This was my first successful meetup. Even though we had technical difficulties in the beginning, everyone who was able to join was very understanding and was very glad to have been part of the meetup. We had about 29 attendees and everyone positively shared their ideas on how they are currently supporting small businesses and how we can improve to do so in the future.
The purpose of the meetup was to share stories, ideas, and ways that we as local guides are supporting small businesses during the COVID period. We also discussed ideas how we can continue to help small businesses get recognized on Google Maps even after these difficult times.
While we were discussing, we agreed with @PalashTheExplorer that focusing on small businesses is important because these businesses need to be highlighted and not get suppressed by big businesses. @SonjaPerera said that she made a list of stores, their phone numbers, and shared the information. She will continue to do so during this time. @MSulaiman even suggested that we encourage or help small businesses show the public their sanitizing process. @anu7spice Tessa shared that she has been purchasing gift cards to support small businesses. I believe that purchasing gift cards is a great way to support our local/small businesses. We can buy gift cards and use them later, we can buy them and donate to people in need or donate to people currently working in the front lines, and we can also buy them to gift to our family and friends. This is such a great way to support small businesses while following social distancing guidelines and staying home safe!
How we will continue to support small businesses in the future
@Denise_Barlock mentioned how pictures are very important when writing a review. I cannot stress this enough, good quality pictures are very important! It is very helpful to read a review that has good quality photos because they can help to decided whether a place/business is worth a visit! @Jose_G_Benjamin Mentioned how a detailed review for new small businesses that explains the place can help that business to gain new customers. @ravindus mentioned that virtual tours are very important to help businesses get recognized on google maps. @vvbellur shared about how 360 views give a better understanding about places. @FalguniP mentioned that we should tell businesses to always update their information on Google My Business.
We all got a chance to share knowledge and exchange ideas, it was a very informative and successful meetup. Thank you all for attending, I enjoyed learning from all of you! Below are some pictures from the meetup.
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Hello everyone especially to those that attended the meetup, I wish I could have been able to tag everyone because it was such a wonderful meetup. Please enjoy the recap, see you in the next meetup!
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Congratulations @LeyleyS for your first meetup, can understand the first time excitement. It was enriching and successful, thanks to you and fellow LGs coordinating smoothly although there were some Indian region specific issues heated up(which was good too as shows the enthusiasm LGs have for solving real world problems).
Waiting for your next session. And thanks for making the lovely collage.
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it was a great meetup @LeyleyS . Got a lot of insights from our LG friends from around the world. Thank you for hosting. such a useful meetup.
Keep up your good work on helping small businesses.
Regards,
RS
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@LeyleyS Congratulations on hosting your first virtual meetup! It was a wonderful idea to share strategies to support the local community and glad to hear so many suggestions. All the best and stay safe.
Cheers 
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@LeyleyS loved attending the small business meet up! It was so informative and also inspirational. Thank you for scheduling and hosting!!
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@LeyleyS congratulations for a successful meet up
It was great to meet everyone and discuss about supporting small businesses
It is really important we help them to flourish by buying from local shops and helping them to go digital and stay connected with the customers.
We can educate them about the importance and review their business to boost their confidence and suggest them areas where they can change and improve.
Looking forward to more sessions on this topic
I would like to tag my friend @SUMEET1
@Shrut19 to share his experience about this meetup
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Congrats @LeyleyS for successfully completing the virtual meetup. Lots of ideas for contribution to small businesses.
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Hi @LeyleyS ,
Thank you for sharing this great initiative’s recap! Congratulations for what I see it was a very successful event. This is the very Local Guides spirit, to help and support, having a positive impact on our communities. Bravo!

For anyone else interested in hosting a virtual meet-up of any kind, I always suggest these useful Tips for hosting virtual meet-ups.
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Hi @FalguniP I totally agree with you that we need to have more sessions on this topic and continue supporting and helping small businesses. Thank you for tagging the others. I did have a hard time finding correct tag names for most attendees.
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Namaskar…
** @FalguniP **
Thanks for tagging…
It was knowledgeable Meetup @LeyleyS thanks…
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Hello @LeyleyS
So happy to say that i was a part of this successful meetup. Congratulations to you. I loved sharing my experience of helping the small business using google maps was by sharing the photos of the street local shops with a detailed review about them. Walking along the valleys guide the most of the place and their locals.
I so enjoyed to making new friends here @anu7spice @Denise_Barlock . @ravindus @MSulaiman @vvbellur . @Julien44
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Sorry for being so late to come through this.
Thank you for having me in this meetup. @LeyleyS
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@Shreeya_99 same here. Glad to be part of such an informative session. All the very best for your future and keep sharing :).
Cheers
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Thank you @MSulaiman
It was nice to meet you and have a common conversation for benefit of society.
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Hi @Shreeya_99 and thanks for the tagg!
I really enjoyed this meetup as it was a great way to see and to learn what we can do to help small businesses.
Thanks a lot @LeyleyS for organising it. You have managed it perfectly!
See you both around
julien
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Glad to meet you too @Julien44
Had a great time.
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@Shreeya_99 , Thanks for the photos. And glad to meet you too.
Cheers…!!!
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Supporting small businesses idea Meetup. There will be a lot of cooperation from people all over the world.
For a long time I took part in virtual meetups in different places from home. The meetup has been fun and information.
Thank you very much @LeyleyS for sharing with us.
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