It was common for small businesses to be engulfed in turmoil even before the pandemic struck. Today, many of them are in a very vulnerable position.
Still, though many businesses have struggled, their fighting spirit has not wavered, and a sense of community must be built and felt. The nation needs to band together to keep firms afloat, and you may be wondering what part you can play in these proceedings.
Consequently, here are some of the best ways you can help small businesses in your area today.
Use Social Media
It doesn’t take much to open an account on Twitter or Facebook or to use them as savvy tools for business purposes.
Try to shout businesses out if possible. An online post that highlights a firm’s capabilities, services, and excellent service could really help them. You could provide links to stock pages, eco-friendly measures, or charitable causes they are supporting, highlighting their work ethic and strong moral character. If possible, don’t just like, share, and retweet – put your admiration into your own words for a more effective promotional effort.
Be sure to include relevant keywords and hashtags to boost the visibility of your posts. Additionally, if you’re promoting an event of some kind for a firm, it could be worthwhile building up some hype before you make any big announcement. That way, you can ensure that you reach as many people as possible. Remember, many firms compete for shoutouts, so receiving them for free could be a big win for them.
Invest in Them
If you have capital at your disposal, investing in early-stage businesses that are going through their initial stages of growth could be a good idea, albeit with significant risk. There are specific schemes set up which provide growth opportunities and potential tax advantages.
All of this is made possible within the Oxford Capital Growth EIS fund. You can back a diverse portfolio of UK early-stage companies in a range of sectors, including eCommerce, fintech, artificial intelligence.
Cash injection into start-up businesses opens up an ever-expanding series of doors for them, propelling their growth going forwards. Remember, in doing this, you’re not just helping the small business succeed. You’re helping people earn their livelihoods, and you’re helping to keep the UK economy moving.
Be Mindful of Your Interactions
There are lots of things that customers can do that waste a firm’s time. These can be:
- Asking questions of customer service personnel that are answered by reading their web copy/FAQ pages.
- Engaging in small talk with staff who are clearly busy.
- Disputing price points and shipping arrangements.
- Cancelling tables in restaurants at the last minute.
Of course, more offences could easily be mentioned, but all of these incidents can add up to significant time loss for a business. Additionally, the old saying is true; time is money. Think about how you could approach each interaction with a company a little differently and keep their pressing needs in mind as you do.
