While most of the time “Buy Michigan Now” is described as a campaign, the truth is, it is more than that. It is a living, breathing evolving idea. In short, it’s a MOVEMENT. Individuals and entities continue to come together to move our economy forward by paying attention to how we spend our dollars and enhancing the image of our home state. As such, the message is propelled much further and faster, when more people get actively involved. With that in mind, here are some ways to get off the bench and into the game, so you can play a key role in revitalizing Michigan’s economy one product, one purchase, one person at a time.

Buyers and Braggers
This might be the easiest way you’ll ever hear of to lend your support to an organization. You don’t have to carve out any additional time or money. You wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t already believe in the power of buying local. Each time you buy a Michigan-made product or do business with a Michigan-based company, we just ask that you don’t keep it to yourself. Tell other people about the products and services you believe in. Take to social media and post pictures. Ask a store to start carrying a product you love, or a restaurant to start serving it. Buying one product is excellent, inspiring others to buy is incredibly awesome.

Social Media Ambassadors
If you are already posting products and places that you love in Michigan, then we encourage you to kick it up a notch by becoming one of our official Social Media Ambassadors. We’ll communicate with you when new videos, articles, and recipes hit our website or social media. All we ask is that you post or repost images or links to that content. Each of us has a different audience that we reach. Every time a post comes from someone different, there’s an opportunity to help somebody new to discover local products or inspire them to keep their money close to home.

Researchers
One of our biggest challenges in keeping this campaign evolving and engaging is lacking the time to do research. We can always use help from friends who have a little extra time and access to the interwebs. If that sounds like you, then get in touch and we’ll let you know some of the projects waiting on the back burner.

Event Volunteers
Working one of our events is a really fun way to make a difference and interact with a lot of cool people. There are a wide variety of ways to get involved with an event from helping to plan and market it, to setting up and tearing down, to greeting guests and vendors.

Writers and Content Creators
Michigan is a great big state…so much so, that we’ve got not one but TWO peninsulas, as you know. Don’t even get us started on how many industries are worthy of attention. It stands to reason then that we can’t be everywhere we’d like to be or know everything we’d like to know. We’re always on the lookout for eyes and ears in different communities and industries around the state. Sometimes we need someone to just snap a photo of a location or help us find resources in or near their town. If you’re willing to be a connector to your community, or if you have some industry expertise, we can use you. Opportunities exist to write articles, take photos, and create images for social media.

To learn more or get started in any of these capacities send an email to info@buymichigannow.com with “I want to help” in the subject line. Then fill us in on how you might want to participate and where in the state you’re located.

Author: Lisa Diggs

Lisa Diggs is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, business consultant, avid traveler, and founder of The Catalyst Company, LLC, Michigan Positivity Project, and Buy Michigan Now.