Getting involved in the community is an excellent way for small businesses to make connections, build their social responsibility, and increase brand awareness (in addition to doing good). Even for brands with a national focus, increasing local participation can have lasting impacts.
Here are some of the easiest and most rewarding ways to get involved.
Build Partnerships
Forming relationships with local businesses in your same niche is a quick and easy way to boost your brand’s presence while gaining trust and friendship in your community (not to mention it’s also a great way to increase sales).
So what kind of businesses should you partner with? To start, find other companies that complement yours. If you own a protein and supplement brand, selling your products at a local gym, or providing samples to members is a great way to get your products in front of your target audience.
Did you recently start a line of locally inspired treats and snacks? Reach out to gift shops and tourist hot spots whose prime customers are on the lookout for unique and exciting souvenirs from their latest trip.
Volunteer
One of the easiest (and most rewarding) ways to get involved in your community is through volunteering. Just a few hours a month can make a massive difference to local organizations. Whether it’s your local soup kitchen, an animal shelter, or a youth outreach program, there are plenty of groups out there that would love your help.
Better yet, follow in the footsteps of companies like Salesforce or NuStar energy and get your whole team involved! Paid time off for volunteer work not only benefits your community, but it also increases employee satisfaction and a sense of purpose while raising your social responsibility. And even if you’re not quite at the stage where you can offer paid time off, organizing a regular optional volunteering event is still a great start!
Sponsorships
Getting involved doesn’t always mean volunteering. There are multiple ways to participate in your community that help out others while also acting as a marketing tool for your business. Here are a few key ways to participate without breaking the bank (while growing your brand identity)
Sponsoring youth sports
Not only will you fund healthy, beneficial activities for kids, getting your name out there will create widespread recognition amongst families and friends who are there in support. With a price point typically lower than traditional advertising, you can start to generate word of mouth marketing and interest in your products.
And even if you’re not quite in a position yet to be monetarily sponsoring sports, it’s always a good idea reach out to the organizations and see if they are looking for donations for snacks for game time or training.
Marathons and local races
Just like with youth sports, local races are always on the lookout for sponsors. If you sell products that cater to the fitness or healthy lifestyle industry, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to your ideal customer.
Participate in local events
Local events like health fairs and farmers markets are a great way to generate buzz (and create lifelong raving customers). The key thing to remember when participating in an event is to pick a primary goal and stick with it. Whether your aim is to sell products, increase your brand recognition, or grow your email list, singling out one goal will help focus your attention and make the event a success.
Start an event
Running a small business takes a lot of time and effort, and doesn’t always leave opportunities for getting involved in your community. To give back while accommodating your busy schedule, create your own charitable event.
Hosting a food or clothing drive can benefit those in your community who most need it while increasing your social responsibility. Better yet, get your customers involved too.
Even if you don’t have a storefront, starting an event can be quick and easy. Partner up with local stockists to act as a drop-off site for food or clothing. Or even have a portion of your proceeds from the sale of certain items go towards a specific charity for a specific period of time.
