Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. According to the SBA, there were a reported 32.5 million small businesses nationwide in 2021. Since then, that number has continued to grow. Small businesses often rely on business from the local community to thrive, making proper community engagement essential to the success of small businesses. These trending community engagement techniques will help you connect with current and potential customers.
Critical Feedback
Use various methods to encourage customer feedback. Social media polls are lovely. Ask customers to leave a social media or Google review to learn their thoughts. You can also ask people at the store to fill out an anonymous survey. Asking for feedback is essential, but acting on feedback is crucial. Always thank customers for providing their opinion, even if it’s negative. Respond to reviews to inform people how you plan to improve your services. This is one of the most critical community engagement techniques because people value online reviews so much.
Volunteer and Give Back
Take the initiative to give back to your community whenever you can. Encourage employees to volunteer locally, especially if the community faces hard times. Show up to help people clean up after tragic events like a tornado. Offer financial donations if your company can. Consider events that involve giving back to the community, such as a toy drive before the holiday season to ensure all children have presents to open.
Community Celebrations
Celebrate the local culture and traditions in the area. For example, head to the festivities if your community always lights a Christmas tree downtown for the holidays. Decorate your storefront for local holidays. Showing up at events shows people throughout the community that you care. You should also show up at other events, such as memorials for people in the community. This small gesture of kindness shows that you care. People are more likely to engage with your business when you’re in tune with the surrounding community.
Project Participation
Many communities host regular projects. There may be food drives for the homeless or events to raise funding for a local food bank. It’s common to see many businesses hosting projects to help people around the holidays. More communities are hosting neighborhood cleanup days to ensure clean and beautiful communities. Pay attention to the local news channels and social media pages to stay current on local projects.
Community engagement techniques can help you stay connected to the local community, increase revenue, and attract loyal customers. Contact us at ActivateDetroit today for a community engagement consultation.