By Josh Cross • CEO/President Chamber of Commerce

Have you had an amazing experience at a local shop or restaurant right here in Atascadero? Maybe the service was incredible, the product was perfect, or it just felt good to shop local and support a neighbor. We’ve all been there! But how often do we take a moment to share that positive feeling? It’s more important than you think.

When you talk about your good experiences with an Atascadero business, whether it’s online or offline, you’re not just giving a shout-out—your voice can help change the landscape of our community. Your voice could lead dozens of new customers to a small shop. The small shop may grow to become a big local shop and hire your family, friends, and neighbors in the community.

That big shop may start buying more goods from local artists and producers, resulting in benefits for multiple other businesses. The more successful local businesses are, the more they can donate to school fundraisers, youth sports, and community nonprofits. One voice—your voice—effectively helped a business grow, hire more local folks, support surrounding businesses, and increase donations to community-centric organizations and events.

Here at the Atascadero Chamber, I’ve seen this cycle play out time and time again. Your voice is a crucial part of a thriving and happy community.

What are the ways you can share your voice effectively? You don’t need thousands of followers online or a super large friend group. The most impactful recommendations happen in everyday conversations, like when you’re talking with folks in your book club or sharing with your neighbors.

Here are two easy ways you can talk about local businesses in Atascadero and beyond, both online and offline:

• Online Reviews: A glowing review on Google, Yelp, or social media is gold. It’s a powerful recommendation that helps people discover fantastic businesses right here in our backyard. Your words help others feel confident about where to spend their hard-earned money, keeping it local.

• Word-of-Mouth: When you tell a friend, family member, or colleague about a great experience, that personal endorsement carries a lot of weight and trust. It’s how we’ve always found new favorites, and it’s still one of the most effective ways to support our businesses.

So, the next time you have a positive experience with a local business—and I hope that’s often—take a moment to share it. Write that review, post that photo, or simply tell a friend. Your voice matters more than you know!

After all, we’re not just customers and business owners—we’re neighbors, friends, and partners in building something beautiful together. Every shared experience, every positive review, every recommendation is an essential part of our Atascadero community.

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