The Importance of Giving Back to Your Community as a Small Business
We live in a connected world, and it keeps getting more connected. As business owners, we are connected to all parts of our community: whether that be our local ones or our global ones. These communities are the ones who helped use grow and become successful. We are all part of our communities, especially as small businesses. It’s important that we are giving back and helping to support them.
How it benefits you
Even if you give back to your community, there are still some benefits to you and your community.
Feels Good – This might be a bit of a cliché. But, giving back to your community does just feel good. It allows you to do something good just to help someone else. Don’t discount that feeling.
Good Publicity – It’s common knowledge that a lot of businesses give back and get good publicity from it. There’s no reason why your business can’t do the same. If you do something good as a business, send out a press release. It’s okay to get good coverage while giving back.
Grow Connections – Networking is often emphasized in business settings. There’s a reason. Making connections allows you to reach people in order to have a support system and be one for others. Giving back to your community is a way to help grow your network. While seeking out ways to give back, you’ll definitely make connections. They might be the ones you help, or maybe other people that are helping while you are.
A Better Community – Having a better community is always a good thing. People are happier and more successful. This affects almost all aspects of your community’s life. And it can also be a benefit to your business. Communities that are better off may be better economically. This means that your business will be working in a more successful arena.
Ideas for giving back for small businesses
Charity Events – There are probably a variety of charity events being hosted in your community. Many of them will be hosted and planned by local civic organizations. As a business, you can help them be successful. Maybe you can offer a service that will help their event do well. Or maybe you can be a sponsor of the event. Chances are there’s a way you can help (plus, you’ll probably receive publicity for it).
Volunteer as a Member of your Business – Some businesses volunteer together. For instance, if there’s a walk coming up, form a team through your business. You can help raise money, then walk as a group. It’ll help the charity, and grow the culture in your business.
Mentorship – While mentorship is not giving back in the traditional sense, it can still be beneficial to your community. But, mentoring can come in a variety of forms and have lots of different benefits. If you want to directly help people in your community, you could sign up for a mentorship program like Big Brothers, Big Sister. Or, you could find a younger person who could use a mentor. It could even be a young person starting their own business. Either way, you’re helping someone.
