When you become a business owner, getting involved in your local business community is a great way to make a name for yourself. It helps you to promote your brand, as well as your business. When you’re known locally for your expertise, your knowledge, and your personality, you could find you start becoming known elsewhere too. It can help you to promote yourself in your industry but also in the broader business context. However, if you want to make yourself known, you have to get yourself seen.
Being seen and creating a local name for yourself has become much harder in recent months. But, don’t let it stop you from being involved in your community. You can still get your name and face out there, although you might need to do so digitally. Here are a few ways you can make a local name for yourself, even in these challenging times.
Join Business Community Groups
If you’re starting to get involved in the business world, take a look at business groups in your local area. There might be various opportunities for you to meet other business people, socialize, get involved with the community, and more. Some business groups might have specific aims, like raising money for charity, while others are more general groups that offer ways to network with others in business. Meeting in person might not be happening much at the moment, but there are virtual opportunities too. Try joining social media groups for your local business community on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.
Attend Networking Events
Whether you find some community business groups or not, you might be able to discover some networking events in your area. Networking events give you a chance to mingle with other business people and talk about different things. You can perfect your elevator pitch so you can share it with others, but there’s more you can do at networking events too. You have the chance to make connections with people you could work with and collaborate with.
While opportunities to attend networking events in person are low at the moment, you can find online networking events. For example, many chambers of commerce, such as the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce, are offer networking events to keep the community connected. These events could be even better. They might involve smaller numbers, which allows you to get to know people better.
Use Local Search Engine Optimization
Some people believe the best promotion of your brand and business has to be conducted in person. That’s not necessarily true. Your reputation online is also important, and search engine optimization will help you to promote yourself and your business. Local SEO helps with promotion within a specific location using local keywords. It’s also a part of franchise SEO, allowing you to promote your particular branch of the brand and not just the brand as a whole. It’s useful to have help with this type of marketing. You can get assistance from SEO experts and help with your website and other online marketing.
Support Local Causes
As well as being involved with your local business community, you can get involved with your community as a whole. Supporting local causes is a great way to raise your profile and get your name and face known. There are sure to be local causes that you want to support, and you can do so in different ways. You might donate money, give your time or skills, or donate items to a cause. You could sponsor an event, become a board member, or partner with a charity to raise awareness and donations.
One of the local programs I have supported in my area is The Complete Player Charity (TCP) Youth Empowerment. TCP equips middle and high school students with business knowledge and experiences, and social, emotional, and leadership skills to become future business and community leaders. It is a program I truly believe in, and as a bonus, it helps my business, Infinity Coaching, create a local name for itself.
Get Involved in Local Events
Another way to get involved in your local community is to see if you can take part in local events. There are a few ways to do this, including sponsoring events or taking a more active role in an event, whether that means running a booth or giving a talk. There are different types of events that you might want to get involved with, from conferences to family events. While events are currently taking place online, you can still be involved. For example, you can sponsor a virtual conference or give a talk via video conferencing, rather than appear in person.
Represent Your Area
If you want to show a strong connection to your local area, you can represent it when you’re conducting business and building an image for yourself. A lot of people like to show support for their community and promote the place where they come from. You could do this in several ways. Make your products in your local area, use photos of your town in your social media and promotional materials, or share stories about the area. You can become known as someone who is passionate about your community and wants other people to appreciate it too.
Make yourself known in your local area, and people can get to know you both locally and nationally. Things may be slightly more difficult right now, but the current situation doesn’t have to stop you from getting involved in your local community. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Executive, and Leadership Coach. She is the President of Infinity Coaching, Inc., where she can help you up-level your skills so that you can up-level your income, career, business, or life. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides organizational training and one-on-one and group coaching. She is also the host of “Let’s Coach with Carolyn.” You can listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts.
