Five Easy Ways to Support Small Businesses

A lot of small businesses are finding this Christmas build up slower than usual, the dreaded budget with all the doom and gloom associated headlines isn't helping, but we thought we'd do a quick blog post of how easy it actually is to support small businesses. So, here are five easy things you can do that will make a difference to a small business in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

1. Read their Blogs

Chances are most small businesses have a blog like this one. It can be lonely running your own business, especially if you take on the majority of roles, so our #blogs are a wonderful way of communicating, and whilst still online, allow a small business to feel connected to real people! I always end up typing like I'm chatting away, probably telling you more than I should anyway! Most blogs have #monetized ads in them, they don’t affect the reader but any impression the ads make means the business might make a few pennies. So if the ad shows up on your screen for a few seconds it's allowing the small business to earn something, however small. We haven't monetized this blog yet, but it's something we're looking into. Chances are the blog will be really interesting and informative anyway so it’s a win win! 

2. Support their Online Presence

   
   

   Unless you’re a small business owner, I don’t think people really understand the joy a ‘like’, ‘comment’ or ‘share’ brings... a lot of small business owners dislike the online/social media side of the job but if you engage with our posts, it makes it all worth while! Believe me, the hours spent on creating reels, typing, trying to understand the dreaded #algorithm and praying it shows your posts to people who will be interested, quite often takes away from doing the work itself! Make sure you follow all their profiles and get engaging (we see you looking due to the business insights anyway so why not!), this means the small business will reach even more new people! The fact that there is a template on Instagram reels showing views but no likes but views from friends and family, compared to views and loads of likes from strangers, tells small business owners that online support isn't a given, nor is it easy to come by!

We're on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and soon to be YouTube!

Find us @evansandmoose

3. Visit Local Markets & Fairs

   
   

   Instead of visiting big chain stores, search out local #craftfairs or #markets. Apart from being another way of keeping real human connection alive with those that don’t have brick and mortar stores, a busy market is great encouragement for small business owners. Even if you don’t buy anything, take business cards so you can visit their online shops later on or sign up to newsletters for free. We’re not doing any Christmas fairs ourselves this year, but will be out at Spring and Summer Markets, so keep an eye on our events page on our website to see where we’ll be (you could even sign up to our free newsletter... see what we did there?!). 

   
   
   
   

   

4. Leave Reviews

For lots of shops without brick and mortar stores (and even those with), it can be hard to gain the trust of potential buyers, especially if you sell online. Reviews help assure potential purchasers of the quality of product and allow for trust in the shop itself to build. They can also mean the small business will show up in certain searches as well. If you have a negative #review, contact the small business and chat to them first, nine times out of ten, they will go above and beyond to rectify any issue, if they don’t... then you can leave them an honest (or stinking) review! Also, you can never over review, if you've reviewed on Google, head to their website. Done the website? Facebook next!

5. Purchase (& Spread the Word)

   
   

   Ok, obviously purchasing from a small business, even better if it’s local (but having something shipped a few hours made by an artisan should still outweigh convenience of big stores) is one of the best ways to support. Even a sale of a few pounds is beyond appreciated, especially at this festive time of year. If you buy something, big or small, and are pleased with it, spread the word, talk to friends and family. Word of mouth is not dead and a lot of businesses still rely on this for custom, so spreading the word is always appreciated!  

See, four and a half of those don't even need you to spend a penny, yet the support a small business would gain would mean the world to them!

The majority of people prefer artisan products, hand created pieces and traceable items with small manufacturing processes, but the reality is, that if we don't treasure these things which most small businesses pride themselves on, the will disappear and we'll be left with inhuman, disconnected corporate big dogs (some of which have a place... we suppose). Don't even get me started on #AI...

Anyway, hope that helps when you want to know how to easily support #smallbusinesses this festive season and beyond!