Canadian small businesses create about 100,000 jobs per year.

One. Hundred. Thousand. Jobs.

And if you live in the States, that number’s even bigger:1.9 million net jobs were created by American small businesses in 2015 alone. That means in many ways, small businesses have more power than mega-corporations – and even the government – to create change in the place you call home. Add onto that small businesses are more likely to offer perks to their employees that improve quality of life like flexible work hours and extended maternity leave, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for creating a superpowered community. 

But you know what they don’t tell you? All the power lies with you.  

That’s because small businesses like Rocking Vibe are nothing – nothing – without a united community of customers and supporters to stand behind them.  I think sometimes, people don’t realize how powerful individual actions are.  

So I’m here to tell you today that you. are. mighty. And you don’t even need to spend a penny to flex your muscles (but you can if you wanna :P) Let’s talk about one example, and then I’m going to share a whole list of ways you can unleash your power for good.

1. Leaving reviews.

So key, and people don’t always think about this one. Customers are super savvy, especially when they’re buying online, and they should be! There are lots of products out there that are made without passion and love, but it’s not always apparent until the customer receives the product. So most people do lots of research before they buy, and guess where they check first? You’ve got it: on-site reviews. Most e-commerce businesses, including Rocking Vibe, have a reviews section on each of their product listings. Leaving reviews here is incredibly powerful because it gives others the confidence to invest in new products. And with a business like Rocking Vibe, each purchase comes imbibed with good vibes and our personalized help in becoming your best self – and that can bring a lot of good to the world!  Your review could be the one thing that triggers a purchase. That purchase not only allows the company to stay in business for one more day (creating new jobs, designing better products, and bringing life to the community), it also might be the catalyst that gets someone into goal-setting through our intention pyramids [link]. With greater clarity about their goals, they start reaching more and more of them, empowering others as they go. 

Get it? It’s like the butterfly effect. One tiny action starts to reach many people: future customers, the business owner, all of their employees and contractors (and there are many!), and, less directly, the community at large. That’s amazing! And it’s all because of you. 

With that in mind, here are 4 more ways you can be a superhero to businesses in your community today. 

2. Sharing is caring!

Social media algorithms work in mysterious ways, but one thing we know for sure is that the more likes, shares, and comments a post gets (especially early on!), the better that post performs. And for many businesses, social marketing is key. It lets us reinvest in our customers by designing better products, hiring experts, and offering the best customer service – not by paying Facebook for more ads. 

When you like, comment, or share content, it’s honestly just as good as running ads – sometimes, it’s even better. And you can do it all without leaving the couch. 

3. Create some buzz.

It’s hard to remember, but there’s a real world out there – and it matters, even for e-commerce biz. Tell your friends and family about the local businesses that make you feel passionate. There’s nothing more powerful than a testimonial from someone you trust.  

4. Be a cheerleader.

Being an entrepreneur is amazing. You care deeply about everything you do, and you get to see your vision come to life. 

But being an entrepreneur can also be really hard. There’s no “after work” because work time is always. There’s very little financial security, and if sales drop for a month, that’s a BIG deal. And sometimes, things that really, really matter, like our families, have to take the back burner for a little while. That sucks.

Sometimes, the best way to support small business is to support the people behind them. Instead of having your catch-up brunch out, bring bagels and coffee to the shop – sometimes, it’s just impossible to leave. Send your entrepreneurial friends words of encouragement. Be understanding when they have to back out of commitments. They’re working on bringing their dreams to life!

On a related note, don’t ask for free stuff. It devalues the work entrepreneurs do. Creating a product or fulfiling a service is work – there’s years of invested time, hours of labour, and real money tied up in product. It’s not free for the business owner, so support them by paying full price for products and services.  

5. Buy from small businesses when you can. 

Saving this one for last because real talk, it’s not the only way to support a business, and we get it – money is tight and sometimes what we do isn’t “your thing.” 

And that’s okay! But if it is your thing (or it’s someone else’s thing and you’re looking for the coolest gift ever), consider voting with your dollar. It’s what keeps food on the table and new stock in the warehouse.

At the end of the day, the truth is that it’s dollars and cents that keep small businesses afloat – but there’s so much more to it than that! Being an entrepreneur is hard. If you’re half-hearted about something, you just shouldn’t do it – and that’s so true in the case of entrepreneurship! It sounds cliche, but to succeed as an entrepreneur, you really need to love what you do. If you don’t care, you take shortcuts. You’ll be motivated by revenue and not people – and to create a great product, you need to care deeply about your customers.

But we can’t do it alone. We need you.

You are powerful and mighty and you have the power to make your home truly blossom.