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5 Ways to Support a Business Without Money


You may have thought of ways to support a business whose products and services you love or you have friends and family who accuse you of not patronising them. Sometimes, you just have too many financial commitments at that point in time and can’t spare any cash. You might not even be interested in what they are selling but you know you can’t tell them that. What then can you do?

Before you get called jealous or unsupportive, here are five ways you can support a business without money.

  1. Don’t shun their ideas: I believe this is one of the very first and most important ways of showing support. When they come to you with their ideas and vision, don’t shun it. Understand that it takes a certain level of trust for them to open up to you. What you should do is listen to them, ask them how they intend to go about it and assure them that you will be there for them whenever they need a listening ear.

  1. Promote their services for them: While you may not be able to buy from them, there is a chance that someone you know whether online or offline needs their services. Help them promote. Tell people around you about their services. Dedicate some of your posts on social media to their business. Repost their offers, sales, events, ads and share links to their product page, websites or social media. Spread the word and encourage others to support their business too.

  1. Attend their events: Are they having a product launch? Opening a store? Looking for a plus one to a bigger event? Go ahead and be there, for and with them. While there, be their hype man. Network on their behalf, show customers around, take pictures of their products, them and happy customers to show off later on social media. 

  1. Encourage their growth: This could be done in different ways. Advise them, introduce them to courses they can take to improve, let them know about offers and promos that could help grow their business, celebrate every win they have and critique them privately. Yes, telling them about ways their business can improve is encouraging their growth. Be it their packaging, delivery or customer service, let them know. It's better it comes from you than an angry customer.

  1. Offer your services: If there is something you can do for them to support their business do it. If you have a large following, you can shout them out or recommend them. It could be writing a good newsletter for them, proofreading and editing copies for them, shooting better quality photos of their products. Of course, if you are scared that they might start abusing the privilege, you can inform them that you know someone who can do it for them. Or use it as a cross-promotion of both services. That way, it’s a win-win.

With these ideas I have given you, there is no excuse not to support that business. You can also suggest any of these to your family, friends and followers for them to support your business in the way they can. If you support any business using any of these and the person still feels it’s not enough because you aren’t spending, ignore them because this is as much of a valuable support as money.
Peace!

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