How to help your favorite local business

During the Great Pause, here is one thing anyone can do to help their local small business.

Write them an online review.

Contribute to Google Maps
Write a review on Yelp
Write a recommendation on Linkedin

Of course, you can do many things to support them right now: you can continue to order food delivery if your favorite restaurant is still open. You can pledge money to help out those who ask for it. You can buy gift certificates for the future.

But many businesses and service providers you enjoy the most are on hiatus. They aren’t asking for handouts, but they are also fearful of what comes next.

Running a business isn’t just about finances; often the psychology of running a business is what drives the best people back into jobs.

You see, the hair stylist you adore isn’t just suffering now for lack of funds. They run their business to deliver their gift to the world, and right now they can’t offer that gift.

And in a funny twist, the people running the businesses you love the most are often the worst at… business.

If your hair stylist was actually good at accounting, they would be buying Supercuts franchises rather than cutting your hair.

If your mechanic actually understood marketing, they wouldn’t have time to memorize random facts about your 2002 Corolla that allow them to quickly make repairs or anticipate trouble.

When the quarantine ends, small businesses will be under immense pressure to make up for lost time. The demand for marketing will accelerate and the returns diminish.

Many of the services you’ve come to rely upon might evaporate, for financial reasons or psychological reasons or both.

If you want your favorite businesses to thrive after the quarantine, write them a review.

Contribute to Google Maps
Write a review on Yelp
Write a recommendation on Linkedin

Who knows: maybe you’ll feel more empowered too.

Photo by Tim Mossholder