As a small business owner, I really appreciate the fact that people will support locally owned, hardworking people like myself that are working hard to make a living.
Perhaps it's my farm background.
Growing up on a farm, it was common practice to do business with the local merchants, supporting each other financially and keeping the dollars in the local community was good for small town Iowa.
Everyone reaped the benefits!
I believe one of the positive things that has occurred over the past few years is the emphasis on local.
Support local. Buy local. Shop local.
Not just during the holiday season, but every time you have the opportunity.
That's why I was excited to discover the Nextdoor app!
Are you familiar with it?
It gives neighbors a platform to make business recommendations, talk about neighborhood events, buy or sell items on the site, and basically provide support to each other.
You can think of it as a social networking service for neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods including the Des Moines metro, as well as across the country.
In this electronic age that we are living in, you may not have personally met or engaged with your neighbor down the street, but with Nextdoor you have the opportunity to do so.
How neat is that?
What I like about this app, is that it gives people a way to connect with others in their local neighborhood.
Metro Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale - you name it!
Local is the key here.
Often, there are questions asked about recommendations for a business or a service, and everyone in the area has the opportunity to chime in with their recommendation or experience.
Free advice from your neighbors, many times based off their personal experience or interaction with a local business.
It brings to mind the local coffee shop in rural Iowa - everyone is giving their input and advice based on their own personal experience.
The spectrum is broad - from recommendations on housecleaning to a good local vet, dentist or doctor, who has the best Mexican food in town, or who would you recommend for snow removal or lawn care?
Cool features like a 2021 holiday cheer map, so you can post your location if you are creating an outdoor Christmas display that you want folks to drive by and check out in the Des Moines metro area.
There is also a "Finds" section which is similar to FB marketplace.
So, if you have an item you would like to buy, sell or give away this provides you another option.
The other feature that I think is awesome is that you can invite your neighbors to join, so there is a real grass roots effort to how this audience can grow.
Recently, there was a post asking for donations for a woman who recently fled an abusive situation with an infant child.
The response for used clothing for the child and mother was overwhelming.
Another great way this app has been utilized, is a neighborhood watch.
I've seen where neighbors have posted security camera pics of vandalism, and this gives people the opportunity to know about it, and hopefully, get the situation resolved.
Being an animal lover, I also appreciate the opportunity to know about animals that might be missing, so I can do my part to help them be returned.
I haven't covered every feature, but I hope I gave you a good idea of what it's about and made you curious enough to go online and check it out.
You can go to Nexdoor.com to learn more.
It's free, and easy to install.
In fact, I'm so impressed with it, I've recently began to advertise my business there.
I want to make a positive difference providing an exceptional service to my neighbors.
I've shared with you my opinion of the app, and I'd love to hear yours as well.
Feel free to make any comments in the comments section below.
I've attached a link to my information in the app as well!
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