a trusted, reliable business (plus it feels nice).
- If you host a blog, why not write a piece about the your favourite local businesses? Recommend to your followers that they try them when they can. The mentioned businesses will most likely share your blog, getting you both in front of new audiences.
Shop local this Christmas
Most importantly, try not use those massive on-line websites for your Christmas shopping – wait until December when lockdown ends and enjoy some wonderful shopping at Faversham’s independent shops and businesses.
By Liz Jeffery
From Shore Way Marketing
liz@shorewaymarketing.co.uk
