There is always room for improvement, no matter how successful a company is or how long it's been in business. Connecting with additional people, especially within your immediate community is a fantastic thing to do at any stage in business. There is a large amount of power that comes from exploring local relationships and word of mouth. Reaching out and connecting with the community is something that should never be underestimated, and there are so many different ways of going about doing this.

Power of Local Relationships & Word of Mouth:

Relationships in small communities are very important, as word of mouth travels fast. In tight-knit communities, connections play a huge role in the development of your reputation and client base. Creating a strong presence from the beginning in the community is the way to go. To do this, consider holding open houses right when you are starting out, creating partnerships with fellow local schools and libraries, and considering donations to children-related charities or foundations. Doing any of these things is a great way to make your mark in the community and show that you are committed to providing good service to the people who live there. Take the leap and go that extra mile to stand out to the people in your area, especially when you are starting out.

Online:

Connecting with your community through many different outlets in a quality way is very important. You can connect with your community through social media platforms, which can surprisingly be quite effective. People like to engage with local businesses online and show their support, so engaging with fellow business accounts in your community can help open the door to building relationships and getting your name deeply immersed into your community. Some communities even have local community sites and hubs (like Nextdoor.com) where businesses advertise directly to their local residents. Joining local groups and pages on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram or even something as specific as a parent group for your local community can be a great method of building connections in your specific area.

Offline (in-person):

Do anything and everything to get out there and connect with your community, as they are the people that will drive your business. Numerous things should be considered when reaching out to your community.

• Giveaways: A giveaway is a great way to gain publicity and give back to your community and clients. Doing a giveaway is an easy way to drive new traffic in a positive light, and it gets people excited about learning more. Giveaways reward current customers and draw in new ones.

• Customer Appreciation Events: Customer appreciation events have proven to be very effective in strengthening current relationships and even in building new ones. This is another way to make your mark in the community, as you can get various related businesses and local influencers involved in showcasing your company. If an event is done well and promoted effectively, the buzz will spread like wildfire through the relevant groups in your community.

• Donating: Giving is a fantastic way to draw in positive attention, so donating to local charities can be beneficial to both you and your community. Showing that your company cares about your community and is willing to support it will help entice your community to do the same for your business.

• Community Involvement: Participating in local events shows that you embrace the community and what it has to offer, and and it gives more people in the community the chance to know your name.

Building connections with your community is extremely important, and focusing on building these relationships in person can make it even easier to develop a deep relationship with your community members.

Connecting with your community, including other business owners, is such a great way to build a name for yourself. Embrace your community in as many ways as possible, as it will form into a reciprocal relationship that does good for both you and your community. There are many different options you can try, both in-person and online. Utilize each and every opportunity you have to get the word out about your business. Also, recognize and appreciate the vital role connections play in the success of your business.