By Kayla Matthews
Volunteering is a great option for businesses across all industries. Whether you run a small, local salon or manage an extensive team of chefs at a well-known restaurant, every company can benefit from community involvement.
Not convinced? Here’s a look at five reasons why you’ll benefit from offering your support to the individuals that define your local area.
1. Let the Community Know You Care
One of the most obvious benefits of community involvement is giving back to the people that define your area. Giving back deserves a spot on our list of the top benefits of small businesses in a community.
For example, you may decide to donate toys during the holidays or host a canned food drive in your area. Any effort you make to give back to those in need is sure to be warmly welcomed by your community. Since the people in your county likely make up the majority of your clients, it’s always nice to help these very same individuals when they need it most.
2. Give Employees More Incentive to Get Involved
While community service is known to benefit your surrounding city or town, it also positively impacts your company’s work environment.
In fact, there’s research that supports the idea that giving back as a business helps enhance company culture. When your workers feel like what they do has deep meaning and purpose, they’re much more likely to want to give it their all.
If you’re planning to host a charity event or provide a service for your community, be sure to run your plans by your workers. Not only will you find that many are more than happy to help, but you may also see a positive impact in how they feel when they return to the office.
3. Build Stronger Community Relationships
How well do you truly know the faces of your community? When you decide to volunteer, host a charity event or partake in a community service event, you get up close and personal with the people who make up your city or town.
Aside from getting to know residents, you may have the opportunity to connect with other small-business owners in your area. Simple connections such as these can lead to an endless array of opportunities regarding counseling, mentorship and general business connections.
4. Seem More Appealing to Prospective Customers
While it certainly isn’t the only motivating factor to help out your surrounding community, giving back makes you seem more appealing to potential clients as well.
Whether you’re sponsoring an event or plan to partner with other local businesses and run a charity, getting involved in the community spreads the word about your company.
Local newspapers and magazines are always looking for positive news to cover. The exposure your business generates from doing services for the community can be astonishing. It gets your name out their while convincing new clients to invest in your company, too.
5. Help Promote Business in Your Community
Did you know that giving back can help promote your city? You may be wondering how your effort has such a profound impact. Believe it or not, even the smallest things can create the biggest waves of influence.
When you do your part to make your community more welcoming, safe and clean, it helps make your city at large more inviting. This means residents are more likely to stay within the community and invest in local businesses — which helps with the economic development of your town.
Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and give back to the community that’s helped your business thrive? Offering your help is a win-win situation for everyone — so how do you plan to get involved?
About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.
Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash