Okay so you’ve started your business/service/movement etc, or maybe perhaps you’ve been at it for quite a while, and one of your biggest obstacles is; you feel like your ‘friends’ aren’t supporting you enough, or even at all. They don’t post your stuff, don’t like your stuff, don’t gas you up in your comments section, or even spread the word about you. Or perhaps when it comes to your craft maybe you’re the last person they’ll contact, they’d rather pay someone else, perhaps a stranger over you.
Honestly this is not going to be a ‘are your friends really your friends’ post but rather lets self asses for a second. Do you post other people as much as you want to be posted? I used to get frustrated because I felt like not a lot of people supported me how I wanted, but you know what, honestly I didn’t really support other people myself, but I’m working on it.
Secondly, things like this really made me self assess. Is my work even of a quality people want to invest their hard earned money in? Why should people really book me? Also sometimes you’ve got to understand hiring your friend for something can become sticky, that’s why people say don’t mix business and pleasure. Don’t get me wrong a lot of my friends do actually use me for photography, but sometimes I can also understand why others may feel hesitant.
Lastly who cares? Obviously you and I do, but I mean really, regardless people will support you! Sad to say even if it’s not your friends there are people who will support your work like crazy. Try to engage with people in your field, follow new people and start to comment on their pictures and get interested in what they’re doing, support them, like their stuff, go to networking events and socialise!
Finally shamelessly and consistently promote yourself! Honestly sometimes it’s hard because you feel like you’re bugging people and constantly in peoples faces, but that’s exactly what you want in order to be seen. Not only that but when you love your work and believe in it you will always be your biggest supporter. The moment you second guess yourself, or aren’t sure of yourself, not a lot of people will feel like you’re serious. You can only get to places if you put yourself out there and believe that your work is great!
“Are you’re friends even you’re friends if they don’t post your work?” – I’m sure you’ve seen this statement or something to this effect before on socials. I get it! I honestly do! Sometimes it’s not the whole friendship that we need to call to question, but maybe you just need to communicate.
So after reading this your probably asking “erm, so how do I get my friends to support me?” And the simple answer to that is; you can’t, so stop trying. If they wanted to they would, that doesn’t make them bad friends, everyone is doing life, and doing life the best way they know how. Most importantly, don’t doubt yourself, don’t take that as a sign to give up but rather work harder and be more consistent.
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