Does everyone you know own a business?

It feels that way sometimes. You’re a kindhearted person, which is why you’re here reading this blog!  So I promise that I’m going to show you 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 because we can reach a really wide audience!

But, on the flip side, it can be really overwhelming to feel like you need to support all 897 of your friends’ businesses.  Believe me, we get it and want you to know that there are MANY ways you can support us without pulling out your wallet!

Now, before I give you those tips, make sure you read all the way to the end of this blog post!  I’ve got a copy and paste script that you can use the next time a friend reaches out to you, but you’re not exactly interested in pulling out your wallet.  Trust me, you want to make sure you save that on your phone!

Ok, here’s what you need to know about supporting your friends with small businesses….

1. Your friends don’t necessarily want your money {or pity purchases}

Making a purchase from time to time is certainly appreciated, 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.

Nobody wins when that happens.  You know that.  And we know that too.

Be upfront 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?

Quick shout out to the small business owners reading this!

I’ve got a shareable graphic that you’re going to LOVE and will help you teach people how to support you!  It’s actually the most popular post we’ve ever made!  Between Facebook and Instagram, it has been shared over 700 times!  If tons of small business owners, just like you, love it – I know you will too!  Click on the image below to get the shareable Facebook version or head over and grab the Instagram version right here!

2. Support your friends’ businesses via social media

Your comments, likes, and shares mean EVERYTHING to Us

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.  And help calm our nerves!

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.

3. 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 others that we are the big kahuna…or something of that sort.

4. 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. And 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.

Did you get one of those “hey girl” messages?  Not sure how to say “no” to your friend?

It can be really awkward when your friend reaches out to you about their business… and you may not know what to say.  So, instead of replying to their message, you ghost them.  For the love of all things, please respond!  It will be so much healthier for both of you!

If you’re not sure what to say, save this quick message in your phone to copy and paste as needed! 

“Hey, Friend! Thanks for your message. I know that reaching out and sending these messages can be hard. So, I’m proud of you for taking the time to develop your business!  I’m cheering you on!  At this time, I don’t feel like I’m able to financially support you by making a purchase, but I’d love to support you in other ways.  Is there a blog post that I can share or social media post I can comment on for you instead?  Happy to support you in that way!”

Your friends will appreciate your honesty and support!  💕  Trust me!  We want to support our families, but we don’t want to be led on or be that annoying friend in your inbox.  So let us know how you feel so we can both take the appropriate next steps!

Supporting your friends is easy if you know what to do!

Thank you for caring enough to read this blog post!  It really means the world to us!  If you want to be a superhero, reach out to three friends and ask them how you can support them on social media right now!  They’ll love you forever!

Now, if you’re a fellow boss babe and need help growing your business, I have just the place for you!  Come and join the Sparkle Society Community on Facebook and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs who make the creative world go ’round.  You don’t have to go this journey alone and we’d love to have you join us!