Localism focuses on sustainable economic growth within a community. Unlike in a central government, the goal of localism is to conduct business to keep profits circulating through the local area. While monetary gains are still the goal of companies in this type of localized system, the ultimate aim is to increase the standard of living and quality of life for everyone within the neighborhood, district, or town.
Of course, the pursuit of this ideal gets complicated by today’s digital economy. Advances in e-commerce make it possible for businesses to have a national (or even global) reach. However, you can also use the internet to locally grow your business’s profile. It is possible to either balance online and offline operations or fully embrace localism by marketing to and engaging with people in your particular place or geographic area.
How Did Localism Start?
For most of history, localism has been the default approach to business. Before global shipping networks, people relied on local producers and retailers for most of their daily needs. However, in the late 1990s, organizations like the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), and the FoodRoutes Network (FRN) began trying to reintroduce this style of commerce.
The idea has spread, with communities seeking to support locally-owned businesses and products made by local people. The driving idea behind this movement is that successful local businesses will provide jobs for community members. Also, owners and workers are likely to spend their income at other local businesses, keeping the profits within the community and supporting other small-scale enterprises. All of these contribute to the economic development and empowerment of the local community.
Benefits
Localism, also called provincialism or sectionalism, can bring a better quality of life to the entire community because the money keeps circulating within the neighborhood. In addition, because people are spending locally, the success of one local company will hypothetically lead to the success of other businesses in the community. Ideally, owners will make decisions that support this model rather than adopting strategies meant to please shareholders or increase profits at all costs.
Furthermore, workers have shorter commutes, and businesses rely on brick-and-mortar operations or local delivery services, which cuts down on carbon emissions and benefits the environment. Meanwhile, the local government may see increased tax revenue due to the area’s economic activity. With this money, they may be able to improve local public services and infrastructure.
Localism can also develop people’s sense of community as it protects local interests and preserves the local identity as well as the local customs of a particular locality. These are some of the reasons why many localists support the localism agenda.
Disadvantages
Are there any drawbacks to localism? First, the concept requires that local businesses participate and that no outside companies, such as national or international corporations, come in to compete with the community enterprises or get involved in the decision-making process.
Since transactions are done at a local level, some enterprises may also feel limited by only relying on local customers when the internet makes it easy to reach potential buyers from around the country or the globe. However, growth beyond the community will require ignoring the tenets of localism (at least partially). To address these challenges, a forum between the national government and local authorities might be helpful.
What Does It Take to Embrace Localism?
Brick-and-mortar businesses and even local eCommerce operations already have tools and strategies for engaging with the local community. For example, location-based SEO methods are well-established for most localists. Social media and an increasing number of local apps make it easier to engage with people in a specific area and build a customer base.
At In Context Inc., we understand the impact that successful local businesses can have on their communities. We are creating a series of blog posts that dive deeper into this and other related topics. You can sign up for our email list to receive this content and related announcements.
If this is something you need help with for your Business or Organization and are ready to get started – please click the link below to schedule a meeting to discuss!
Setting Up a Google My Business Account
To take advantage of your Google Business Profile, you’ll need to first create a Google My Business account and follow the steps to set up your business listing. After creating your Google My Business account, you’ll need to claim your Google Business Profile. Once you’re verified as the business owner, you’ll have full control over your Google Business Profile, allowing you to optimize it and grow your online presence.
Google Business Is Only the Beginning
Whether you’re pontificating upon how to start a business, how to increase overall foot traffic to a business, or how to increase your business and brand exposure online, a Google Business Profile is an excellent place to start. If you’re ready to level up your digital presence even further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team is here to help your business put its best foot forward online.