7 ways to support a small brand without spending money
Someone asked me this question a few weeks ago on Instagram and I bookmarked to return to it at some point when I’d had a good think. Obviously, all businesses like for you to support them with cold hard cash so they can keep the wheels churning.
However, alongside that I think there’s a large dollop of let’s call it ‘intangibles’ that mean the world to any business owner. For me, the very fact that someone asked this question was very touching , because it meant that they were trying to think of ways in which they could be helpful, even if they weren’t in the position to spend. Thank you for asking, it meant a lot to me.
So having thought about it, here are my seven tips.
Tell your friends/family/colleagues about your favourite business. Ask them to get you gift vouchers from these businesses for special occasions.
If your work has a social newsletter or often engages with small businesses from a CSR point, see if you can get your fave business owner through the door.
Hype them up and give your faves a social media shout out. This is always very uplifting. Also engage with and share their content on social media channels.
Join their mailing lists and forward to friends and family who may also be interested. You can join my mailing list here.
Shop their affiliate links. Some brands like mine are able to use affiliate links especially on blog posts so if something catches your eye in a post that I’ve written, shop for it via the link in the post. It costs you nothing, but it means I get a small percentage from the brand because you’ve bought my recommendation.
If you’ve used their service, leave a Google review. This way other people are able to find them easier. I’ve lost track of the amount of people who’ve visited West Room because of our five-star Google review. You can leave a review for West Room Aesthetics here.
Don’t ask for discounts - businesses have bill, staff and overheads to pay, not to mention it’s upsetting and insulting on so many levels. If you’re bulk buying then it doesn't hurt to ask, but if its only one item, think again.
