Support Don't Cost a Thing

I've seen and heard it said a million times on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, pretty much anywhere you can push a small business,that strangers online are faster to throw support your way than family and friends. At first, I didn't want to think that was true, but as I go on in my journey, sadly, it is all too true. I've pondered why that is and nothing comes to mind. The very ones who SHOULD support you, who CLAIM that they will always support you and your dreams, well they get real quiet when that time comes.

It's sad isn't? I can post a video on TikTok and get hundreds of views and comments on them. Yet I can post that same video on Facebook where the people I know are, where family is, and not a view or comment, not a share, nothing. To say that it hurts sounds so petty and childish, but it does. Do they just not believe in me? Do they think I'll fail? Or worse, do they think my products are awful and just can't tell me that I'm not good? Why else would they not support you? Especially when there are ways to support small businesses and to help they grow without spending a single dime?

That's right! Anyone can support your small business venture, even if they don't make a purchase. And it won't even take that much out of their busy day to do it. So really, there isn't a single reason why family and friends aren't pushing you to success. The picture above shows lots of FREE ways to support small ventures at no cost to the person. I share this on my business page on Facebook often. (Love, Lois Amy) Funny enough it seems like no one pays it attention. Gotta love that, right?

Something as simple and quick as a like, share, comment or shout out can make a difference. Maybe you don't like or have need for what we are selling, but if you share our posts maybe, just maybe someone who does want or have need of what we do will see it and now you've just aided in a sale without spending a dime. See, easy and free...

If you've been the recipient of a sample, or of our products as gifts, post a photo of that product and say something nice about it. Your friends see it and maybe ask questions and that can all lead to a sale. Let me even say this, if you get something we as creators make, and you think it would be better if... tell us. It will not hurt our feelings but may just help us in the end. We cannot improve without the feedback and constructive criticism. We count on YOU for that. Leave a review. Talk us up. It costs nothing but a minute or two of your day.

Now, TikTok makes it really easy to support small business, even if they seem to want to hold us back at times. That's where you all come in. Make your voice hear and our page seen so that they have no other option but to take notice. Watch a video through to the end. Now they do offer three minute video options so at most you've made a three minute time investment. THAT HELPS! Just by watching it through you tell TikTok that our content is worth watching and that encourages them to push it up in algorithms. Now, don't stop there. Like that video! Super like it (tap, tap, tap that screen until you see a BIG heart!) Easy peasy. But wait! There's more! Now that you've watched our video, liked our video, leave us a comment! A simple "That's nice" or even an emoji counts! And finally, hit the copy link button. From here you have two options. One, go on about your day and do nothing. You've done great! Two, paste that link on your socials and send it in texts and emails and however else you share information. Now you're done. You just took at most five minutes out of your day and supported a dream without spending a dime. Thank you.

It takes nothing but a few minutes to brag on your friends who are trying to make their dreams a reality. I get it, times are hard and money is tight. That's what so great about supporting and boosting a small business. It takes no money (even though we love to make a sale!) for you to help out in that dream. Share the hell outta your friends work, share their love and passion and be their word of mouth promotion. Invite people to like their pages and groups, to follow them on all of their social media pages. Share their posts, comment, like it! Tell your friends about them. Support isn't always financial. Get that idea out of your mind. Think bigger. Act! When one succeeds, we all succeed! Let's all get together and make small businesses impossible to ignore.

Next week let's discuss ways that we as creators can boost our businesses for less and bring in sales.

Until Then,

Love,

Lois Amy