image via @thesustainablefashionforum

We have all said or heard the following sentence at least once . . .

“I found this awesome brand and I’m so happy with my purchase. I highly recommend it.”

This classic, simple conversation starter is a small business’s best friend.

Word of mouth has been around for as long as humans have spoken to each other. One person said it’s great, so someone else checks out the product, buys the product, loves the product, talks about the product more . . . and the cycle repeats.

Thanks to today’s social media, word of mouth is even more effective. Every share, repost, or retweet carries the potential to boost a business’s growth.

Most small brands don’t have access to a lot of funds like many larger brands do, making it impossible for small businesses to compete with deep pockets in the marketing world. FRANC is completely self-funded and fully owned by Brandy Mercredi. Every expense is a hard expense to swallow. However, word of mouth has proven to be one of the most influential marketing moves.

One of the strongest ways to support a business (other than being a consumer) is talking about it. Talking about a brand to a friend not only increases exposure but also increases credibility. People are more inclined to consider purchasing from a brand when someone they love has talked about their positive experience. The more people start talking about a small business, the more exposure the business gets, allowing it to reach people they wouldn’t have reached otherwise.

So, want to empower a small business?

Talk about it! Your voice holds so much power. Whether you are talking to thousands on social media or to two people at a family dinner, what you say matters. This rings true for both hard conversations and fun sharing conversations.

Share their social media posts. If a brand you love puts out a new product or is having a sale, become a part of their virtual marketing team and share that post on your favourite social media platform.

Buy their product. When you’re needing to buy a particular product, look around to find a small local business that has what you need. You might be surprised by what you find. Putting your dollars into the pockets of a small business empowers them to keep growing. It also pays their bills, and there are happy dances all around with every purchase.

Leave reviews. It’s pretty much part of our culture to look at reviews before making a decision. When you buy a product from a small business, be sure to leave a review. Of course, raving reviews are the nicest to read, but authentic and constructive criticism is welcome. That’s how we all grow, right?

We have a fun way to encourage word of mouth here at FRANC. Refer a friend and you receive $10 off of your next order when they make their first purchase. It’s the best kind of friend’s with benefits.  

Thank YOU for supporting FRANC by being here and hanging out with us on social media. Our goal is to create a beautiful circle of empowerment—we will empower you to live your best comfy, sustainable, ethical life, and you empower us by spreading the love! We make a great team.

Jade is a writer, potter, and gardener living in a sleepy town in Northern Ontario. They love growing food, creating functional stoneware, and hermiting with a book as much as possible.