so i want to start a small business selling home products, but a part of me doesn’t want anyone who knows me (& follows me) to know that the brand is mine for at least a couple years. the reason that i just want to test out the market first and it’s less anxiety because i don’t have to think what people i personally know thinks of it lol. but another part of me wants to share because of marketing boost (?) and also to get a bit of support in the start. help???
Make stand alone social accounts for your business. This should be done either way. Make a brand account under your Facebook account (your FB will now be a biz account, no big deal) but it won’t spill over. You’ll have complete control over what you share.
I get where you’re coming from, really. First, don’t tell anyone who won’t be supportive. That means anyone who won’t tell you the truth good or bad when you ask an opinion, who won’t be genuinely happy for you, or just listen when something sucks without having to have a “me too” moment.
Second, never count on or expect your friends and family to be your customers. If you want opinions or to test samples or to get the word out ask them if they’d be willing to use/wear/whatever you pick and give it to them. Make sure it’s something they like, yes, but it should be something you need to test. They can give you feedback or show it off and maybe drive other sales. Limit this to a small group of close family and friends that you think will honestly help you.
When I started my shop I only told a few people. Then I “liked” or shared on my brand account or social media from my personal social media account. It was a way to cross post to get people I knew to see it without spilling the beans completely. But once they clicked the links to my shop,beach they knew it was me…but they had to be at least interested to get to that point.
I get it. Younger years I promoted hard, but realistically my social network was not my target demographic. Sure I got a little extra boost, but my product also wasn’t refined, and I found genuine feedback difficult to receive. Often friends are too kind to give real criticism.
I would say make a post on your Facebook or whatever platform. It never hurts to let people know what you are doing. Don’t direct message friends (I’ve deleted lots this way), don’t make weekly posts (also blocked), spend your time marketing to your actual demographic.
Tldr: yes announce it, don’t spam it.
thank you for your perspective!
Don’t waste your time. They ain’t going to buy it.
Your friends are not your customers. They’ll just ask you for a free one.
LOL i actually think like this but yeah this happens most of the times
Yes announce it. But also make new SM accounts for your brand and keep them separate. In my experience, Your friends and family will “support” you but won’t purchase. They may encourage .
Well, you don’t have to announce that it’s YOUR business! You can just slyly advertise by sharing the company’s page, “Cool stuff in this one!” or one particular product at a time, “Thinking about getting this?” (they’ll read it as you thinking about getting, whereas you’re really asking them to think about it). Disclosure of ownership isn’t required to promote 🙂