How to Help Your Business Owner Friends Without Spending Money

I know a lot of people who own small businesses (obviously) and I am one. I have a lot of first-hand experience on what actually helps empower and grow your friends’ businesses in ways that don’t involve spending your money (although to really show them you care, this is a great way to go about it too).

Below are 5 actionable ways you can be a better friend today, and help grow the businesses of your friends.

How great is that?

1. Encourage them. Often

People often don’t realize just how much self-doubt comes with owning a business. Don’t care how long you’ve been around; whether it’s a decade or a month. It’s common that you still feel like an imposter.

Message your friends little words of encouragement.

What takes you 30 seconds to write in a DM might stick around in their head for weeks or years.

Be a cheerleader for your friends. Let them know you think they’re crushing it. You have no idea the true power of your words.

2. Comment on their content every time you see it

This one’s more practical in the way it helps the algorithm (by recognizing “People like this post enough that they are interacting with it). It also gives your friend the ability to respond, thus doubling the amount of comments, and continuing to drive engagement + help them in more eyeballs on future posts.

Even if you just leave a couple words, commenting on your friends’ posts is a huge help in them getting more attention.

Emojis are great, but only-emoji comments are low-effort comments. Don’t think 3 emojis is a comment.

3. Tell your other friends about them.

Not just online, but especially in real life. Brag about your friends when you see an opportunity for someone to benefit from what your small business owner friend does.

Most businesses, especially in the beginning, find most of their success via word of mouth.

Again, as consistent throughout these arguments so far, your words have more power than you think.

If you don’t believe me, I challenge you to give this a whirl and see for yourself.

4. Re-share their content on social media.

That little paper airplane means an awful lot to your friends. Tag them when you add it to your stories. Add a small personal blurb of why you’re sharing this. But even if you don’t have the time to do that, sharing it just helps expose your friends’ small business to another network of people.

5. Partner with them when you can.

If you have your own small business or otherwise have something of value to give to your friends, do it. You don’t have to do it every time (and maybe just make that clear upfront), but especially when the business is new and really fighting to get up off the ground, these partnerships can be make or break.

DON’T do this expecting to get free stuff or to otherwise be remembered for what a great person you are. Do it because you genuinely love your friends and want them to succeed. Take little credit. Pay it forward.

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These are just a few of the ways you can help your friends within the next 5 minutes.

For the last time, you have no idea the ability you have to help. You are not insignificant. Your effort makes a difference. Be the friend many of us wish we had.