Ideas
How You Can Help Small Businesses Right Now,
Right Where You’re At
Odds are you’re reading this at home because odds are we wrote it from home. We’re all wondering when things will return to normal and, in the meantime, what we can do to help.
Right now, people are rising to the challenge. Landlords in New York are waiving rent for residents and small businesses. Distilleries have switched from spirits to sanitizers. Restaurants are offering ‘to-go cocktail kits’. Businesses big and small are helping, and they’re staying open in the process.
We all want to do our part. But where do you even start?
Be a spokesperson for your favorites.
Does your favorite restaurant offer gift cards? Curbside pickup or delivery? Like it,
post it, tweet it, share it.
Finally write the great American Yelp review.
Yelp and Google reviews let the business owner know you care. Plus, it feeds the mighty indexing machines that’ll get that small biz more visibility.
Tag, you’re it. Your turn to tag someone else.
Tagging friends on a brand or business post grows the biz’s network and organic reach — they pay less to reach new people, lowering their acquisition costs.
Smash that subscribe button.
Businesses are deploying emails with timely and relevant information — whether it’s a change in hours or offerings. Subscribe, and forward your favorites to friends.
Photography by Alyssa Broadus
Buy a gift card now. Use it later.
Once you can, what’s the first bookstore or bar you’ll be hitting up? The lunch spot where you’ll grab a bite to eat? Coffee shop?
Put down that homemade sourdough and order takeout.
Restaurants and bars are still making food and drinks, they’re just doing it to go.
Feed the folks on the frontlines.
Our city’s own Reiger, Campground and Succotash are all making meals for healthcare workers. Even the University of Kansas Health System has the option within Make a Donation.
The Natives chimed in with their fave KC spots to support now (and later).
Tap into your network, and spread the word for those who need us most.
Whether you realize it or not, each and every one of us is a digital marketer. We’re also the savviest consumers in history. We’re just quarantined for the moment.
