The summer months have arrived! There are a few holidays and important observations that take place during the month of May, such as Memorial Day and Mother’s Day. But there are some that may not be as commonly known, like National Small Business Week. Have you heard of it?
Highlands Community Bank proudly celebrates small businesses in their community on a regular basis. In this blog, you’ll learn what this special observation is and why it’s worth observing. We will also share some tips on how local organizations and members of the community can celebrate small businesses.
What is National Small Business Week?
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized the first week of May as National Small Business Week for more than 50 years. National Small Business Week celebrates the resiliency and tenacity of the small businesses that make up our local and national economy. This week is a time to reflect on the contributions that entrepreneurs and small business owners in the United States have made to our society.
In the U.S., there are reportedly a whopping 32.5 million small businesses and 31 million entrepreneurs, as of this year. These are wonderful individuals and business entities that make a difference in communities all over. Through their innovative efforts, they enhance the people’s livelihood and improve the economy. Small businesses and entrepreneurs bring communities together.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our world witnessed a major spike in the support for small, local businesses. People did not want to see more locally-owned shops and restaurants shut down permanently, so they showed up and showed their support. But it is crucial that we continue pulling for small businesses no matter the circumstances. So in honor of small businesses and entrepreneurs everywhere, we’d like to share six ways local businesses can celebrate Small Business Week! Let’s jump in:
How Can Business Owners Better Promote Themselves?
Sharing Your Story
Why did you start your business? Your story deserves to be heard by everyone. Consider creating a video or writing an article about how you got your start and what inspired you to build the company you have today.
This can give your customers and business partners a better look at who is behind your company and the values it was founded upon; another reason why they should support you. It’s always a good idea to put a face to a brand – it humanizes the consumer experience!
Giving the world a taste of who you are and why you do what you do can increase your credibility in your community and beyond. So if you feel comfortable doing it, we highly recommend sharing your story whether that’s through a social media post, a video, or a story on your website!
Express Your Gratitude
Now is the perfect time to express how thankful you are to the ones who help your company stay afloat – your customers, your team, or anyone you’ve partnered up with in the past. You can share your gratitude in any number of ways. You could send a nice card, give a shoutout to a few people on social media, or send a small gift!
You could even offer a discounts as a “thank you” to your current customers. This may help drive more sales for your company and can attract new customers. Offering discounts is an excellent way to give your brand a competitive edge and build customer loyalty.
Everyone loves to feel appreciated and like they’re seen. So by giving your supporters a token of gratitude (of any kind), you could make their day brighter and give them a great reason to smile.
Partner Up
We’ve mentioned partnership a couple of times now. But partnering with other businesses (small or larger scale) is a wonderful way to get your company’s name out there and garner greater recognition and appreciation from many.
Partnering up with different businesses will increase your business and customer network and build goodwill across the board. A partnership would help you gain credibility with potential customers and your partners’ customer base. It would help everyone, which is a major win!
Community Outreach
Any company can benefit from community outreach, but it can especially give small businesses and entrepreneurs the necessary leverage for growth. Investing in your community is essential for attaining greater success, and it can be extremely rewarding.
You can join your local chamber of commerce to interact with other business owners in the area. This is a terrific way to open new windows of opportunity and gain recognition as an expert in your craft among other businesses in the community. Attending events will help put your name at the top of people’s minds.
Another idea would be to take time to volunteer with different charities or nonprofit organizations. You and your team could create a fundraiser to raise money for a cause or donate food to a local food pantry.
What Can You Do to Help During National Small Business Week?
With all this talk of community, we’d like to share three tips on community members can celebrate National Small Business Week!
Utilize Social Media
Do you have a favorite small business that you regularly buy from? Make a post on social media about why you love their company. Share your testimonial! Be sure to tag their business account so other people can find them too.
Leave a Review
Shoppers rely very heavily on reviews when making buying decisions. That means reviews can boost a business’ reach and sales. If you had a good experience with a small business, leave some feedback! Studies say that more than 72% of buyers are likely to trust a business with positive customer reviews more than those without.
Buy from Small Businesses
Try shopping from small businesses this week! No matter the price of the purchase, the sale would mean a lot to them. You would be directly helping them achieve their goals, which is invaluable.
Showing support goes a long way. The Highlands Community Bank team wishes everybody a happy Small Business Week. We’d like to say how much we appreciate the small businesses, entrepreneurs, and other lovely members of the Alleghany Highlands community. Celebrate and have fun!
Leave a Reply