The Importance of Community Involvement as a Small Business

When you run a small business, especially a relatively new one, you will do anything to get your name out there.

One of the best ways to improve your local name recognition is by getting involved with your community. Set aside a budget specifically meant for community involvement and use that capital to get your brand out there. 

This post will help give you some ideas to get your small business involved in your community.

Ways to Boost Community Involvement

Sponsor an event

When you sponsor an event, you're not just getting your business name out there. You're also showing the community how much you care about local causes, and that you want to be a part of the community’s development. Plus, sponsoring an event gives you a chance to network with potential new clients—and who knows where those connections might lead? 

Beyond that, when you sponsor an event, it shows your community what causes you are passionate about. Customers who feel the same way will be more likely to support you. 

Sponsor a school

Another great way to get involved is by sponsoring a school event. It’s not uncommon for businesses to sponsor sports teams or graduations, but you might also be able to find opportunities to support other school events. 

Schools are always looking for ways to get their students involved with the community and teach them about giving back, so they’ll likely welcome your help with events like book fairs or reading programs. Your donation doesn’t have to be huge—you just want it to be enough so that the school can use it effectively.  

Check to see if any local schools offer digital advertising on their app, website, or even their scoreboards. This can be a great way to help cover some of their costs while directly advertising your business.  

You should also try reaching out early in the planning process so that you can discuss what kinds of activities they plan on including and make suggestions. You don't want your money going toward something your customers are disinterested in.

When writing out the proposal letter, be sure not only to explain why this sponsorship will benefit both parties but also to say why the event itself is important and how much value people get out of it every year.

Start a charity drive

If you've been in business for a while, you should have a good idea of what your customers are into. If not, now's the time to find out. If they're interested in helping with something charitable, this is an excellent way to grab their attention.

You can also choose a charity that resonates with you and your employees. That way, everyone will feel like they're contributing by simply doing their jobs.

The best part about running a business drive is that it doesn't require much effort on your end—aside from choosing which charity needs help and giving them some leeway around when they'll get the donation.  
 
Afterward, all you must do is promote the event through social media or flyers posted around town so that people know what's going on and how they can participate.

Volunteer

The first and most obvious way to become more involved in the community is through volunteering. As a small business owner, you've probably already got quite a bit on your plate: managing employees, serving customers and clients, and making sure that everything runs smoothly every day. 

It can be difficult to find the time or energy needed for any additional projects—but getting involved can help strengthen your local community bond (and potentially even give you new ideas for your business!).

By making volunteering part of your weekly routine, you'll get to know not only other members of the community but also potential customers who might want to support local businesses like yours. 

Support a non-profit

There are many ways that a small business can support a non-profit organization. One of the most common is through financial donations, but there are other ways to contribute as well.

• Donate money: Donation sizes and amounts vary by organization, but most will accept anything from $5 to $500 or more. 
  
  
• Donate goods: If your company has excess stock or equipment sitting around, you can donate those items to a local charity and receive a tax write-off in return. Many charities also accept gently used clothes donated by individuals who no longer need them. 
  
  
• Volunteer time: Volunteering at an organization will not only help them meet their goals—but it's also great for your brand! Plus, when you're done with your shift, you'll have even more stories about why you're passionate about what you do at work every day! 

Give to the Community and the Community Gives Back

Every small business wants to get its name out into the community. One of the best ways to do that is to involve your business with local causes, events, and organizations.

If you are struggling to gain brand recognition, then your business might be lacking in a high-quality website and effective search engine optimization (SEO). 

The good news? Legend Web Works is here to help!

If your small business needs a stronger digital presence the Legend Web Works team is just the crew to call. We are experts in website development, SEO, social media, and all things digital. 

When you are serious about boosting your local and digital presence, it is time to reach out to Legend Web Works.