The Best Ways To Support Your Entrepreneur Friend (for FREE!)
Let's be real: entrepreneurship is all the rage right now. Many people are looking for a way to leave their 9 to 5 and focus on being their own boss.
We could delve into why I don't necessarily think entrepreneurship is for everyone, but that's not what this post is about.
No, this post is for those entrepreneurs that are out here doing it on their own, and their friends who might not necessarily have the money to support them financially, but would still like to contribute to their business in some way that will make a positive difference.
If either of those apply to your situation - then this one's for you.
Here's three FREE and EASY ways to support your entrepreneur friend and their business:
Share their work
Running a business is so much more than just what you see on the surface as a spectator. Take photography for instance:
To you it may seem like photography is about taking photos, then delivering said photos to your client. BOOM. DONE. Right? WRONG!
Being a professional photographer is about marketing, networking, meeting potential clients, turning them into definite clients, location scouting, setting session dates, yes - taking photographs, but also directing and posing your clients, helping them choose what to wear, editing the photos, putting together a gallery, communicating with your clients, creating a website, maintaining your website, studying your craft, acquiring new and better equipment, creating blog posts....
See? Way more than just taking photos and handing them over.
With all that goes into the process on the front end, all you see on the back end might be a blog post. With all the work your entrepreneur friend has done to construct that blog post, it would be wonderful if you could click one button and share that post on facebook (or wherever they've posted it).
You've automatically increased their reach from just the people they know, to the people they know AND the people YOU know!
And guess what? Someone who you know may see this blog post and decide to book your friend for whatever services they're offering.
SO TECHNICALLY - you've contributed to your friend's business financially without contributing financially. Isn't that beautiful?
So do your entrepreneur friend a HUGE (and free, for you) favor and click that share button!
2. Talk about them & what they offer
Word of mouth is HUGE! People tend to trust the opinions of others they know and often make decisions based on those opinions.
How many times have you been unsure of where to go eat for dinner in your city, so you do a quick search on Yelp, and find a restaurant that looks like a good option?
But then what do you do? You ask your friends/family if they've ever been there. But why!? You have a perfectly clear rating system right there on the app for you! You have 30+ people who have been to this restaurant and took time out to write a detailed review.
But still you ask the people you know before you commit.
Why? Because a recommendations from someone we know weighs more than the 30 recommendations from people we don't.
And you hold that type of power. Everyday. You could be that one recommendation that influences someone to book with your entrepreneur friend over all the other options.
So talk about your friend and their services whenever you get the opportunity. You don't have to print out a t-shirt that you wear everyday with their advertisement on it. And you don't have to bore people by being on a loop about your entrepreneur friend & what they do.
Just throw in that shameless plug every once& again when there's a clear opportunity to talk up your friend. (SEE, STILL FREE!)
3. Introduce your friend as "______, the ______"
This is the only piece of advice I'd tell you to double check with your entrepreneur friend before you put into action.
But if they're comfortable with it, start introducing them by including whatever their special craft is.
If you two are out at an event and you run into someone you know that your entrepreneur doesn't, take this opportunity to set your friend up for a possible client from the first convo.
Your introduction doesn't have to be word for word "___________________ the ___________________". Truthfully, that might sound weird and forced.
Instead, you can introduce them by saying "this is Chanel, she's a photographer". You can even go a step further and throw in an adjective if you're feeling like a super friend that day. "This is Chanel, she's a brilliant photographer".
BAM! By including that adjective, you've now also given a recommendation. FOR FREE.
I know free always feels good, but being able to help those you love and do it for free at the same time feels EXTRA good, right?
Conclusion
Never underestimate the ways in which you can help your entrepreneur friend that involve absolutely no exchange of money.
Yes, it feels great when you can donate to their cause monetarily, but I promise - free support is better than no support. And they will appreciate ALL the support they can get, no matter the form.
3 free ways to support your entrepreneur friend
1. Share, share, share! increase their reach by sharing their work.
2. Word of mouth is king, so talk them up!
3. Change up your introduction style to include their profession/business.
Did you find these tips helpful? Do you think they'd be effective in supporting your entrepreneur friend (FOR FREE)?
If you're an entrepreneur with friends who want to support you (FOR FREE) or you're MY friend and want to support me for free - be sure to SHARE THIS POST!