It goes without saying that it’s a crazy time in the world right now. For a foodie like myself with a long—and I mean LONG—list of favorite places to eat in our city, I am incredibly worried about them surviving so I can dine in once again. Luckily, many of these places (including local shops, not just restaurants!) are doing carry-out, curbside pickup, or delivery, so I can get my fix.
The realization that many small businesses might not make it through the COVID-19 pandemic is terrifying, not only for them and their employees, but also for the community; closed doors on some of our favorite places would be a terrible loss. The most obvious and immediate thing we can all do to help local businesses is to continue shopping by ordering take-out, buying gift cards to use later, or shopping online. However, we’re all humans with budgets (especially now that people may need to be even more careful with their money), so here are some creative ways you can support your favorite businesses without spending anything at all.
1) Like their page.
Have a few favorite small businesses in mind? Find them on social media platforms and ‘Like’ their page so you continuously see what they’re up to. This will also help you stay up-to-date about any sales or promotions they may be offering. If you’re ready to make a purchase, you can support the business and get a great deal!
2) Share their social media posts.
Help them get their posts in front of more people. You might not be buying right now, but somebody in your friends list might be! This is also a great way to give a shoutout! If you’ve had a good experience with their products or services, tell people how great they are and encourage your followers to see for themselves.
3) Like their posts.
Just by liking a post online, you’ll help generate more views—that’s the beauty of social media algorithms! Help get good content in front of more people simply by hitting that ‘Like’ button.
4) Leave a comment.
Social media algorithms favor posts with a lot of likes and comments, so by commenting anything on their posts, it will appear on more timelines—not just your friends’ pages! Talk about the delicious food they serve, compliment the great customer service, or just leave an emoji!
5) Post a pic.
If you’ve already purchased from the business, post a picture of your haul and tell your friends about your amazing experience. This stuff matters! Did you get a new outfit? Was the store selling home décor you just couldn’t resist? Show it off and promote the shop.
6) Write a review.
If you have something good to share, leave a review on Google, Facebook, or anywhere you can think of. More and more people depend on reviews when determining where they spend their money, so help your favorite places get more visitors by writing them a stellar review.
A Message to Business Owners
We know that this time is probably already putting a strain on you financially. We want to do everything we can to help. We would like to feature your business on our social media page and help you get more visitors.
Are you offering carside or curbside pickup, take-out, or delivery? Do you have items for sale online? Is your store open for limited hours? Let us help you spread the word to more people. Email us a photo we can use and the information you’d like us to include, and we will feature you on our Look Local First pages and tag your business! Send to LLF@VizyPay.com
We created Look Local First to be a place where small business owners and their supporters could come together in support of small businesses, and that has never been more important.
To learn even more about great business practices and ways to support your favorite establishments, explore our blog!
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone” – Ronald Reagan
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