Local businesses have great stories and that makes them ideal material for your blog. If you’re looking for topics for your blog, new ways to showcase your chamber members, and ways to increase your shop local numbers here are blog topics to keep you busy for the duration of this year.
Shine a Spotlight on Local Businesses
- Tell their story. Every business has a story. Tell your members’.
- Feature their specialty in “brochure” copy and heavy images. You can use their specialty in the headline like, “Why You Need to Start Your Day with a Mouth-watering Croissant from Freely’s.”
- Share an unknown fact about the business. If they have a claim to fame such as being the only something in your town, share it. Maybe they’re the oldest business, the only one that caters to dogs, the only one that gives free services to cancer patients…you get the idea.
- Ask local businesses the same question, then blog about it. For example:”What’s the best thing in town?” “What did you want to be when you grew up?” “What’s your favorite item you sell?” “What’s your favorite business in town outside of your own?” “What’s your favorite restaurant in town?”
- Ask local businesses to share their customer success stories and then blog about one every Monday.
- If many of your local businesses have their own blogs, do a Friday round-up of popular local posts.
- Be on the look out for local news. Does a celebrity have a connection to a local business or is a visiting author doing a book signing? Make sure your audience knows.
- Ask a question on social media and compile the answers in a post. “Best of” lists work well.
- Address shopping or dining trends that are being seen around town.
- Talk about upcoming shop local events including discounts and contests.
- Make a video as you deliver monthly gift certificate revenue to businesses.
- Interview the experts in your community and ask them to answer specifics from their industry/business, like “What’s the best way to select a wine for your Thanksgiving meal?”.
Blog posts show another side of shop local and increase your audience. Use your blog to highlight the special things about your local businesses and you’ll see the shares pour in.
