What’s your view on asking friends and family to support your brand? We asked members of the community to open up and share their views on this controversial topic. Check out some highlights below.
Octavia Bradley
It’s always nice to have the support of your family/friends. However, the goal is to grow your business with new clients. I have never felt the need to have family/friends to support me financially. The overwhelming support that I have received from them has been truly organic. I have been fortunate to have family/friends support overwhelmingly with their actions and words. Read more>>
Dr. Trenese McNealy
When it comes to friends and family support for small business owners, I can truly say that my village has been very supportive of both of my businesses. I believe that it is ok to ask for support from those you know, especially when you are first trying to get your business off the ground. Friends and family support is everything, but it should not be expected. Read more>>
Tiara Cole
Like most people, I thought that it went without saying that if no one else supports me, family and friends will. And while some do – I’ve certainly learned to accept that sometimes the biggest supporters will turn out to be complete strangers. I used to put a lot of thought and emotion into paying attention to which friends and family seemed to completely ignore my content by not liking, sharing, and commenting. Read more>>
Nicole Pacini
As an entrepreneur, my perspective on asking friends and family to support my business has evolved over time. Drawing from my experience in network marketing, I’ve learned the importance of sharing my business with everyone while respecting individual preferences and boundaries. In my approach, I embrace the understanding that a “no” from friends and family doesn’t necessarily mean rejection but rather a “not right now.” I’ve learned not to take these responses personally. It’s crucial to remember that my loved ones may not align with my target audience or have an immediate need for my products or services. Read more>>
Mentwab Easwaran
Starting Coobaya would have posed a formidable challenge had it not been for the unwavering support of my friends and family. While I generally prefer to keep business and personal matters separate, when it comes to advocacy, there’s an unparalleled strength in the support one receives from close-knit relationships. In my experience, my family and friends have emerged as my most steadfast advocates. Read more>>
Briana Morales
I truly believe that there are multiple ways for friends and family to support a loved one’s business. There’s also a fine line of how many times should one ask for support or what does support look like? And I think for me I’ve been lucky because I have a lot of family that have supported me, and who are in my corner. I’m so grateful and thankful for that. Read more>>
Natalie Brown
The way that I feel about family and friends supporting my business is very important to me. I feel as though when you start a business, it’s hard in the beginning as well as going through the journey. The support from love ones is what pushes you to strive for success. Not having that support, sometimes can make someone feel unappreciative and or not recognized for their hard work and dedication. Read more>>
Cap Rivera
I feel that in business your family and friends should be the first of your supporters. But what I actually find happening is that stranger support you more than your own. For example you might find that people close to you will constantly post on their social media things that celebrities are doing but you may be doing similar things and they never repost any of your work. Read more>>