In today’s blog, we’re discussing a topic that applies to all our clients: community engagement. Community engagement allows businesses to better engage with the local community to achieve long-term and sustainable outcomes. It’s important for your team, your business, visibility in your community, and the local impact you want to make.
Think of it like this: Would you rather do business with a faceless corporation or a local agency that understands your needs and is engrained in your community?
If you, as a business owner, are not reaching out and actively engaging with your community, they won’t recognize your name, know your brand, or think of you when they need the services you offer. It’s extremely important to prioritize engaging with the local community, proving you care, and showing that you are a trusted, worthy source for their needs.
Research shows that social responsibility, sometimes referred to as corporate social responsibility, is a key factor in consumers’ buying decisions. According to this Atlanta Business Chronical article, in a recent survey from Cone Communications, seven of 10 consumers said they believe companies have an obligation to take action in the communities they serve. And 87% said they would buy a product because that company advocated for an issue they cared about.
Community engagement involves connecting with people and organizations, balancing the give and get in society. When business owners support local groups and initiatives, they build personal relationships at the local level.
Supporting your community makes your customers and prospects feel good about working with you, and it allows you to promote your business in a way that’s enjoyable and uplifting. It also provides content topics for promoting your business brand online without talking about sales. After all, a business can only promote its product or service to a certain extent before the content runs dry.
Let’s face it, some business owners may not have the large marketing budgets for significant monetary contributions. The good news is that community engagement for local IS cost-effective. Investment of time and service is important and it pays off. We’ve found grassroots marketing (encouraging people to contribute by taking responsibility and action for their community) has always been one of the best and cost-effective ways to market.
When you turn your focus to the community that supports your agency, your investment in the things that matter to your customers will pay dividends.
If you’d like to explore this topic more, we cover it in our Team Series, Leader Series, and Performance Planning Programs. We would love to have a discovery conversation with you to see what program might be a good fit for you right now.
Wishing you a season filled with community engagement,
