Simple ways to support independent creatives on social media

You start to follow a creative on social media, you are loving their content, their inspiring photos, fun videos and what they create and you think to yourself, 'I'm gonna buy something from them one day, I'm gonna tell them just how amazing I think they are'..,...but you just press 'like' and scroll on through your feed, dishing out likes to a selected, and often random, few...We've all done it! We are all guilty of this!

Your favourite creative has no idea how much you like their work, whether they are a maker, a musician, a hair stylist, an artist, they can't read your mind. Instead, they are creating away, oblivious, that they are making so many people happy and inspired. 

They are unsure if the content /products/ music/artworks that they are creating is exactly what their followers want (despite having hundreds, even thousands of followers) and why? 

Because so many of us don't say anything, we drop them a like and follow, what more do they want from us?

They want feedback. 

They want praise, they want support, they want to know what you like and what you don't like, this in turn helps to motivate them and inspire their creativity further. It makes them happy. 

Why would I want to help them you may ask...Well, why not? 

We are a funny old bunch the British, stiff upper lip, slagging off success with a feeling that sharing your talents is to show off and being kind to others is a sign of weakness (seriously??). 

Well, this archaic view needs to be shaken off. You are all AMAZING and everyone has the right to be amazing and to be kind to each other without being accused of either being a fake liker or a kiss-ass! 

We are all having such a crappy time of it lately that we know what we are all feeling, so kindness is so important right now. 

There are various ways to share the love, virtually and physically (in person- can you imagine?) here are a few examples.

SHARE THE LOVE

Supporting each other via Social media

If you are following and liking creatives you are already supporting, but could you do more??

The next time a creative shares a blog post, a video or a piece of music, why not actually take the plunge and interact with it? Listen to it, watch or read it? 

Why not go even further and share it on your own social media? Will it offend your followers? Certainly not! The more we all share indie creatives work, the more people will move away from mass consumerism and appreciate independent creativity! 

This is how important it is to say more than 'like'. If you really do like what you see, give creatives a positive boost and the motivation to keep going. You gotta share the love! 

We saw lots of support over Christmas for small business, with friends and followers sharing posts and links to online shops, THIS WAS AMAZING but why stop at Christmas? Keep sharing, it doesn't have to be the same small businesses every time, do some research, find new creatives and others will follow.

The next step asks you to part with your money, of course you should only buy something because you really like it (or actually need it) but do consider small business over corporate where possible and buy their stuff! 

Sharing the indie joy with my exclusive Emotional Waterfall Buddha! 

Hitting save on instagram

A brilliant tip to remind yourself of an indie made gift that you have seen on instagram is to save the post. You may not want the item right now but having it in your saved archives is a brilliant way to remember and rediscover it at a later date.

I have been hitting save constantly since I discovered this gem. It's almost like pinterest, where I am saving all my favourite things, from inspiration to self care tips to products that I love and want to buy, either for myself or as gifts for others. It's a win, win for both customers and indie business. I love it! Try it out and let me know what you think. 

Where is the save button you ask? Bottom right, below each post, looks like a square with a triangular chunk taken out the bottom. Where are your posts saved? Click on the burger (three lines, top right) on your profile page. Now get saving! 

Sharing on Instagram Stories is so EASY!!! 

One of the simplest ways to share indie creatives posts is to share them on Instagram Stories, just click that arrow (looks like a paper aeroplane see above graphic) and share posts direct to your stories. 

I share a few stories a day mostly via my Fruit Salad platform, I am so happy with who I follow on there, everything is so inspiring, so when I get a moment I share. 

It's not on my wall, its only there for 24 hours but it lets people know that 

1) I got their back...and...

2) That I really like something and want everyone else to see it and like it too. 

That's all, its easy and I am addicted to the cute gifs!! (Cute gifs optional). 

Please do this!!!! 

Commenting is super important

One of the best things you can do that comes for free is to simply write a small comment below a creatives post, to let them know you are there and that you are enjoying their content. 

Not only does this make creatives feel all warm inside, it also ups their engagement on social media really helping them to share their amazingness and reach more people who could become their future followers, supporters and customers! This is also the same with likes, saves and shares. Well done! You've done a good thing! 

It only takes a moment but your kindness to take time to write something from the heart  - other than a few emojis - will mean the world to a creative /small business. It will stay with them a lot longer than it takes you to write it, that's for sure! 

Sharing more Indie biz love - Introducing the lovely founder of 
Carny Valley Capes,  Cat Johnson

Indies supporting Indies

As I say in the vlog that accompanies this post, I would also encourage other indies to share the love and create communities within social media. It is so important to get involved and be present, not just as a content creator but as a follower and fellow indie supporter. 

If you want to up your following and reach (reach is more important than likes these days) you need to like, comment, share and create conversations with fellow makers, who will in turn, do the same for you; offering out handy tips, share new business opportunities and may even want to collaborate or work with you. 

I promise the more you do this the more you will feel part of an online or maybe when things are back to something relatively normal, a local indie biz community. 

Sharing the love & repping my fave I am R polo earrings!

When hugs are out of the question...

When we are allowed to see each other again and hang out in social situations with OTHER PEOPLE we need to start visiting our local indie owned shops, indie pubs and eateries, buying local produce, supporting your mates band or art exhibitions in person. No excuses! Just do it! 

We are so desperate to get back out into society but are we willing to change?  Or when some normality is restored will we be back to mass consuming and corporate supporting 'just cos its easier''???

Now is the time to make the change! Changing our mindset and lifestyles, supporting small and local, not just at Christmas, but all year round! 

The other thing is to support your family, close friends and colleagues in their creative endeavours and indie businesses. 

It sounds obvious but I know from personal experience that many of the people that surround me have never read one of my blogs, listened to my radio show or even looked at my Fruit Salad website. 

I often hear this from creatives and it seems shocking but I just think we have got lazy. There is so much happening on social media that we are not checking in with the creativity that is happening around us and on our doorstep!

Your friends and family need that boost from their nearest and dearest. So check in and acknowledge their creativity and give it the attention it deserves. It may even surprise you!

Praise means the most from someone who is close to you. Your friends and family are not mind-readers but they may think you are just not interested in what they do, so speak out and share the love! 

Amazing catsuits by Burnt Soul. Credit - Burnt Soul

Being thankful

I watched a great IGTV video from Bristol catsuit queens Burnt Soul this week, who were sharing tips on starting up your own small business, after noticing so many people had done just that during lockdowns. Instead of keeping the secret of their success to themselves they shared the love. 

One thing that stood out to me and made me think - I NEED TO DO THIS  - was Burnt Soul's display board in their studio (I've not seen it but it sounds AMAZING) with positive quotes, photos and feedback from all of their customers, reminding them how loved they are and that their hard work is really appreciated. Which is especially great if you are having a down day AND everyone has those. 

Everyone should have a positivity wall!! In my opinion!

In my next blog post I shall be discussing how some 'so called' sustainable fashion articles can, despite meaning well, give out the wrong message. This headline "I wore the same dress for 100 days" didn't impact me the way it was meant to. What does it conjure up in your mind? 

As always I am really interested to hear any feedback about this post (especially as it is pretty much encourages you to give me feed back) and anything that is mentioned within it that you would like to contribute to the conversation. 

Please give the IGTV vlog that accompanies this blog post a watch too.

NEWSFLASH

This week I shall be taking part in the Bristol Market online market with my slow fashion brand Fruit Salad. I am also going to be doing an Instagram live chat on Friday 12 February at 3pm with sustainable fashion designer Evie from Daines Atelier, discussing what we shall be selling at the market and sustainable fashion. 

I have an exclusive code that you can use during the 24 hour virtual market - which takes place in Bristol Markets Insta stories - alongside 30 other small business makers - from 8pm Friday until 8pm Saturday 13 February.  Type in BRISTOL at checkout to get 15% off everything in the Fruit Salad online shop. 

Thank you for supporting XX Big Love XX