How to Support Local Small Businesses | Hampton Roads, Virginia | Jess Nicole Photography

I consider myself to be somewhat of a frugal person. I love thrifting, I love a good bargain. But beyond that, I do love to shop in unique, local businesses and restaurants too. I feel like, especially when traveling, you can never really experience the destination until you've had local, fresh cuisine or been into local shops. There's just nothing like it. You can go to McDonald's anywhere, but you may never have the opportunity to eat a meal like what's being served up in that restaurant over there ever again!

But, I also know that shopping small and local can be more expensive than say, getting something at a major store or online. I get it. Trust me.

But hear me out. The reason why small businesses typically have higher prices is because they simply cannot compete with the volume and crazy low prices of other huge stores. Their overhead is more expensive- they've got rent and insurance to pay, taxes, and they've got to supply products- all while still making a profit. They usually offer much higher quality- sometimes even handmade- items. These are not produced in a factory and by a machine. These are made by real people- your neighbors and friends, right here in the good ol' USA. It doesn't get any more American than that. Small businesses are real Americans chasing after their American dream. So when you shop small, you are literally making someone's dream come true. That money is staying right here in your community and supporting YOUR local economy. Or, in my case, I'm a photographer. When someone chooses me over a big box store/company- my heart SOARS! I consider it an honor to document people's memories and provide them with beautiful printed products from their session.

I've also found that local businesses are more likely to work with you if you need help or need something in a pinch. Like I said, these are real people. They are compassionate and hard working. If you forgot an important event and need the perfect gift last minute, I bet they will get you what you need! I've done this several times!

However, if you are unable to financially support small businesses, I have come up with a few ways that you CAN support your friends and neighbors that don't cost a dime. These are easy to do and only take a second.

1. Word-of-Mouth: This is huge for small businesses. There's nothing more valuable than a past client or customer saying, "Holy cow, let me tell you how awesome this business/person is! We had such an amazing experience!" or "S/he was worth EVERY penny!" Passing our names along and putting them in people's ear are golden to us. You couldn't pay for that kind of marketing if you tried. So the next time you hear or see someone looking for a recommendation, don't be afraid to give your favorite small business owner a shout out! If you enjoyed your experience, tell a friend!
2. Social Media & Sharing: This one is also pretty major. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are always changing up their algorithms to enhance their customer experience. That's not always great news for small businesses. The current algorithms tend to filter out most things and only show you what a computer thinks is relevant to your life. Ever notice how you're scrolling through Facebook and you think to yourself, "I haven't seen a post from so and so lately, I wonder how they're doing?" So you search them, realize you're still friends and they've been posting lately, you just haven't seen them...that's the algorithm working. They think they aren't quite as relevant to your life anymore because you haven't INTERACTED with their posts. So, here's what you need to do. Like a post. Better yet, leave a love or a wow! Share their posts! The best thing to do? COMMENT. Even if it's just a few emojis. This helps the algorithm to say, "Hey, people like this! I'll put it in more feeds so other people can see it too." Even if you aren't buying or interested in purchasing at that point, just a simple comment like, "What a great deal!" or "Oh, I like this!" really helps.
3. Click the Links & Read the Blog: If a small business owner/blogger/vlogger posts a link or writes a new post, just clicking on the link and skimming over the content can help. It shows Google and other search engines that the content is relevant and will use it for future searches. You can combine that with tip number 2 as well and leave a comment, emoji, or everyone's favorite- the gif!
4. Give them a High Five: Even if you can't buy something or book a service with them right now, a little moral support and a high five goes a long way. Just stopping by to tell them they are doing a good job or saying that you appreciate their presence in the community is so awesome. Simply telling them that you can't wait to do business with them in the future or how much you enjoyed your past experience with the business can be a real game changer for their mindset- it can really turn around someone's day.  It can be hard and if you are the sole breadwinner for your family, it can be incredibly scary some days! Kindness and encouragement don't cost a dime.

Please consider shopping small each and every day, not just around the holidays. Remember, when you shop small, you are making someone's dream a REALITY.