Community Engagement and Small Businesses: A Winning Combination

We know that interacting with your customers while they’re in front of you is important. But what about community engagement? It can be easy to underestimate the importance of building a relationship with the community you serve. Here are some of the benefits of focusing on community engagement and how your business can use community involvement to grow its brand identity and revenue. 

Benefits of Small Business Community Involvement

Whether you have an online or brick-and-mortar business, getting involved in your community can be a game-changer for your brand. Here are some reasons why your business should consider more community involvement:

1. Increases Brand Awareness

One of the most obvious reasons your business should make community involvement a priority is that it can increase brand awareness. The more you get involved in your community, the more familiar people will become with your brand name. Your actions will instill a level of trust and reliability associated with your brand. Even if someone doesn’t need your products or services immediately, they’ll think of you first when they eventually do. 

2. Helps the Community Grow

When you do business in a community, getting involved is important because it helps your community grow and succeed. By establishing deeper ties and relationships with other community members and small businesses, you’ll eventually build a strong customer base that will result in sales and referrals. 

3. Improve Employee Morale

As a business, you also want your employees to have a fulfilling experience. Higher job satisfaction rates can lead to greater productivity and improved job retention rates. Studies have shown that employees are more likely to be satisfied with their work if they know they are working for a business that is giving back to the community. 

4. Gives You a Competitive Edge

People prefer to award their business to those they know and trust. Community involvement can give you an important leg up over your local competitors. One study revealed that roughly half of consumers want to know about a brand’s role in social responsibility efforts before deciding who they will support. By taking an active role in your community, you have the opportunity to set yourself apart from the competition and establish your brand as one that is trustworthy. 

8 Tips for Getting Your Small Business Engaged in the Community

As you get to know your customers through community engagement, it creates a sense of loyalty, which can benefit your business in the short and long term. Showing up for your neighbors can be a great way to form lasting relationships with potential customers, business partners, and investors. Here are eight tips for getting your small business involved in the community: 

1. Volunteer Your Time in the Community

Local organizations and events often need help with events or ongoing projects. This is an excellent way for your business to make meaningful connections with others in the community, show it cares, and start getting your name attached to philanthropic efforts. If employees volunteer their time together, they can wear a company hat or t-shirt to increase brand awareness. 

2. Choose a Charity

Even if you can’t volunteer your time to various events or causes in your community, you can still build brand recognition through charitable causes. Choose a charity in your community that you believe in and begin donating products, services, and money. 

3. Launch an Employee Engagement Program

You can encourage your employees to participate in community events and give to charitable causes by starting an employee engagement program. This can work in several different ways. You can give employees paid time off to do this work, agree to match their donations, or recognize employees who volunteer in the community. 

4. Join a Small Business Network

It’s always a good idea to get involved with small business networks in your local area, such as the Chamber of Commerce. These networks help you connect with other business leaders and provide opportunities to lend your skills to those less fortunate. 

5. Sponsor Arts and Sports Programs

Youth arts programs need sponsors for their equipment (costumes, instruments, sheet music, etc.) and venues. Youth sports teams also need sponsors for their equipment and travel expenses. Families and others in the community who use these services and attend these events see the business banners and appreciate the local businesses that sponsor these youth activities. 

6. Host Seminars and Workshops

If you have knowledge you’re willing to share for free, this can give your business significant exposure and gain you goodwill in the community. For example, some financial advisors will offer a free “financial literacy” class, or an estate planning firm might offer an “estate planning basics” seminar. These should be free of charge and have no strings attached. When a potential client decides they want these services, your name will be at the top of their list. 

7. Partner With Other Organizations

Joining together with other organizations is another way you can give back to the community, even if you are under budget or time constraints. This allows your business to collaborate on bigger projects and contribute to areas in which you might specialize. 

8. Connect With Local Influencers in Your Community

Most communities have local influencers or people who have established a presence on social media. Connecting with some of these people can help you get more in tune with areas in the community. Pinpointing ones that could use a hand and provide you with some exposure. 

Call Too Darn Loud Marketing Today to Get a Customized Digital Marketing Strategy

Community engagement is one piece of the larger puzzle that comprises your comprehensive small business marketing strategy. At Too Darn Loud Marketing, we are a full-service digital marketing agency that helps businesses throughout the United States connect with more customers and unlock more revenue. We offer a full suite of online marketing services, including website development, SEO, content marketing, and paid ads. 

We customize our solutions for each client and industry, so you only get the services we believe will produce the best possible results. Call us today at (800) 649-1764 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation and website evaluation.