“Support your friend’s businesses and progressions in the same way you support celebrities you don’t know.”
Sandip Kumar
The holiday season is here, and my guess is you have a friend working on a small or medium-sized business. Bakeries, clothing/fashion boutique, hairdressing, cleaning service, courier — the list goes on.
Running a small business has always been stressful. But today, the stresses, frustrations and risks are especially great, considering the challenge of doing business as a result of the pandemic, the amount of competition business owners face thanks to the rise of the online marketplace. Many small businesses have added headaches, like keeping up with technology, adjusting inventory or services to evolving demands, managing employees or juggling the business all on their own.
For many of these businesses, this holiday period can make all the difference in the world. If you are wondering how you can support a friend’s business during this end of year holiday and beyond, read on. Here are five tips to help you do just that!
Purchase Their Products (or Services): While this may seem obvious, many people tend to forget to purchase from their friends’ businesses. Some, when they do, they expect a family and friend’s discount while others simply just overlook this simple fact. Whatever the case, patronizing your friend’s businesses is the best way to support it. Do not let familiarity breed contempt.
Give Them A Social Media Shout Out: Social media has become a very useful business tool in today’s business world. ‘Liking’ and leaving comments helps your friend’s small business immensely! Take a look at their stories on Instagram and follow their Facebook page. Check them out on Twitter and share their posts on these platforms. When a small business has a large following on social media, they stand out, get found, and flourish. Some small businesses rely almost 100% on social media to grow. The bottom line is that if you have a friend with a small business, engaging with them on social media is essential.
Write a Review: Reviews are so helpful for a small business as this shows their brand as a trusted place to buy from and help’s others decide to purchase their product or service. Seven out of ten consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. That makes reviewing vitally important. You can help them by writing a review on their website, Facebook page or simply drop them an email to tell them your thoughts on the product, which they can then share across their platforms.
Talk About Them: Even if you do not need the product/service your friend is selling, other people do. When it comes down to marketing, word-of-mouth has proven to be an efficient way to attract clients, especially since potential customers tend to view personal recommendations as more trustworthy than other forms of marketing, like advertisements or anonymous online reviews. Whether you’re at a social gathering, chatting with colleagues at work, or in another casual setting, it’s perfectly okay to give your friend’s business a shout-out for someone who’s in the market.
Offer To Help In Different Ways: Maybe your friend is overwhelmed right now and could use an extra set of hands to help in the production process during a hectic season. Or perhaps they need some help researching new suppliers or even new markets to tap into. Maybe they just need a fresh set of eyes on a new website or blog post. If you’ve got a few extra hours to pitch in, your help could make a huge difference — not only in the business’s operations, but in your friend’s peace of mind, as well.
I hope you found this list valuable. Small businesses need all the help and boost they can get, and I am sure they will be very grateful for yours. Have any other way you can help your entrepreneurial friends? Share it in the comment section.
