Small business owners are experts in their industries. They’ve sacrificed time, money, and have put a lot of sweat equity into building businesses out of their passions – which is why when you shop (or hire) small, you have better chances of getting tailored and knowledgeable service.

The best way to support any small business is to shop there, or hire them for their services. However, there are many other ways to support a small business (for free!) that can also make a meaningful impact.

1. Hit that follow button. No matter your media of choice, chances are your favorite small business has a presence on it. Following a business you love on social media helps them a ton! Having a larger following helps small businesses stand out and get found. Many small businesses rely solely on social media and word of mouth to grow - with more followers, these small businesses can leverage their audience to grow their business.
2. Once you follow – engage on their posts. We’re all familiar with the word algorithm – it’s why your engagement shouldn’t stop with just a follow. The higher the likes, comments, tags, shares, and DMs, the higher the engagement score, leading to the higher the chances of that business showing up in front of new eyes.
3. Write a review or volunteer to be a testimonial. What’s one of the first things you do when checking out a new product or service provider? You check out the reviews! Consider leaving your favorite small businesses a review on public sites like Yelp, Google, and Facebook! Or, volunteer to be a testimonial on their website or social media posts.
4. Referrals. The opinion of a trusted friend or colleague is worth its weight in gold. 82% of small business owners have said referrals are their main source of new business. With that in mind, one of the greatest compliments you can give to a small business is referring them to your network.

While your patronage is ALWAYS appreciated, taking the time to support your favorite small business though social media or a referral is an easy way to support your favorite small business. While they only take a small fraction of your time, they can have a huge impact on their success.