How could your small business help the local community?
Why we love to work with SMEs
We think marketing and communications can, and should, be ethical, positive and help our local community thrive. And we love to work with other sole traders, social enterprises and SMEs because we believe we all have that potential.
Small business can make a big impact
If you run a social enterprise, helping your local community will be at the forefront of your decision making. But any sole trader or small business can bring benefits to its locality – even by taking the smallest of steps.
At its core, a small business run by a member of the local community brings profits back to an area – rather than giving them away to large corporations or conglomerates. And that’s a great premise to start from, as well as the potential to create local employment.
How could you help your local community?
When you first set up in business, why not hire local traders to help you with fit outs or and try where you can to use locally sourced materials? Could you transform neglected buildings or spaces as your work base – you might qualify for financial help and support from your local council co do this. You could get involved in community causes or support events like the Big Spring Clean, which improve the local environment.
Build community cohesion and improve social contact
When you provide a welcoming environment you can increase social contact, reduce isolation and make a huge difference to community cohesion. So why not consider that when you think about your interactions and how you provide customer service?
You could work with other small businesses in the local community when you plan your marketing, PR and promotions. Unity is strength after all and, when you work together, everyone helps each other to succeed.
Independent SME’s transform the local community
I’ve seen a great example of this in my local community, where independent small businesses have transformed a once unsuccessful and neglected retail area. And how have they done it? By building a community of cooperative small businesses. They support and promote the local community and each other – and tailor their offer so they work together coherently.
The Moor Market in Sheffeld is another example of a community that thrives on support and community spirit. On social media, and in the initiatives they devise and promote together, they show what local people can achieve when they think, and act, collectively.
After all, in business as in life, a group that works together, thrives together – and that brings big benefits for everyone.
Now over to you and your small business
What steps do you think you could take to help your local community?
Do you have any tips or experiences you’d like to share with other small businesses?
Auto DM’s, would you use them…or not?
Now we wouldn’t want to offend any of our Twitter followers who use them, but we really don’t like automated direct messages.
We know they can be used to help introduce yourself, acknowledge a follow and promote your brand message. But we don’t think they have any place when you run a small business and want to build up real customer relationships.
Making connections
Here at ‘Pop Up’ we love to make personal connections and that’s where we think social media can really succeed. Perhaps we’re just lucky but we enjoy interacting and feel genuinely enthused about small business and Sheffield.
Auto DMs make us uneasy because they don’t really seem genuine and their style of promotion is just too ‘in your face’. And with small business, that kind of marketing can make your audience switch off, so we feel it’s better to try different approaches
Share with others
We think the best way to engage with people is to simply start talking – and when people follow you, just show that you’ve noticed.
Reply to their queries and RT their messages, if you think there’s a connection that’s of genuine interest. And if they want to pursue it, they’ll read your other content – you don’t need to auto DM them your links.
What else can you do?
Build up lists of like minded followers and chat to them – you’ll find out much more about what makes your ‘community’ tick. And, of course, it’s a cliché but we believe people work better together – and that’s what social media should really be for.
It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use Twitter to shout up about your business –but it’s best to consider how things come across. So with every conversation – and just like in person, you can’t always talk about me, me and …..me!
Should you still tweet promotions?
Well, yes of course, we’d never discourage you from posting promotions – but it’s all about balance in all social media. So schedule those tweets at varying intervals, to engage different audiences – and you won’t scare them off.
And do say thanks for follows every so often, perhaps when you reach certain targets – but do it in public – don’t use those DMs!.
Will it take too much time?
If you think interacting will take too up much of your time, it really doesn’t have to – just a few minutes a day can keep up the conversation. And then put in some thought to the tweets that you schedule – you can use these to link to, for example, posts on your blog. Or to convey your brand message, special promotions or images – and then these can be used again and again.
Our ethos
We think in life and social media, the best way to think is in terms of community – to be thoughtful and generous, and respect other people. So we say think again before you set up that message, you don’t need to shout to sell your business effectively.
Why not think about different ways to interact with people and show them you’ve noticed when they engage with your site.
Over to you
But we’d love to hear more about your personal experiences – so why not reply with your thoughts and suggestions?
Would you use auto DMs and what are your reasons?
PR and promotion 