Does everyone you know own a business?
It feels that way sometimes. Are you wondering how to support your friends’ businesses without going broke? It’s pretty amazing that modern technology gives small businesses a platform that was essentially science fiction when our parents and grandparents were running and marketing their businesses. It’s a great thing! On the flip side, how are you {as a consumer} able to support your friends’ businesses {all 897 of them}? It’s great to support your friends’ businesses, but also…? You don’t want to leave your bank account begging for mercy by doing so. I have some good words for your wallet here…
Your friends don’t necessarily want your money {or pity purchases}
Ok, making a purchase from time to time would be nice, but there are other ways you can support your friends’ businesses without making your credit card cringe. After-all, if you aren’t interested in what your friends are selling there’s no reason to buy it. You’re wasting your money and wasting your friends’ intentions. Be up front with your business-owning buds and tell them how you can, indeed, support them if you’re not buying. Your friends want your support, for sure, but showing support goes far beyond monetary contributions. Let’s break it down and peel off the guilt and pity purchases once and for all, shall we?
Support your friends’ businesses via social media
Stop, Drop, and Share – chances are your friends are promoting their businesses via social media {if they aren’t, they should!}. Any business trying to gain presence online has to deal with a nasty a-word called, “algorithms”. Algorithms determine what end-users see on news feeds. Business owners compete to be seen. However, you can help us get ahead in the competition (for free!). Every time you slow your scroll and give our business page posts a comment, like, reaction, or share – we’re getting noticed! You’re helping us boost visibility because your engagement basically says to Facebook “I vote for this one!” Your business-owning friends will thank you!!! That kind of support means so much as social media is ever-changing and hard to stay on top of. So, remember… stop drop and share to support your friends’ businesses!
Join Us Live – hop on your friends’ live videos and be a participant. This costs you all of $0 and will give your BFFs a boost of confidence as they “sell” their brand to the world! Live video can be intimidating {especially to a silent room}, so engage with your friends on live. Repeat key points. Ask questions. Respond to questions. Get the crowd going. This is a simple thing to do and requires only a minimal investment of your time. Even if you can’t catch the live video, go back and comment on the replay. Also, read my post about “how to love a photographer.” You’ll get some great takeaways on how to nurture your business-owning BFFs.
Support your friends’ businesses via web traffic
Help Tame the SEO Monsters – When you read blogs, spend time on your friends’ sites, click around, and generate activity it causes a SEO {Search Engine Optimization} response that helps us. If no one comes to our site, it tells Google that we smell like rotten eggs. If we have activity, Google will know and will tell other’s that we are the big kahuna…or something of that sort.
Owning a business sounds like a dream come true, right?
Offer Emotional Support – Not always… and in some seasons, not near enough. Business owners end up being editors, customer service reps, janitors, therapists, referees, deal-makers and deal-breakers, and so much more. While we are so stinking busy, sometimes we are equally as lonely. Sometimes solopreneurship hits hard and we feel like we’re riding solo. We appreciate your support! We appreciate it when you tell your friends about our businesses. We appreciate it when you point out our typos and tell us about broken links on our site. It’s really a lot to keep up with and even if you are over-extended and can’t shop with us – we appreciate your support in many other ways. Just let us know! Set the boundaries, let us know how you can support and our business in other ways besides spending.
If you’re a photog reading this and you need help growing your business. I have just the place for you. Come and join our FREE Sparkle Society community and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs who make the creative world go ’round. As my little gift to you, pick up my FREE social media mini-course and learn to make your creative business shine online!
