Six Ways to Help Support Small and Local Businesses

Looking back, 2020 was a devastating year for small businesses. Many closed permanently, and most that survived were forced to downsize or racially alter their business model in order to keep operating. In many instances, customers stepped in a big way with innovative efforts to support their favorite local and small businesses. Here are six things you can do if you wish to help in 2021.

1) Follow and engage with the business on social media

One of the easiest and most effective ways to support a small business without spending a dime is by following them on social media. It is easy to engage with their posts and stories by commenting, sharing with a friend, or simply liking their posts. 

Social media engagement is extremely important to a small business. If their content receives enough good engagement, algorithms begin pushing it to the feeds of other users with similar interests. This exposure helps a small business get noticed by people who may not know it even exists yet, which is a very powerful way of helping them grow.

2) Share your experiences with a small business by writing a review or offering a testimonial

People love sharing their experiences on social media but are much less likely to leave a review unless their experience was either outstanding or terrible. Unfortunately, many of those reviews come from extreme circumstances that fall outside the norm and do not necessarily reflect the overall reputation of the business or the views of their regular customers.

You can help by writing reviews and offering testimonials for the brands and small businesses you love. You can even go a step further and become an influencer by posting about them on social media to let your followers know about them. Good reviews will encourage new customers. 

3) Buy a gift card to a local business

Another fantastic way to support small business is by purchasing gift cards. Their versatility makes them a great gift idea because the recipient can use them to order online or can choose to save them for a time when they feel comfortable enough to use them in person. 

Gift cards also make wonderful gifts for the friends and loved ones when you cannot get together to celebrate. While many large gatherings have been put on hold for a later time, birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays are still taking place. Gift cards are easy to put in a card and mail anywhere in the country for the cost of a stamp.

4) Be understanding and patient

For local business reopening after the pandemic, the retail landscape looks completely different than it did before COVID-19. While some of the larger businesses were able to return to normal operations, many of the smaller shops have taken longer to adjust. 

In most cases, small business owners rely on a number of constantly changing factors in order to make difficult business decisions. While they are doing what they feel is best to keep employees and customers safe, they are often forced to rely on trial and error until they discover what works best. 

5) Sign up for their email list

Email lists are extremely valuable for small business owners because email is a direct line of communication to you. Many businesses offer exclusive discounts and sales through email and some even offer a special promotion just for signing up. 

6) Make someone smile with flowers from Canadiana Flowers

At Canadiana Flowers, our expert floral designers are still working hard every day to arrange beautiful flowers and our delivery drivers are out every day of the week making same-day contactless deliveries. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, or even “just because,” now is the perfect time to send some love with the gift of flowers. We offer same-day delivery inToronto or anywhere in Canada or the U.S. Call us today at 888-265-7673 or shop online 24/7.