SUPPORT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS FRIEND

As a small business owner, there is nothing I appreciate more than my closest friends and family supporting, encouraging and recommending my small business to others. I know for some of my friends, they struggle to think of ways they can support me whose small business is blog-centric and I have often shared with them some of the simple ways you can support your small business friend. As a blogger, I know it can seem like there is no way for you to support my business but in fact, there are plenty of ways. You can support your small business friend by simply reading their blog, tweeting, sharing on your social platforms, liking blog posts or pinning their content.

Stats have shown that over the last decade or more, women owned businesses have tripled in numbers, girl power at its best. Thanks to the advancements in technology and various platforms, many women are starting side hustles or small businesses in order to either support their family or fulfil a life long dream. And I know that for most of these business owners there is nothing like having the support of your family and closest friends. When I started blogging, I had have some pushbacks from both families and friends, it was disheartening but I kept at it and now I have the support of both. Most of us have families and friends who run small businesses, we can show our support in so many ways.

7 WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS FRIEND

Tesco nailed it with their company motto, ‘every little helps’ because as a blog owner, I can definitely tell you, your support in every form is welcome. You might think just reading my blog is not really supporting me but in reality it truly is. You reading my blog not only delivers my message to one more reader but increases my page views which in turn I can monetise or use the blog stats to negotiate a collaboration with a brand. To you on the outside it might not seem like much but to me as a blog and small business owner it means a lot and might translate into revenue. 

So, if you want to support that friend, that family member, that colleague or acquaintance, here is how you can support them and how your support makes a big impact overall.

READ|LIKE|COMMENT ON THEIR CONTENT

As a blogger, I share a lot of content and maybe not all are relevant to you but it doesn’t mean that you should not support my content. I have had friends tell me, but I don’t know what I am meant to say in my comment, I don’t want my comment to seem weird! This is perfectly normal but what I say is, don’t overthink it, share what you thought of the content even if it did not appeal to you, maybe just end at reading. If you found it useful then how about liking it, sharing it on your social networks {Facebook, Tweeter etc}, you never know they might find it helpful too.

SUPPORT THEM & THEIR DREAMS

When I started blogging, it was hard for my family to support me because it seemed like I was just sharing a lot of personal information online. With the advancements in technology comes the need to be protective of your personal information which is very understandable but when I explained to them my dream, they supported me. Everyone’s dream is different and because of that, it makes us unique, you might be sceptical about your friend’s business but support them anyway.

ENCOURAGE THEM

We live in a Betty downer kind of world which is a shame, your small business friend wants constructive criticism that will help their business not discouraging words. When I started out as a blogger, I already had enough self-doubt within me to last a lifetime but hearing encouraging words from my family really helped me stick to my resolve. There are a lot of bloggers out there and maybe I won’t stand out but if I work hard and mind my own business, I am sure to succeed. *Remember success is subjective*

RECOMMEND THEM

As a blogger, it can be hard for my friends and family to recommend me to their friends but you never know until you try. If your small business friend makes stuff to sell, I am sure there is at least one person in your contacts whom you can recommend them to. We are quick to buy things from strangers but slow at recommending our friends who might be selling the same things.

REVIEW THEM

In this digital age, a review is worth its weight in gold, small businesses rely on others to spread the word and a review is a great start. Before I buy anything from Etsy or even Amazon, I always read the reviews first and get a consensus on whether I should spend my hard earned cash or not. Your small business friend would appreciate a {good} review that highlights the best features of whatever they are selling without fibbing too much.

BUY FROM THEM

In my family, we have three small business owners and we all love to support one another, both my mother and sister are creatives and handmade stuff to sell. I know of a few other friends who make stuff to share and I support them, every little helps. When you buy from the small business, you became and walking/talking advertisement which I know they will appreciate.

STOP ASKING FOR FREE OR DISCOUNTED STUFF

THIS IS A BIG ONE. Everyone loves a good discount BUT unless the small business has an offer going, its plain rude to ask for discounts. If they have to give discounts to every single person, they would barely make any returns and it would be better not to be in business. Families as usually the biggest culprits in wanting free stuff but know that you getting the free stuff takes away from the profit they would have made. Support them, don’t leech from them. 

No matter how you support your small business friend, they will appreciate it but don’t forget to ask them the best way to support them as well. As a blogger I know I would appreciate, content shares, comments, tweets, like and pinning, any one of these would be greatly appreciated.

SMALL BUSINESS FRIEND {S} THAT I SUPPORT

It is all well and good me as a small business sharing ways that you can support your small business friend but it is important I practice what I preach. I am sure we all know someone who runs a small business, I know a few and below I am listing the few that I support.

• Towela J’s Crochet – this is my mother’s shop, she sells various knitwears for both babies and adults as well as patterns, African prints and turbans.
• Kit Me Good – this is my little sister’s shop, she sells knitted bookcases, handmade bags and more
• Travel Eat Slay – my girl Caroline selling apparel for travelling millennials, I love her t-shirts and dresses plus she has African prints too
• Nyina Baking Mixes – this is run by a Zambian babe {Chikumo}, she just recently launched it but its the place to be.

There are a few other small businesses that I support which are mostly blogs which I think is important since I am a blogger myself. I hope the few tips I have shared in this post are insightful and will aid you as you look to support your small business friend.