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None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Write positive online reviews for small businesses you like.
It helps them gain visibility, stay open, and can have a bigger impact than just purchasing from them.
3 people, independently
Leave positive reviews for products or services you truly enjoy, not just when things go wrong.
People often review when angry or seeking justice, making negative feedback more common; positive input helps balance this.
4 people, independently
Give ratings of 9 or 10 on 1-10 scale surveys to avoid negatively impacting the employee's performance evaluation.
Most companies treat any score below a 9 as a failure for the employee.
one person who lived it
If your job requires defending your employer's political advertisements to customers, consider quitting to reduce personal stress.
Defending political stances can become so stressful that it leads to leaving the job.
one person who lived it
Participate in regular offline days.
One person found a community for this and recommends making it a regular habit.
- Based on one person's experience
one person who lived it
Include specific details about products or services in reviews rather than vague praise.
People ignore vague reviews due to bots, and specific pros/cons or item descriptions are more credible.
one person who lived it
Shop at local ethnic grocery stores for fresh vegetables and fruit.
They often have cheap prices, and it helps local business more than larger chain grocery stores.
one person who lived it
Follow small businesses on social media and like their posts.
It takes only a few seconds but is helpful for their marketing efforts.
one person who lived it
Check window stickers for codes to verify you received the efficiency tier you paid for.
One person discovered their windows were the lowest tier despite paying for high efficiency.
one person who lived it
12 more on this
Spend slightly more at local businesses to help your community.
It helps the community.
one person who lived it
Leave reviews on third-party sites or the company website instead of writing notes in order comments, as these are read by many employees and help small businesses compete.
Reviews help companies compete against giants like Amazon.
one person who lived it
Keep private spots or resources secret to maintain their privacy and utility.
Sharing them can lead to loss of access or overcrowding.
one person who lived it
Reserve negative reviews for extreme situations only, as they are permanent records for both parties.
Reviews are immortalized for the reviewer and the subject.
one person who lived it
Leave names in positive reviews so employees can see they were recognized.
Employees check periodically to see if they received a good review.
one person who lived it
Support local businesses, as they tend to reciprocate community support better than corporations.
Corporations do not give back in the same way.
one person who lived it
Write positive reviews for small or locally owned businesses, as their reputation determines their survival more than it does for large chains.
Small businesses appreciate feedback and live or die based on reputation, whereas large chains like McDonald's survive bad reviews.
one person who lived it
Keep details vague in positive reviews for small businesses to avoid setting unrealistic expectations or getting employees in trouble.
Specific details may lead other customers to complain if they cannot replicate one-time exceptions.
one person who lived it
Avoid leaving reviews that mention minor issues or specific employee actions, as this can lead to employees losing their jobs if management traces the feedback.
Management can trace reviews back to specific employees, potentially resulting in termination even for small infractions or perceived favors.
one person who lived it
Check out items and attend events to increase circulation numbers and secure future funding for the library.
Engagement drives future funding.
2 people, independently
Include the employee's name in online reviews if obtained naturally during conversation to clearly identify who provided the service.
It makes it clear who you are referring to.
one person who lived it
Call businesses directly to verify their hours and status, as online information may be inaccurate.
Online listings can display temporary closures or other inaccuracies that do not reflect current reality.
one person who lived it