Supporting Local Businesses Doesn’t Always Mean Spending Money

When people talk about supporting local businesses, the first thing that usually comes to mind is buying something. Of course that helps. Spending locally keeps money circulating in the community and strengthens regional economies. But there are actually many ways to support local businesses that cost absolutely nothing. In today’s digital world, a few small online actions can make a surprisingly big difference to how easily a business is discovered by new customers.

Follow Their Social Media 👍

One of the easiest ways to support local businesses is simply to follow their social media pages. Whether it's Facebook or Instagram, every follow increases the reach of their posts. Social media algorithms tend to show content to more people when a page has active followers. Even better than following is engaging with posts. A quick like or a positive comment helps boost visibility and can push that business’s post in front of people who may never have heard of them before. It might take you 10 seconds, but it genuinely helps small businesses grow their audience.

Leave Positive Reviews ⭐

Online reviews play a massive role in how businesses appear in search results. Google Maps, Apple Maps and Bing Maps all use reviews as signals to determine which businesses appear in local searches. According to consumer research, around 98% of people read online reviews before visiting a business. A positive review can help a small business:

• Build trust with new customers

• Improve their ranking in local search results

• Stand out against larger competitors

And something many people don’t realise is that reviews can always be edited later.

I’ve actually done this myself. If a business improves their service or resolves an issue, it’s perfectly reasonable to go back and update your review. Businesses evolve, and reviews can reflect that.

Offer Constructive Feedback 💬

Not every review has to be perfect praise. If something could be improved, mentioning it politely and constructively can actually help the business. Small businesses usually don’t have marketing departments analysing customer feedback. Reviews are often the most direct way they learn what customers think. Constructive comments help them improve while still supporting their overall reputation.

"ASK YOURSELF, IF THIS WAS MY BUSINESS - HOW WOULD I WANT FEEDBACK?"

Add Photos When You Leave Reviews 📷

If you regularly review businesses on Google, you might have noticed they run a points and level system for reviewers. To move up through the levels you eventually need to upload photos of places you visit.

That wasn’t done by accident.

Google intentionally introduced this system to help reduce fake reviews. They incetivise reviewers by stopping them from porgressing in advancement levels unless they have a percentage of photos uploaded. Photos of the location, the meal you ordered, the product you bought or the event you attended help prove that you were actually there. They also help other customers. In fact, businesses with photos receive significantly more requests for directions and customer engagement on Google Maps (really? yes). So next time you leave a review, consider uploading a photo as well. It helps the business and it helps future customers make better decisions.

Use Your Maps Apps 📍

Another small way to support local businesses is simply by using your maps apps.

When you search for a business on Google Maps, Apple Maps or Bing Maps and then navigate to the location, it sends signals to those platforms that the business is being visited.

Those signals help improve the business’s visibility in local search results.

It’s a small digital footprint, but collectively these signals help businesses appear higher when people search for services nearby.

A Real Example From Launceston 🏪

Recently I visited a restaurant in Launceston. It wasn’t in a prime location — but anyone who has run a business knows how expensive premium locations can be.

What stood out to me was:

• The customer service was excellent

• The place was very clean

• The meal included an all-access salad bar which everything was fresh and well presented

Later Google reminded me to leave a review. Now, I did think the meal price was a little high. But everything else about the experience was very good. So instead of leaving a four-star review, I left five stars and mentioned the pricing in the comment. That way the business still benefits from a strong rating while also receiving useful feedback.

It’s a small thing — but small things add up.

Supporting Local Businesses Is Easier Than You Think

Supporting local businesses doesn’t always require spending money.

Sometimes it’s simply about taking a moment to help them be seen online.

A few simple actions can make a real difference:

• Follow their social media

• Leave a like or positive comment

• Write a constructive review

• Upload photos when reviewing

• Use your maps apps to visit their location

In a world where online visibility matters more than ever, these small actions can help local businesses survive and grow. And the best part? Most of them take less than a minute and cost nothing.

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