There is a lot of pressure on business owners these days due to the increased level of competition.
Businesses can be found just about anywhere.
They could range from Restaurants, Supermarkets, Boutique, Bakeries, to Gyms.
Businesses require support, most especially when they’re just starting out, and perhaps someone close to you owns one of these businesses, it’s understandable that you might be thinking of ways on how you can support their business.
To be a good friend to a business owner, you want to do everything you can to help them succeed.
You don’t even have to spend a penny to be supportive and help your friend succeed.
Here are some of the best suggestions for “how to support a friend’s business.”
Table of Contents
- 1. Show genuine interest in their business
- 2. Give a lending hand to show your support
- 3. Engage them on social media
- 4. Don’t be shy to promote their business or recommend their services
- 5. Make a purchase from your friend’s small business to support their efforts
- 6. Help your friend out by giving a positive review
- 7. Provide honest feedback and review
- 8. Persuade them to keep going
- Conclusion
1. Show genuine interest in their business
You can begin by showing interest in your friend’s business.
What this means is that you should enquire about their business and show an interest in what the business is all about.
Make an effort to learn more about the business you plan on supporting.
2. Give a lending hand to show your support
Owning and operating a business can be incredibly tasking, and offering to lend a hand is especially heartwarming, and will surely be appreciated.
Even if it’s only for a few minutes, you can offer to assist them in any way you can, as even the littlest things matter– this can make all the difference, and you won’t be needing any special knowledge or skills.
3. Engage them on social media
Social media is a great way to connect with others. Using social media is one of the best ways to support your friend’s business.
This has proven to be very effective, since it’s easier to get your message out to a wider audience with social media than it is with traditional media.
You can share their content on your social media page, either via Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat, and simple actions such as liking and leaving comments on your friend’s post can go a long way.
A business having a reasonable amount of social media following can play a role in its growth in the long run.
Having a following gives a business an extra measure of power.
For a small business, it’s those simple likes that can go a long way.
Interacting with their posts is even better than following/liking their business pages.
You can help your friend’s business by leaving a review or engaging with their content on their social media accounts.
The more shares and likes a post receives, the more prominent it is seen by others.
4. Don’t be shy to promote their business or recommend their services
Personal recommendations are a great way to get new customers for your friend’s business because they are seen as more trustworthy.
It’s nice to mention your friend’s business to your friends and family, because a vast majority of customers can come as a result of word-of-mouth recommendations.
Your friend’s products and services may be useful to someone else.
Whatever the occasion, it’s perfectly acceptable to recommend your friend’s business to someone who you think might take interest in it.
Whether at a social gathering, chatting with coworkers at work, or in any other casual setting, it’s fine to do so.
Bring their business cards and other promotional materials if you can, talking about your friend’s business can be especially beneficial, and more effective if you have access to people who will listen to what you have to say.
5. Make a purchase from your friend’s small business to support their efforts
One of the best ways to support your friend’s small business is to purchase their products or hire their services, thereby showing your support for their business and efforts.
6. Help your friend out by giving a positive review
If you want to help your friend’s business further, online reviews may be the way to go.
Before most consumers patronize a product or service, they check out online reviews of the business.
As a result, reviewing is essential. Such details could have a significant impact on the business’s future.
7. Provide honest feedback and review
An honest review or feedback is quite important to the success of a business, as it could secure the foundation of the business.
As a friend, you need to be honest when it comes to the opinion you have on your friend’s business.
When you notice something wrong or something good about your friend’s business, be sure to inform them. There’s the need to be frankly honest.
8. Persuade them to keep going
Fear of failure is damaging, and your genuine words of support mean more than you can imagine.
Showing interest in what they do and asking how they are doing is important when it comes to providing support.
Conclusion
Running a business is challenging, stressful, and time consuming.
Because of your contribution, not only the business’s operations but also your friend’s peace of mind will benefit from your help.
Letting your friend know that you’re there for them, and they can count on you when need be– can make all the difference in the world.