Why You Should Be Open To Volunteer and Charity Options As A Small Business

 Starting a small business comes with numerous obstacles. There is never a dull moment - and it doesn’t get easier with time. Making sure your business is successful takes time, dedication, and creativity. One thing a lot of small business owners tend to take for granted is all of the good things that accompany the act of community service. Many owners aren’t concerned with making sure to develop a strong community bond from the beginning because they have a million other things going on.

However,  the key to a successful small business is establishing and maintaining that community bond.

 There are multiple things small business owners can do to start building a stronger community connection. The best way to get involved is to know what your customers are interested and involved in. Making an effort to get to know them will open up opportunities you may have overlooked, such as: you can offer your space after hours as a meeting place for different groups or organizations, or volunteer a team of your staff at different community improvement projects.  It could also be as simple as sponsoring a team or event. And the best part: most of these things cost little or next to nothing other than the time of you and your employees.

Finding some way big or small, to contribute not only helps improve the community, but it is excellent free publicity. Recent studies by Cone Communication and Echo Research have illuminated the benefits of community outreach. Many American consumers have admitted to shopping at certain places or buying certain products because they value that company’s community efforts. AND - by building such a great name for your business through community involvement, you’re also building a loyal customer base.

So, here are some tips on getting your business involved:

1.       Get your employees, and/or families on the same page. In order for your community efforts to work, you’re going to need a team who is equally as jazzed about all the benefits of helping out the community. Most successful small businesses are not a one man show, and this shouldn’t be either.  Not only does getting your employees involved look good, but it creates leadership opportunities that might not otherwise present themselves. It also allows you to connect with your employees on a deeper level than you normally would during normal work hours.

2.       Don’t just expect these things to show up on your door step. Going out of your way to find community service opportunities is when you’ll really begin to broaden your potential customer reach. Just because a volunteer opportunity may seem small or abstract doesn’t mean it won’t be beneficial to your business. You can find opportunities through word of mouth, a little internet research, watching the news, or even getting your employees together a couple times a month to brainstorm.

3.       Get involved and stay involved. Volunteering just once or twice a year may have the opposite effect on your business; if customers just think you’re getting involved in the community for the publicity of it, that may leave a bad taste in their mouth. Making it a goal to give back to the community in some way at least once a month will help keep your name in good standing, and also keep your employees on track with your community goals.

4.       And last but certainly not the least- let your customers know what you’re up to. By keeping your website or blog up to date with what you and your team have been doing in the community, you’re helping foster that good name that you want for your business. It’s a somewhat subtle way to keep new and old customers in the loop, and it also let’s your customers know that you’re not afraid of using social media. We all know how wonderful the internet can be as a marketing tool; and this is just one more way to advertise your business, without seeming to try.

Keep these four things in mind, and you’ll have no problem building and maintaining a beneficial relationship with your community.


 Sources:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226974
http://www.independentwestand.org/community-involvement-equals-more-business-%E2%80%93-a-real-winwin/
http://www.padgettbusinessservices.com/blog/community-involvement-is-crucial-for-small-businesses 

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