We’re a week away from the retail craze of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Some of us dive right in, some put a toe in, and others sit on the sidelines. Whatever your choice, there is a way to participate in Small Business Saturday that requires intention more than money.
When you’re small, you need business AND help breaking through the digital world. It takes big bucks to dominate pay-to-play social media feeds and searches. Small businesses don’t have that kind of budget, so we have to think creatively and ask for help. Here are five ways you can support small businesses like CEG:
1. Do business with them. Shop Small is the slogan for Small Business Saturday but doing business –– shopping or hiring services –– is an all year state of mind. Check out those independent shops in your neighborhood. Sometimes mom and pop shops provide the best service around. And small businesses help communities flourish.
2. Understand how reviews impact businesses. Review counts and positive ratings improve a business’s local ranking in searches. The way algorithms work, if you’re at all happy, give five stars. Four through one is a varied version of “I wouldn’t recommend.” So if the experience was good –– not necessarily perfect –– give five stars. This applies to all industries including ride shares, retail, hospitality, and more.
3. Act on this knowledge and write reviews. Google reviews play a big part in how a business ranks in local search engine results. Sharing what you appreciate really helps small businesses get noticed. Keep reviews specific, useful, and friendly, but don’t give out personal information. Talk about the range of services, your own experience, and/or highlight what makes the business exceptional. It’s very easy to copy and paste a review across platforms to support a business you value.
4. Engage in social media posts. Share, like, and comment on posts of small businesses you support. For example, if each person who reads this blog shares it with their network, it helps grow CEG’s name recognition and blog readership. Potential business could come our way from just a moment of your time or a click of a button.
5. Spread the word. The small business owners I know depend on word of mouth –– referrals, networking, casual conversations, etc. It’s the most effective way to get business and outperforms TV, print, and social media marketing. That’s a great thing for businesses who have small marketing budgets. I use my phone to organize and instantly text contact information (v-cards) when I am referring people in my network. It’s quick and easy.
Conclusion
I know this time of year gets busy for all of us. I would encourage you to be a bright spot and take a few minutes to help spread the word about your small business favorites. Remember the independently owned shops when making your lists, know how reviews impact businesses, act by writing reviews, simply like, comment and share posts, and make those referrals and recommendations when appropriate. Let’s help small businesses shine.
Jeff Salzbrun is the owner/broker of Commercial Equities Group (CEG). As a veteran-owned real estate brokerage, CEG has been involved in thousands of sale and lease transactions, ranging from single offices to 250,000+ square foot buildings. At CEG, we get your deal done. We know space, and we know the CRE business.
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