What it Means to be a GoLocal Business Member

GoLocal started with a very simple goal—spread the word among Sonoma County’s population that if everyone bought from local businesses first, and shifted even a small amount of spending, say 10%, we could boost the revenue of our local economy by a few hundred million dollars per year.

It’s so simple and obvious that high school students in Howard, South Dakota generated a revitalization plan for that economically devastated County that called for just that—shift 10% of their spending to the local businesses.  That was in 1995.  They were high school students, not economists. The County’s population embraced their solution and saw immediate positive results.  (This story was brought to our attention in the book, Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard by Chip Heath).

We asked ourselves, “How do we tell the general public about this idea of choosing local businesses first?"

The simple solution: get businesses working together to distribute the local first message under a shared brand—GoLocal.  In a new world of phenomenal social media growth, a shared brand concept is easily understood and embraced.  But still not everyone understands exactly how it works or what to do.  That's where the GoLocal team and inspired members help.  You can learn how to make a shared brand work for your business.

7 out of 10 people say they would support local businesses if they knew who they were.  You have to tell them you are one.

1. Use the brand in everything you do.
2. Point them to GoLocal's website so they can discover all members.

Watch this video to see the what a shared brand is and the power of group dynamics.  You can also read more about it here on our site.

Many GoLocal Members Get It

Many GoLocal business members “get it”. Tom Duryea, CEO of Summit State Bank, when asked “Regarding your GoLocal membership, how did you make it so successful for Summit?”, answered, “You have to work it consistently”.  Elaina Hunt, marketing director for Summit has done just that by integrating the co-brand into every facet of their marketing.

We want to share a few of these bright spots with you.  These are the members that really understand the power of the shared brand and have used it successfully to drive growth in their respective businesses.  You can do this too.  You benefit, and so do all other GoLocal members.