Let’s face it, you would not be in business today without the members of your community who trust you to service their homes and businesses. Community Involvement is a great way to give back to the community and honor the people who have supported and contributed to your company. Your presence in the community is a critical part of building relationships with customers and prospects. It’s an opportunity to nurture those relationships, create brand awareness, and ultimately serve your customers in the community.
While you strive to separate yourself from your competitors, an effective way to do this is through Community Involvement. There are many ways to serve your community, and show gratitude to those who support your company. Four ways that you can serve your community include the following:
- Join local Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, or BNI groups. Get to know the leaders and influencers of other local businesses. Find out what their needs are to see if your company can serve them or assist in their needs and efforts. Participate in their food drives, angel trees, or other community events, and they will be more likely to participate in yours. You’ll also be top of mind when they are in need of the service or product that you provide.
- Attend local celebrations and community events. Allocate funds in your budget to sponsor city celebrations, local schools, youth sports, or other athletic events. Put up a booth and have giveaways, gifts, swag, and other items with your logo and contact information. Make sure they have something special to take home that will help them remember you.
- Select a local charity or nonprofit organization to support. The more meaningful the organization is to you and your community, the stronger the impact you can make. Highlight that organization on your website, social media, vehicles, in your leave-behind materials. Donate a portion of your earnings to this organization.
- Create stand alone campaigns or events to support your community. The best way to do this is by doing what you do best - whether that’s an electrical project, a new furnace, drain cleaning, or a duct cleaning. Give the gift of your trade.
As we wrap up National Customer Service Week, we invite you to find ways to serve that go beyond your day to day interactions with customers. There is great power that comes with being part of a community. Your willingness to contribute to and serve your community will come back to you in dividends that go far beyond revenue.
