How to help local businesses

As you all know, times are hard out there at the moment. I talk to a lot of small businesses on a weekly basis and I hear a lot about how they are struggling to stay afloat during this lockdown period.

But, perhaps the lockdown will start to relax a bit over the next few weeks and offer everyone a glimmer of hope for a brighter future!

So it got me thinking, what can we all do to help local businesses bounce back and finish this year stronger than ever?

Below I have listed a number of things we all can do to help support these local businesses and keep our communities alive and vibrant.

LIKE, COMMENT AND SHARE POSTS

Most small businesses are on social media as it's a great way to get their brand noticed, share products with you and for keeping you up to date with their latest news and behind the scenes action.

By simply engaging with their post by liking, commenting and sharing content you will be supporting them by getting their business in front of more people.

RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY

One of the best ways to show your support is through word of mouth. Talking about a small business and recommending them to friends and family will help them get new customers and hopefully get more people to spread the word.

WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW

Reviews are so helpful for a small business as this shows their brand as a trusted place to buy from, helping others make the decision to purchase their product or service.

You may be able to write a review on their website, Facebook page or Google. Just remember, a positive review goes a long way in helping a small business, whether it is a shop, restaurant or service provider.

SEND THEM A PERSONAL MESSAGE

Often small businesses are only one person or a small team of people. One personal message can make someone's day! So drop them a personal message over email or on social media to let them know how much you love their business and why.

Not only will this put a smile on their face, it will be the motivation and encouragement they might need to keep going.

BUY FROM THEM

All of the above points show you how easy it is to support a small business by spending nothing at all!

Of course, nothing will support them more than buying from them. So whether you have a birthday coming up or Christmas is approaching, think 'shop small' and choose a small business to support instead of reaching for giant retailers.

SPEND TIME ON YOUR HIGH STREET

We’re all a bit guilty of not spending enough time on our local high streets.

It’s a case of “use it or lose it” – quite genuinely. Rents, rates, and staffing costs mean that it’s much harder to run a bricks-and-mortar business than an online store – but they’re absolutely essential. Sometimes you just want to see a product, or talk to an expert in person, or – controversial, I know – just be around other people.

Let’s all work together in supporting local and getting our towns and city centres back on track. 

Gary Lintorn - Let Me Get You Moving...

Who is Gary Lintorn?

Gary is your proven and trusted property expert with a huge heart. Not only does Gary take care of his clients and the sale & rental of their homes, he also works with the local community of Dartford and the surrounding areas too. Find Gary Lintorn on his Youtube channel here.