How To Connect With The Community As A Business

Austin Page • March 15, 2023

As businesses, it is important to build and foster relationships with the community. Doing so will not only help make your business more successful but can also create a positive impact on the lives of those around you. There are many ways for businesses to connect better with their local community, from volunteering at local events to helping ex-convicts reintegrate into society. Here are some tips on how businesses can strengthen their connection with the people and places they serve.

1. Understand Your Community

Knowing the people in your community, their interests, and the challenges they face can help you create initiatives that are relevant and helpful for them. Spend time getting to know them better by attending local events and listening to their stories. Another idea is to drop by other businesses in your area and introduce yourself to the owners or workers. Even if they aren't in the same industry as you, your efforts may stick with them for a long time, expanding your pool of potential clients.

2. Become a Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to their community. When businesses volunteer, they are showing that they are not only invested in the well-being of their community but also that they care about the people and organizations within it. Volunteering can help build strong relationships with local organizations and provide employees with an opportunity to give back. Volunteering can also lead to increased visibility for the business, as organizations often recognize and appreciate those who help them.

3. Hold Contests and Giveaways

If you're looking for other ideas to connect with your community, consider holding contests or offering discounts and giveaways. These can be powerful tools for building relationships and creating loyalty. For example, a business could host a contest or giveaway that requires participants to share stories about how their products or services have helped them. This helps foster an emotional connection between the company and its customers and can increase customer engagement. Not only that but the contest or giveaway can also be used as a means of advertising and gaining exposure. 

4. Connect with Charities That Support the Community

Businesses can also connect with and support local charities that have a positive impact on the community. This not only builds relationships but can also help create goodwill for your business, as customers will appreciate seeing that you care about giving back to those in need. You could offer discounts or other incentives to customers who donate money or supplies to charity, or you could even organize a volunteer event at a local charity. Whatever you choose, be sure to create an initiative that resonates with your target audience and is relevant to the cause you are supporting.

5. Help Ex-Convicts Reintegrate Into Society

Businesses can help ex-convicts reintegrate into society by connecting them with the resources they need to continue learning and growing while incarcerated. This can include providing job opportunities, mentorship programs, or even financial assistance. By helping those who have been negatively affected by the justice system, businesses can show that they are committed to making their community better and more inclusive. Additionally, this can create a lasting impression on potential customers, as they will know that your business is actively working to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you.

6. Hire Locally

When you hire locally, you are providing job opportunities for members of the community and giving them the chance to grow and develop their skills in their own backyard. This helps build goodwill within the community, showcasing that your business is invested in the development of its local talent. Not only that but it also helps to create a more diverse workforce, which can help foster an inclusive and creative atmosphere.

7. Participate in Online Communities

Finally, don't forget to become a part of the online community. Social media and blogs can be great ways for businesses to connect with their customers and create relationships. Participating in online conversations and providing useful content will help build trust between your business and its customers, as they will know that your business is there to help and provide support. Additionally, it can also be a great way for businesses to gain exposure and attract new customers. 

Closing Thoughts

Connecting with your community is essential for the success of any business. By implementing some of the above strategies, you can start to build relationships and grow your customer base in a meaningful way. Remember, connecting with your local community can lead to stronger loyalty and higher engagement, so don't be afraid to try something new.


Additionally, connecting with the local community can also provide a unique marketing opportunity. By creating initiatives that resonate with your target audience and giving back to those in need, you can create positive associations with your business and increase customer loyalty. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to forging stronger connections with your community.

What is Butler County Women in Business??

By Paige McDaniel • April 17, 2025
Founded in 2024 by Paige McDaniel and Nikole Babb, the Butler County Women in Business is an organization affiliated with the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. A few leaders in the community yearned for when El Dorado hosted their own Women in Business conference but we had a bigger idea. Why not revive it and include the entire county? Bringing together Butler County Sometimes an outsider’s perspective or ideas are just what you need. El Dorado, Augusta, Andover and the surrounding towns in Butler County all have unique strengths and weaknesses. This is your chance to highlight those strengths and ask for advice on the weaknesses. If we can network, collaborate and share resources, we can create a more successful business community and overall higher quality of life for Butler County. Networking, education and celebration The Butler County Women in Business aims to provide three major outlets for business owners, the workforce and professionals: Networking opportunities: We aim to provide a safe, welcoming and enjoyable space for all business professionals of all levels to benefit from. This will often include dinner/lunch, drinks and dedicated time to meeting fellow attendees. Educational seminars: Through the opening gala and future conference, the Butler County Women in Business will bring facilitators in to conduct short seminars on best business, personal and other seminars. Celebrating our community: Of course a conference can’t be complete without recognition of those within our communities! Next year we will begin to nominate and vote on awards that will be given out at each conference. Join us! The first-ever Butler County Women in Business Opening Gala will be May 3, 2025! We’d love for you to dress up and join us in creating a more powerful and stronger Butler County. Together We are Stronger: Powerful Women Uniting Butler County The evening will include a low-light dinner, drinks, dessert, a three-person panel of LOCAL professionals to learn from about best business practices and ask questions. Schedule of events Cocktail hour 5:30-6:30pm Dinner and panel: 6:30-7:30pm Location: El Dorado Civic Center, 201 E Central Ave Tickets: $35 Table for 6: $260 Table for 7: $285 Table for 8: $320

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How to Run an Effective “12 Days of Deals ” for Small Business Season

By Paige McDaniel • November 4, 2024
While the twelve days of Christmas are traditionally celebrated between December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 5 (the eve of the Epiphany), consumer businesses often celebrate with the “12 Days of Deals” observance where they offer a new deal every day for twelve days leading up to Christmas Eve (although any 12 consecutive days during Small Business Season works). The discounts can be incredibly effective in generating buzz and drawing crowds. After all, everyone wants to know what tomorrow’s discount will be. In this article, we’ll walk you through how you can capitalize on your own “12 Days of Deals” during Small Business Season.  Even if you’re not a traditional retail business, remember all customers enjoy a deal (or, better yet, 12 of them!).

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Choosing Business Software: 6 Key Programs for Your Company

By Chelsea Lamb • July 7, 2023
Optimizing your business’s operations is much simpler when you invest in helpful software programs. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of software options out there, though, the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce has some tips and resources to make the process a little easier. Marketing Automation System Implementing your marketing strategy and managing campaigns can be laborious, but marketing automation software can help you handle these important tasks efficiently. Plus, a platform like this will keep your marketing team aligned with your sales staff so that these departments don’t accidentally duplicate processes or lose track of important deadlines. Look for software that will generate analytics, supports task automation throughout the entire customer purchasing cycle, and allows campaign customization. LLC Formation Service As a business owner, your to-do list is always packed, and you’re always looking for ways to save time so that you’re not up late working . For example, you can use templates for emails, automate tasks like posting on social media, and tackle your most important, time-consuming tasks early in the day to get them out of the way. You can also turn to online services to boost your productivity. If you’re interested in forming an LLC for your business to cut down on the amount of paperwork you have to deal with, you can file through an online formation service rather than going through the process on your own or hiring a lawyer. Working with Distributors If your business requires you to deal with distributors and suppliers, you’re probably already used to spending a lot of time with contracts. However, one great way to save time while also making it easier to stay organized is by digitizing your contracts so that you can sign online. This also makes it easier to communicate clear expectations. If you’re looking for a reliable PDF signing tool, you may consider this option for free! Time Tracking Tools Sometimes, entrepreneurs and their employees don’t even realize when they’re wasting time on certain processes, or simply falling behind on their productivity. No one can operate at peak productivity all of the time, but using time-tracking software can help you determine where you need to boost your team’s efficiency. Forecast states that time-tracking software can enable transparency into your work processes , enhance accountability amongst your team, and help you determine how to best allocate resources between departments. Bookkeeping Software Today, bookkeeping software is a must for practically every business, even if you only have a couple of employees. Depending on your company’s size, and the specific financial processes that you need to manage, you may be able to get by with a free version of your preferred bookkeeping software. As you explore different software options, Zoho recommends looking for a system that will let you manage both accounts payable and receivable, as well as switch between cash-based and accrual accounting. Digital Whiteboard Maybe you host lots of video meetings because your employees are spread out across the country, or perhaps you regularly schedule video conferences with your business partners in other locations. Sometimes, trying to explain your project ideas without visual aids can be difficult. If this sounds relatable, your company would almost certainly benefit from using a digital whiteboard! This tool can open up exciting possibilities for creative collaborations . If you’d like to start using a digital whiteboard to enable easy collaboration and file sharing during your video meetings, ensure that the whiteboard you choose can support the specific types of files your team works with, and that it can be integrated with your current video conferencing software . With so many different types of software available to business owners, it can be hard to determine which programs are worth the investment. By carefully researching free and paid services, you can implement the best programs for your company’s needs. With PDF signing tools, assistance with LLC formation service, digital whiteboards, and more, your business can enjoy the success you’ve been pursuing. El Dorado Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve the citizens and businesses in our community. Let us know if you have any questions !

Attracting Your First Customers: Advice for New Ecommerce Entrepreneurs

By Chelsea Lamb • May 12, 2023
As an entrepreneur new to e-commerce, the biggest challenge is often attracting your first customers. Without customers, you won't be able to generate sales or make money online — it's as simple as that. That's why it's essential to find ways of marketing your business and getting in front of new people who will be interested in purchasing from you. Today, El Dorado Chamber of Commerce will go over some practical and easy-to-implement tips for bringing more attention to your newly launched e-commerce store and connecting with potential customers for the very first time. Let’s get started! Create a website that converts The most important part of launching an e-commerce business is having a website that looks professional, is easy to navigate, and provides customers with all the information they need to make a purchase. Designing one with a sleek look and ensuring it's easy to navigate will go miles in attracting potential buyers. You can also show off your skills and attract customers with 3d stagers that include eye-catching images sure to generate extra attention for your business. These sorts of images aren’t just great for your website; you can also share them via social media to further expand your customer base. Make your website and business mobile-friendly With more people using their phones than ever before, your website must be mobile-friendly. This way, customers can easily browse and buy products from their phones without issue. Mobile-friendly responsive design will ensure that your website looks great, no matter what device it is being viewed on, which could lead to increased sales over time. Write effective content Writing effective product or marketing content creates trust between you and potential customers while also helping them understand why they should buy from you instead of someone else. Make sure the content you write is concise yet informative, so readers know exactly what they are buying before making a purchase decision. Most importantly, use keywords related to the product or service being offered so it shows up higher in search engine results pages. Promote on social media Social media can be a great way to promote your products and services while providing real-time customer service. Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc., allow you to connect with potential customers while also giving them access to reviews from previous customers and building trust in your brand. You can also use these platforms to create contests or giveaways , which can help attract new followers and potential customers. Don’t forget about inventory management Having enough inventory on hand is essential for any successful e-commerce business. Keep track of how much inventory you have in stock at all times so that you don’t run out when orders start coming in. Invest in software solutions that can manage inventory levels automatically so customers get their products on time, every time. Prioritize customer service Providing excellent customer service helps build trust between you and potential customers by showing them that their satisfaction matters to you as much as it does to them. Respond promptly to inquiries via email or social media channels, provide helpful advice when needed, offer discounts for repeat buyers, give away free samples, etc. Doing these will help show potential buyers that their experience with your company will be top-notch if they decide to buy from you. Starting an e-commerce business takes hard work but following these best practices should put entrepreneurs at ease when taking their first steps toward success. Designing an appealing and mobile-friendly website, using social media, managing inventory effectively, writing effective marketing content, and providing excellent customer service are all key elements for attracting first-time customers and even turning them into loyal supporters over time. Whether you’re a well-established business or just getting started, the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce is here to help. If you have any questions, call (316) 321-3150.
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