March is Women’s History Month and we can think of no better way to kick off the celebration than with supporting women-owned small businesses!
Women continue to make their mark in entrepreneurship, in fact, there are 114% more women entrepreneurs in the U.S. than there were 20 years ago. And while the growth is promising, there is still a long way to go. Here are six ways you can support women-owned businesses.
Shop at women-owned businesses
Spending your money at women-owned businesses is a great way to directly show your support and make an impact. When shopping for products and services, research women-owned options.
Not only does shopping support the business owner but the community as a whole. According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, nearly 9 million people are employed by women-owned businesses in the United States.
Collaborate with women-owned businesses
If you are also a business owner, put the idea of community over competition into practice by collaborating with women-owned businesses! As COVID continues to hit small businesses hard, many small business owners have noted that a sense of community has helped them develop the grit and perseverance needed to push forward.
Some collaboration ideas to consider:
Cross-promote each other on social media
Feature products from a women-owned business in your store
Invite women and women of color business owners to your events and panel discussions to diversify perspectives and knowledge
Mentor other women entrepreneurs
Knowledge sharing activities like mentorships, masterminds, and even specialized organizations are a great way to support women-owned businesses for long-term sustainability and growth.
Being a small business owner can often feel lonely. These types of programs provide a safe space to exchange ideas and tools, share feedback and get advice from those further along in their business journey. Mentorship is a great way to pay it forward and share expertise.
Write a review or testimonial
Increase women-owned business visibility by leaving a review. Customer reviews are important for any business but especially for small businesses.
Reviews help women-owned businesses in a number of ways. First, they help to build trust and credibility with customers. Because they feel more authentic, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Not only that, they help to inform businesses of feedback for what is and isn’t working.
Amplify your favorite women-owned businesses
Don’t be afraid to share your favorite women-owned businesses with the world! This takes leaving a review a step further by using your own platform to share and get the word out.
Since small businesses don’t often have the budget for extensive marketing campaigns, they heavily rely on organic word-of-mouth marketing. Sharing what you love can introduce others to a brand they may not have known otherwise.
Here are some ideas to consider:
Tag brands in your social media posts
Share why you love the brand (i.e. women-owned, high quality, involved in the community)
Create social media posts that call out your favorite women-owned businesses!
Our International Women’s Day Month Collection makes it easy to share your favorites:
Set goals for intentional shopping
As more and more consumers are influenced by brand values and social responsibility, consider setting a goal to intentionally shop with businesses owned by women and women of color.
Setting a goal for more intentional shopping can help shed light on where you are spending money and challenge you to research different businesses to support. It is this effort that can make a big difference for both the business and community they serve.
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