As a business owner, I understand the challenges many face. These can include lack of funds, finding customers and even difficulty in balancing growth and quality. As you are aware, 2020 has been a tough year. The current pandemic has affected a lot of small businesses negatively. In fact, many business owners have had to close their businesses this year. In this article, I will share 4 ways you can support small businesses on Instagram.
1. Engage with their posts
This season, go beyond clicking the cute heart button “like”. Actually leave them a comment, save and share their posts as well. Engage them in a conversation and encourage others to do same. This would help boost their visibility, no thanks to Instagram algorithm. Please note that by sharing their posts, you are helping to create visibility for them. And who knows, their customers might be on your timeline.
2. Tell the world about them
Help your favourite small businesses reach more potential clients by simply sharing their pages with other people. You can share their posts on your Instagram story or privately with your friends on Instagram and/or other social media platforms. You can do this by either clicking the little arrow beside the like button or by copying the “page link” if you want to share it on Whatsapp or Facebook.
READ ALSO: HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM TO PUSH YOUR BRAND
3. Patronize them
I will say this is one of the most important ways you can support small businesses. However, this is the only form of support that requires you spending your money. So, whenever you need a service or need to buy a product, seek out the small businesses that offer that products or services and then patronize them. A lot of small businesses are struggling this period and your patronage may be what they need just to stay afloat. Thankfully, we have lots of entrepreneurs with products so lush, so beautiful and very well branded. So, give yourself a treat, buy a gift for a loved one or surprise a colleague this season.
4. Provide Honest Review
After patronizing the brands, ensure you provide feedback about the services and products you received. This may be the motivation that that entrepreneur needs to keep going. Send them pictures or messages or leave comments on their pages. Your review may be the one thing that would convince others to patronize that business. Be as sincere and encouraging as you can be, and, if the service was truly terrible, be humane and send them a message about this. This is the only way to help them do better and be better.
I hope you enjoyed reading this. If yes, I now challenge you to support as many small businesses and black owned businesses this festive season. For some suggestions about small businesses to support, check out @naijapreneurcanada and @startupcourt.
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Image Credit: Wave Accounting
