Connecting to Communities

It is human nature to feel a sense of belonging to those around us, which is why connecting to your community is essential, and relevant, for the everyday individual, local businesses, and even larger corporations. Although larger corporations may have the upper hand, it will undoubtedly help their business to reach out and became a part of the community they are located in.

​Below I will list some ideas that can help someone new to an area, a local business (new or old), and established corporations integrate well within their community.

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Volunteer your time for organizations with shared values

Volunteering is a great way to get out there and meet people with shared interests, and provides invaluable networking opportunities. The community will notice when local businesses and corporations take part as well.
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Find or become a mentor

Another way to give back to the community is to share experiences with others, and reaching out for advice from people in the area for guidance on things not fully understood is beneficial as well. For an individual like myself, almost a month out from graduating college, I will likely seek out a mentor, in contrast to someone with more experience who could share their knowledge with others.
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Keep up with current events in the community

Knowing what is going on around you is important, it allows for one to know when volunteer opportunities are available, certain marketing techniques can be effectively implemented, and most importantly it reflects to the community that you have a genuine interest and care about its’ well-being.
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Sponsor a community charity, school or sporting team

For small and big businesses alike showing support for the local community and giving back to it through supporting and sponsoring something that holds importance towards the area will show more than words could convey alone.

Cottage Inn Pizza of Grand Blanc, Michigan, supporting their local high school's hockey team

An example of this is when a client of ours, Cottage Inn Gourmet Pizza of Grand Blanc, sponsored the local high school’s hockey team. The owner informed the team that for every shutout game, or hat-trick achieved the entire team would be awarded with free pizza. By doing this he not only provided an incentive for the team, but showed their parents, peers, and the school faculty their business supports the community. Therefore, they are more likely to choose Cottage Inn over competitors in the future, as well as spread awareness of the support they gave to others not directly involved.
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Host Events or Information Meetings

For businesses new to an area, that may not be familiar with the brand. hosting an event or information evening can be beneficial in spreading the word organically. This can be a good idea for businesses already established, as it could bring in new leads, especially when incentives are used. Incentives to bring in new clients could include, exclusive content they would not receive elsewhere, and free or discounted services, or products.
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the advantage of Social Media

Social Media provides a direct link to other people you may never directly meet, and subsequently is a great way to build one’s personal network and a businesses’ reach. If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities within the community, simply posting about your interest in finding something could land you some leads. For businesses sponsoring something, hosting events, or running a contest can easily promote what they are doing by promoting their brand on social media.
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Run a Contest

​​​Contests are a growing trend, according to SecondStreet, they are projected to bring in $80 billion in revenue during 2017. Traditional advertising does not come close to producing these types of results, and they cannot duplicate the interactions contests can unite. Therefore, they can serve to connect businesses, and marketing firms, with the greater community.

Locals' Choice Award Logo for the City of Marshall

We at Cherish Local love implementing contests with our clients. Our “Locals’ Choice” contests are great at introducing potential consumers to different services and products at our clients’ businesses that may be overlooked. We also use “Locals’ Choice” to bring more than one type of a business into the mix, giving potential consumers a way to browse the variety of businesses near them and pick their favorites. This gives the community a voice, and gives local businesses more incentive to earn favor with the community

A great contest we recently began in Marshall, Minnesota is called Marshalls’ Hero of 2016. We are having locals from Marshall nominate members of their community, who they believe to be unsung heroes. Their local Hy-Vee is doing a great thing by sponsoring this contest because it is helping bring the community together by celebrating their local heroes. It is truly inspiring to read about the nominees being submitted on my end, and the people of Marshall will – without question – appreciate reading about the hardworking members in their community too.

Marshalls' Hero of 2016 promotional graphic

network!

Each of these previous points can help build anyone’s network, which is invaluable in the professional world as well as everyday life. It is part of creating relationships, gaining new customers, spreading awareness of the brand you may be selling, and more. Strong foundations are built with a tight, and perhaps widespread, network.

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Author

Megan Carry
​Marketing & Creative Manager at Cherish Local

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

• http://www.campaigntrack.com/5-simple-ways-to-connect-with-your-local-community/
• http://www.inc.com/entrepreneurs-organization/how-to-connect-with-your-community.html
• https://www.themuse.com/advice/rules-of-engagement-how-to-stay-connected-to-your-audience
• https://getsatisfaction.com/corp/resource-center/whitepaper/top_ten_ways_to_increase_engagement_in_your_community.php