We know you're passionate about your business, pouring your heart and soul into making it succeed. We're a small business ourselves, so we understand the drive to hustle, to work tirelessly towards your goals. But hustling is good until it isn’t and can lead to Toxic Hustle Culture. And, trust us, it could be costing your business.
What is toxic hustle culture?
Toxic Hustle Culture is that relentless push to work harder, longer, and faster without giving yourself a chance to rest. In fact, research by Barclaycard Payments has revealed that 80% of SMEs have continued to work when sick. It's the belief that success is only achieved through constant hustle, regardless of the stress it creates and the toll it takes on your wellbeing and physical health. But we do understand that many of you like to 'hustle' (73%) and that's not a bad thing. However, hustling too hard can have very real side effects:
You may be less creative
If you're always on the grind you'll have little room for creative thinking and innovation. According to a study by McKinsey, burnout can lead to a 68% decrease in creativity and problem-solving abilities. Of course, as small business owners, we know that creativity and innovation are essential for staying ahead.
You may be less productive
Contrary to popular belief, working longer hours doesn't necessarily equate to increased productivity. In fact, research from Stanford University found that productivity declines sharply after working more than 50 hours a week. In reality, burnout leads to fatigue, lack of focus, and decreased efficiency.
You may make poor decisions
When you're exhausted and burnt out, your decision-making abilities suffer. Studies have shown that sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to make risky and irrational decisions. As a small business owner, every decision matters, and you can't afford to let burnout cloud your judgement.
Your relationships may suffer
Toxic Hustle Culture doesn't just affect you; it impacts those around you too. You may neglect time with family and friends or be short-tempered with employees and clients. Healthy relationships are the foundation of a successful business.
Toxic Hustle Culture can cost your business
The consequences of Toxic Hustle Culture are very real - almost three quarters (71%) of investors confirm that they wouldn't invest in a company that had problematic workplace culture. Research by WPI Economics also found that unhappy staff cost the economy £11 billion a year in lost productivity, while AXA research highlighted that sick days due to burnout cost the economy £28 billion.
So how can you protect yourself from Toxic Hustle Culture? We’ve partnered with Barclaycard Payments to create content, tools, and events to help you stay on the right side of hustle. So why not make a Healthy Hustle Plan today?
Sources: 1. “What is burnout?” 2023, McKinsey. 2. “The Productivity of Working Hours”, John Pencavel, 2019. 3) “Paying the price for problematic behaviour”, Culture Shift, 2023. 4) “Health, Happiness, Productivity”, WPI Economics study commissioned by Unum UK, 2023. 5) “The true cost of running on empty”, AXA UK and Centre of Economic and Business Research, 2023.
Barclaycard Payments research conducted with BVA-BDRC including a survey with a sample of 500 UK SMEs, between 22/04/24-05/04/24. Questions focused on the ‘hustle’/ normal working habits of small business owners/ key decision makers.
As a small business owner, you're no stranger to the hustle. But toxic hustle culture can cost your business. We believe that it’s possible to hustle the healthy way - and work smarter, not harder. The best way to do this is to stop and think. Take time to think about what success means for you and how to hustle in a healthy way. Why not develop a Healthy Hustle Plan?
What is a Healthy Hustle Plan?
The Healthy Hustle Plan is your personalised roadmap to achieving your business goals while prioritising your well-being over the long term.
We work with thousands of small business every year. Based on their experiences, we've identified three key steps in a Healthy Hustle Plan: recalibrating your vision, prioritising effectively, and establishing healthy habits.
Your Healthy Hustle Plan is more than just a plan—it’s a commitment to building a business that not only achieves success but also supports your (and your team’s) overall well-being and fulfilment. By recalibrating your vision, prioritising effectively, establishing healthy habits, you can navigate the hustle with intention.
Recalibrate your vision
The foundation of your Healthy Hustle Plan begins with aligning your business priorities with your personal ambitions. Take the time to reflect on what success looks like to you—both professionally and personally. What are your core values, goals, and aspirations? How does your business fit into the bigger picture of your life?
What drives you? What kind of life do you want? Be honest with yourself. Then take a look at your business vision and think about what it’ll take to achieve it. Are there any disconnects between the two? Will your business vision take you closer to your personal objectives or further way? If not, you may need to re-calibrate one of them.
Set priorities
Once you've recalibrated your vision, it's time to prioritise effectively to ensure you're spending your time on the right things. With a never-ending to-do list, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and lose sight of what truly matters. Make a habit of regularly reviewing your list of actions and re-prioritising them.
Identify all the things you could do - and evaluate each of them based on how much effort they’ll take to do and how much impact they could have (in terms of revenue generation, growth, or long-term sustainability). This might sound overwhelming at first, but the more you do it, the easier it’ll be!
Establish healthy habits
Finally, to make your plan a reality, you need to put the right habits in place. As a business owner, self-care isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity.
Make self-care a priority by scheduling regular breaks, exercise, and relaxation activities into your daily routine. Treat these moments as non-negotiable appointments with yourself. Try productivity tools and techniques, such as time blocking and find the ones that work for you. And perhaps most importantly don’t forget to ask for help.
Bringing your Healthy Hustle Plan to life
On the Digital Boost platform, you can create and manage your Healthy Hustle Plan. You can break down your goals into actionable steps, capture them into your plan, receive nudges to complete tasks, and track your progress over time. As you complete tasks, move them along in the plan and celebrate your progress. Share your plan with a mentor to drive accountability and gain valuable feedback and support.
Remember, your plan is unique to you and may evolve over time as your business grows and your priorities shift.
Let us know how it’s going - we'd love to hear how you're creating a sustainable path to success in your entrepreneurial journey!
The entrepreneurial journey often begins with a simple spark of inspiration, a desire to create something unique and personal. For Natalie, that spark ignited when she found herself in search of a phone case that truly reflected her personality. Dissatisfied with the generic options on the market, Natalie decided to take matters into her own hands - so Creative Banter was born! Having seen her family build many amazing businesses, she was inspired to create something of her own. Knowing she needed support, she turned to the small business mentoring offered by Digital Boost and Boost Lancashire and saw a huge shift in her business thanks to the mentorship she received!
From Personal Passion to Thriving Business
"It all started back in 2019," Natalie recalls. "I remember getting a new phone and wanting a case that was more than just a generic pattern. I wanted something that spoke to who I am." As an illustrator, Natalie was inspired to create a design that reflected her and her life and so she illustrated her very first phone case.
But what began as a personal project quickly evolved into something exciting! Natalie's friends and family loved the cases and soon she'd had many requests to create unique phone cases for her network. Natalie began this project whilst she was studying animation and was encouraged by her teachers to turn her passion for illustration into a business venture. She began slowly designing cases for her friends and families alongside her studies, and her small business was born!
The Evolution of Natalie's Business
Initially, it was a side hustle—a creative outlet that allowed Natalie to express herself and share her art with others. But as time went on, she realised that her illustrations held the potential for something greater. "I started to realise that this is actually what I love to do," Natalie reflects. "So, I expanded my offerings to include more than just phone cases—gifts like canvases and cushions."
Every step of Natalie's journey has been organic and fuelled by her own experiences as a customer. Having added these new offerings, Natalie again was inspired by her own experience when she was planning her wedding! "We were creating our own stationery for the wedding," Natalie shares. "And it hit me: Why am I not doing this for other people?". Once again inspired by her own experiences, she began to offer custom stationery services as part of her business and immediately had more friends and family queuing up for her services.
📸 Creative Banter
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Support
Natalie acknowledges that entrepreneurship isn't without its challenges, especially when it comes to financial constraints. "It's a struggle sometimes when you're like, but I'm broke," she admits candidly. In those early days of building a side-hustle, it can be hard to strike the balance between working a 9-5 and trying to break into a fully-fledged small business.
As so much of Natalie's early business came from friends and family, it didn't initially feel like a small business! But some key 'aha' moments marked a turning point for Natalie. One of those was the moment her phone notifications were blowing up with website visitors! Being discovered by customers who weren't her friends and family was a moment where Natalie realised she'd gone from passion project to true small business!
The Transformative Power of Mentorship
The support Natalie received from Boost Lancashire and Digital Boost proved instrumental in her entrepreneurial journey, providing guidance, mentorship, and invaluable resources to help her navigate the complexities of running a business.
Natalie's initial introduction to business support came through her sister's involvement with Boost Lancashire. Witnessing the growth and success of her sister's business under the guidance of a mentor, Natalie recognized the value of having a mentor of her own. Inspired by her sister's experiences, Natalie decided to seek out her own mentor through Boost Lancashire—a decision that proved immensely beneficial. "That was really good," Natalie reflects. "Because, again, there were things that I had no idea about, and they really helped me to figure out." From essential tasks like maintaining financial records to more complex aspects of business management, Natalie's Boost Lancashire mentor provided guidance and support every step of the way.
As Natalie's circumstances changed and she prepared to relocate to Surrey, Boost Lancashire introduced her to Digital Boost. "At the beginning, I thought it'd be a very similar [service]," Natalie recalls, "but then I was pleasantly surprised." As well as 1:1 mentoring, Digital Boost offered Masterclasses, accelerator programmes and networking sessions to support small businesses and charities! Having experienced personal support from Boost Lancashire, Natalie was impressed that a similar level of support could be accessed virtually through the Digital Boost platform - and all free of charge!
The Impact of Digital Boost on Natalie's Business
"Before, I didn't have access to all the knowledge that I need," Natalie reflects. "But coming to Digital Boost, it feels like I have access to the world's knowledge."
Through Digital Boost, Natalie was able to access a huge variety of mentors, who all brought unique perspectives and support that she could apply to her business. With over 70+ mentoring topics offered, Natalie had access to support in areas she didn't even know she needed!
Natalie has been lucky enough to be mentored by Ian from the BT team. Ian volunteers his time through Digital Boost to support small businesses and charities around the world. Ian is a Digital Marketing expert and has supported Natalie in developing her website, SEO, and brand positioning so that she can stand out in her market and get more customers! Natalie admits that before 'Digital Boost, no one was visiting my website'
Natalie describes how Ian will tell you how it is and isn't afraid to tell you when something isn't working in your business! She's found this to be immensely helpful as having constructive feedback has allowed her to develop a website that's working for her and her business. Thanks to Ian's support, Natalie's website is now getting discovered by new customers and generating more sales!
This was most impactful after Natalie attended her first wedding fayre with her business. She recalls how excited she was as it was on her 'bucket-list' and how many potential customers were blown away by the innovation of her designs. She even got noticed by the local press when they were blown away by her reversible seating plan, which includes an illustration of the happy couple on the back, so you don't have to throw the seating chart away after the day! With so much interest generated on the day, Natalie then had an amazing website to direct them to buy from her, all thanks to the mentorship of Ian 😊
📸 Creative Banter
Building Confidence
But what's changed most for Natalie as a result of mentoring is her confidence. For Natalie, having Ian's mentorship has been 'validating' and she doesn't underestimate the power that validation has had on her business journey. She acknowledges that confidence has been her 'weakness' on her journey. Every entrepreneur knows how hard it can be to put yourself out there and feel confident in what you're selling - it's normal! But for Natalie, having an expert like Ian look at her business and say that it's 'great' and better than other options on the market has been a huge confidence boost for her.
What struck Natalie was when Ian said to her: 'I believe in your business and I believe in your stuff'. Having a small business mentor believe in you, even when you're struggling to yourself, was game-changing for Natalie. With the support of Ian, she's gone from strength to strength and her business is flourishing.
Looking Ahead
As Natalie's confidence grows, so does her business! She's gone from strength to strength as a result of Digital Boost's small business mentoring and the future is very bright for Natalie.
Natalie's story is a testament to the power of mentoring and having someone in your corner cheering you on. Whether that's friends, family, other small business owners, or a mentor, never underestimate the power of your support system when building a business.
If you've been inspired by Natalie's story and would love to find out more about how our small business mentoring can support you, you can find out more here! 👇
Press Release
Begin: A free course for aspiring female entrepreneurs 2024
The UK’s top female entrepreneurs come together with Digital Boost and Buy Women Built to inspire and equip the next generation!
Buy Women Built, a consumer movement shining light on female entrepreneurs and Digital Boost, a free online platform that offers personalised support to all start-ups and small businesses, together announce the launch of ‘Begin: A free course for aspiring female entrepreneurs’.
The fully funded programme, open to any women in the UK, will address the challenges holding women back from starting businesses.
An independent analysis of female entrepreneurship commissioned by the Treasury shows there are 30% fewer female entrepreneurs in the UK compared to the US. The research showed that if women started businesses at the same rate as in other developed countries we would add an extra £200 billion to the UK economy and create a stronger and fairer society.
Karen Licurse, Managing Director of Digital Boost, says “We know that women are less likely than men to know other entrepreneurs, or have access to mentors or support networks. So while they may dream of starting a business, for many, it just doesn’t feel like a realistic or accessible path. We’re thrilled to join forces with Buy Women Built to change that, giving women the inspiration, confidence and practical support and tools they need to forge the path for themselves.”
This is a new chapter for Digital Boost who, through their community of 4,000+ volunteer mentors and flexible learning programmes, have helped more than 9,000 business owners to date, 60% of whom identify as female.
‘Begin’ is a highly interactive six-week programme that goes beyond theory and guides women step-by-step to turn their ideas into an actionable plan to start their business. They’ll work with a community of like-minded peers and get personalised support from Digital Boost’s mentors along the way.
To inspire the participants, each step of the course will be supported by case studies and practical tips from founders of the UK’s top women built brands. These founders include names such as Thea Green, Nails Inc. Rene MacDonald, Lisou, Joanna Jensen, Childs Farm and Vivien Wong, Little Moons.
Commenting on the value of Buy Women Built, Vivien from Little Moons says: “BWB is a wonderful community of cheerleaders who share much needed practical advice. I wish I had this when I was starting out.”
Sahar Hashemi OBE, founder of Buy Women Built and formerly Coffee Republic and Skinny Candy said: “We believe women make great entrepreneurs, a lot of the natural feminine qualities lend themselves to the qualities you need to start a business…but what holds back women is the fear of leaping into the unknown.”
“What better way to encourage the next generation, by not only giving them the process but the proof from those that have actually done it. We can’t close this gap until we change perceptions about what it means to be an entrepreneur - and inspire & enable more women to follow that path”.
The course will be delivered entirely online so women can join from anywhere and work flexibly around other commitments. Replays and self-study will be available via the platform. 1:1 mentoring, events and support continue after the six weeks to help women turn their plans into reality.
This programme is completely free for everyone thanks to the support of NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, and the Scottish Government’s Pathways Pre-Start Fund.
James Holian, Managing Director, Business Banking & International Retail said:
“As long standing supporters of Women in Business we understand the various challenges that women might face when setting up or running their business. Our goal is to make a positive difference to women in business across the UK. We are delighted to be part of a new collaboration with Digital Boost and Buy Women Built to launch a dedicated programme to support women to set up in business”.
It intends to reach at least 600 women this calendar year. Registration for the course opens on 19th February digitalboost.org.uk/begin .
Editor's Notes:
About the programme: The course follows a unique, highly interactive structure:
- 6 weeks, delivered online to work around participants’ commitments
- 90-minute sessions each week, each focused on the steps to start a business
- Participants work on their real business ideas and begin to build a plan
- Pre-work and assignments in between sessions
- Participants work in small peer groups to give and get feedback & network
- Access to unlimited 1:1 mentoring and resources
- Ongoing mentoring, support and events after the 6 weeks to make their plan a reality
About Digital Boost: Digital Boost’s mission is to make personalised, actionable support available to anyone who wants to start or grow a business, regardless of location, background or existing networks. Through the kindness of our community of 4,000+ friendly volunteer mentors and smart tech platform, we support any founder with unlimited 1:1 and group mentoring, access to specialised expertise, networking and actionable peer learning programmes. All our services are always free thanks to the support of partners like Mastercard’s Strive UK, Natwest Group, Bloomberg and BT.
Digital Boost is 100% owned by the educational charity Founders4Schools, whose mission is to connect young people to relatable role models, inspiring them and opening their eyes to possible career paths, including entrepreneurship.
digitalboost.org.uk | LinkedIn | Instagram
About Buy Women Built: BWB is a consumer movement to shine a light on female founded brands, showing who they are and why buying from them creates a stronger, fairer economy to inspire future generations of women. The BUY WOMEN BUILT logo is a symbol of recognition for female founded brands. Through the symbol we aim to shape purchasing decisions and encourage conscious shopping decisions. The logo allows brands to commercially align with consumers who care about empowering women. Behind the movement, BWB has a community with over 1000 female founders of consumer brands with a combined turnover of £1.5 billion.
https://buywomenbuilt.com/ | Instagram | LinkedIn
About NatWest Group: NatWest Group is a relationship bank for a digital world. We champion potential; breaking down barriers and building financial confidence so the 19 million people, families and businesses we serve in communities throughout the UK and Ireland can rebuild and thrive. If our customers succeed, so will we. NatWest Entrepreneur hub | NatWest Business | LinkedIn
BWB Brands delivering course content:
| Thea Green | Nails Inc. |
| Chika Russell | Chika's |
| Vanita Parti | Blink Brow Bar |
| Pauline Paterson | Dr. Paw Paw |
| Maxine Laceby | Absolute Collagen |
| Gem Misa | FullGreen |
| Joanna Jensen | Child's Farm |
| Margaret Dabbs | Margaret Dabbs London |
| Sarah Chapman | Sarah Chapman Skinesis London |
| Joyce and Raissa de Haas | Double Dutch |
| Kate Prince | Ancient & Brave |
| Katie Lopes | Stripe & Stare |
| Pippa Murray | Pip & Nut |
| Lemon Fuller | Lemonade Dolls |
| Vivien Wong | Little Moons |
| Amanda Thompson | Noughty |
| Rene Macdonald | Lisou |
| Kim Innes | Humble Crumble |
28% of small businesses in the UK say social media is their main driver of sales, according to BT
As 2024 gears up, the digital marketing landscape for small UK businesses and startups evolves at pace. For small businesses, navigating social media is a full-time role that’s both exciting and challenging. So how can you manage social media for your business without a full-time member of staff? Do it using people already in the business that have a genuine interest in social media, or outsource to experts, that way you get specialist skills without the full-time salary.
Platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok offer great opportunities. It's super important small businesses see social media as one part of the bigger marketing picture when being strategic in achieving their goals.
Let’s take a look at the more popular social media channels for small UK businesses, microbusinesses and startups…
LinkedIn: Connecting professionally
For small UK businesses aiming to build business-to-business (B2B) relationships, or establish themselves as industry leaders, LinkedIn is THE platform and one of my personal favourites (must be my corporate background). This year video content will gain momentum on this channel.
For those starting out on LinkedIn stick to the basics, keep it simple and make what you do engaging. More importantly, be YOUR genuine self for people to connect with you and your business brand. For more advanced LinkedIn users, get into LinkedIn Lives for real-time interactions. Whether you're starting out or upping your game, show you know your stuff by sharing industry insights specific to your business or clients.
Tip! Mix LinkedIn activity with other on and offline marketing activities to gain maximum mileage from everything you do. Remember! You need to repeatedly reach the right people 6,7,8,9 times for them to remember you.
YouTube: Visual storytelling
Don’t knock it! YouTube's influence continues to grow through visual storytelling for UK small businesses.
For beginners, create simple, informative videos about your products or services. More advanced users can start to experiment with long-form content, and for those of you that get overwhelmed when it comes to social media, start with YouTube Shorts (does what it says on the tin…) for snappy and engaging clips.
Tip! Add YouTube content to your website and share it across other social media channels to show a consistent and professional brand message that keeps your business in the minds of customers and clients.
Instagram: Visual first
Instagram started out as an image-led platform and still is to this day. Authenticity (a word we can’t avoid!) is essential here, and in 2024, the platform thrives on it.
Beginners can start by testing out quick Stories and grid posts to build and connect with their audience. More advanced users can dive into longer-form video content through Reels or experiment with Instagram Lives!
If you're feeling lost with Instagram, go back to basics and ensure any piece of content you create has a strong image and text that is simple and clear. Over time you can expand the types of content you're creating and increase the frequency of your posts.
Tip! Localise your content -make use of location tags and collaborate with topic-specific or local influencers to strengthen both local and regional presence.
Facebook: Building communities and targeted ads
Love it or hate it Facebook remains a versatile platform for UK small businesses. Facebook beginners should focus on creating a Facebook Business Page and building a community through engaging posts. For the more advanced users, delve into Facebook Ads, the targeting is excellent and works well for certain types of businesses, so it’s always worth testing this out with two or three ads to see which performs best in generating leads.
Tip! Don’t start advertising on Facebook by boosting posts – a complete waste of time unless you want to achieve a broad, untargeted reach with anyone and everyone. It’s scattergun!
TikTok: Video-led creativity
TikTok's explosive growth is set to continue in the UK throughout this year. For those starting out go with short-form videos. More advanced users can start to collaborate and get more creative with influencers. Micro-influencers hold lots of untapped potential here as they tend to have a target audience focused on certain types of products and services. Those who are feeling a bit blah or lost with TikTok, explore the ‘For You’ page for inspiration.
Tip! Inject personality and show off your sense of humour to create real and raw videos (no one wants polished and perfect!) to make it relatable and appealing to your target audiences.
Try showing more 'behind the scenes' content on your TikTok channels to bring your business to life!
Marketing Best Practices
See the bigger marketing picture for a sustainable business
Make sure you're seeing the bigger picture for your business both on and offline. Social media is just one piece of the marketing puzzle! 🧩 Having a mix of consistent marketing activities each month ensures you reach target audiences in a number of different ways. And remember, it’s not just about marketing to get new business, it’s also about marketing to look after the customers you already have! The trust is already there which makes it much easier to do more great business with them.
Tip! Don't just focus on socials! Work out the best mix of marketing activities for your business, and then make them work as hard as possible for you! The perfect combination for your unique business will mean you're reaching your customers and repeating the same message in a number of different ways 🤓
Have confidence in your approach
Whether you're a beginner, advanced, overwhelmed or not a fan of marketing that’s ok! Keep things simple when it comes to your marketing. Know your business goals and then take action each month that's aligned with those goals. By keeping things simple, you'll start to become more confident in your marketing skills! Having a level of confidence in marketing doesn’t require you to be an expert, it’s about being clear and consistent, so no rocket science required 🚀🤓
When all your marketing activities are aligned to a strategy and plan that’s aimed at reaching the goals of the business, you will succeed. All your marketing content will sync up with your brand values and make your marketing more genuine!
Taking charge of your social media
Make social media work for you! Being in control of your social media allows you to shape your business brand confidently and appeal to your ideal clients.
Recognise that social media platforms are just tools, and whilst you don’t own them, you can use them to your advantage in creating and maintaining brand awareness.
Social media channels are just one of many free or low-cost marketing tools that your business can make use of in the right way. It’s the strategy and the actions that sit behind all your marketing activities that matters most when it comes to putting yourself and your business out there in a way that’s right for you.
Strategic Independence: Reduce the reliance on external platforms
Relying solely on external platforms such as social media can be high risk, especially for small businesses.
Remember! You don't own your social media. One easy way to reduce your independence on social media platforms is to strategically drive traffic to your website. Think about other cost-effective marketing activities that put you in control i.e. collecting customer emails, telephone numbers and addresses. By having a well-rounded marketing strategy that doesn't rely solely on social media marketing, you're strengthening your business!
Conclusion
Social media is here to stay, and by following the tips and tricks shared in this blog, you can find an approach that works for you and your business! The main thing to remember is, although social media is a powerful ally, it doesn't have to be the sole driver of success for your business. With the right marketing foundations in place using a strategy and plan, you'll be fully equipped to manage the marketing of your business both on and offline with confidence, meet your business goals, and keep on top of trends that will always come and go.
Want support to build your dream marketing plan?
Need more personalised support? Book a free mentoring session with a marketing mentor here 👇
Meet the Mentor
Anna Short, small business owner and founder of Boo! Marketing is all about making marketing simple by creating focus, direction and consistency for small businesses and early-stage marketers, that way they get to play to their strengths, enjoy what they do best and grow confidently.
Today in business we’re all thrown into social media as a way of marketing. However, we’re not all confident or have the skills yet to show up online as small business owners in the way we need to in order to sell. This can leave us clutching at straws, taking the wrong advice and looking for the ever-elusive overnight success.
As small business or charity owners, social media is yet another hat you have to wear on top of the many other hats you’re trying to juggle! If you’re not intentional with your social media strategy, it can start to feel like a burden.
But, if you follow the right steps you can do social media in a way that’s right for you and your life! It’s possible to create a social media strategy that not only converts your followers to sales but also allows you to have fun at the same time!
We’ve rounded up our top ten social media myths and in this blog Allexia, one of the amazing social media mentors in our community, is going to bust them for us so that you can get more confident growing your business on social media!
Hashtags don't work
Of course they do, they’re the filing system of social media! If you don’t use hashtags, your post doesn’t get to the right person.
I like to think of it using a mail analogy. Imagine that the algorithm is your postman and you want to send your posts to your friends. The algorithm will use your hashtags like postcodes to ensure that your posts get delivered to the right people, in the right place!
Social media platforms want to be good postmen and ensure posts are reaching the right people, so the better you use hashtags, the happier your platforms will be.
Trending audio guarantees engagement
Viral audio puts you into a popular space, but the content should always match your ideal client. Remember, it’s not the audio that works, it’s the content that’s working. And if your content isn't working, viral audio isn't going to fix that! Try stripping things back and reconnecting with what your audience wants to see from you and focus your energy on that rather than trending audio 😊
The algorithm doesn't like posts created with scheduling tools
The platforms want content and they want you to create the right content for the right people. It doesn’t make sense for platforms to not like posts created with scheduling tools. What they don’t like is links taking your audience off-platform. More likely if your post hasn’t done well when you’ve scheduled content, it’s likely another part of your post that has affected the performance, not the scheduler. Do a deep dive into your graphics, copy and most importantly calls to action (CTA) and ensure that every part of your content is engaging your audience 🧡
Posting multiple times a day is the only way to grow your audience
This is one of the most common myths we see! Posting consistently is part of making your account seem credible to the algorithm - but so is engaging and consuming other content on your chosen platform. When you're growing your channels, engaging on the platforms is arguably more important than posting multiple times a day!
Here are my tips on how to be an active platform user so that the algorithm recognises and prioritises your account:
- Don’t post and ghost! When you post content, take time to engage with your audience and have real conversations.
- Watch reels right to the end when you can
- Watch and engage with other creators' Stories
- Like, comment, save and share content that you enjoy
You don't need a website if you have social media platforms
Think of social media platforms as rented spaces - you own the content but you don't own the space that you're posting on. Whereas with a website, you own the content and the space - so you have full control! If the worst-case scenario happened and your social media channels were taken down for some reason, your website is a guaranteed space where you have full control over your content and how you communicate with your audience.
So you definitely need a website! It's a good idea to create a funnel that moves your audience over to your website so that you can connect with them through your email list and engage them there.
Dance videos are the only content that works on TikTok
Dance videos are the most popular content on TikTok because they’re entertaining and they stop the scroll. But remember, other things can also stop the scroll! For example, entertaining educational content is just as capable of holding your audience's attention as a dance video 💃 TikTok is mainly good for highly creative, imaginative brands to shine in inventive ways. Don’t just resort to dance videos as a quick win, they may not be right for your audience. Think of other creative ways to engage your audience on TikTok - the most important thing is to have fun with it!
LinkedIn isn't right for small businesses
LinkedIn is a corporate space so it can take longer to grow but with employee advocacy (where employees share the business's content with their own opinions to their network) it can work really well and result in the growth of loyal followers! Tapping into your employee network boosts loyalty and trust, and gives an existing, connected audience base.
You need to be on all social media platforms to grow your business
No, you shouldn’t be on every platform! By being on all of the platforms, you're at risk of spreading yourself too thin and will likely struggle to create valuable, engaging content. It’s all about being on the right platforms for your audience, not all the platforms. Choose a few platforms and do them well as a small business.
Facebook is dead for small businesses
Facebook could be the place where your ideal audience is based so don't write it off! There are lots of small businesses that have highly engaged audiences and are driving huge growth through their pages! It’s dependent on your business and the clients you want to attract.
A high follower number = a successful account
Absolutely not! It's not about the number of followers, it’s about the followers being the right audience for your brand and your product. Followers mean nothing if they don’t convert to sales. The most important thing is having your ideal clients ready to convert through your content.
Conclusion
Social media doesn’t have to be scary and it’s something that everyone can master! By using simple strategies, staying true to you and your brand, and focusing on creating real connections in the virtual world, you’ll be on track to nailing your social media as a small business in no time at all!
Want an extra helping hand? We have hundreds of amazing volunteer mentors like Allexia who are all here to help you as you grow your business 🎉 All our mentoring sessions are 100% free and completely unlimited, so you can access support whenever you need it 🩵
Meet the mentor
Allexia is the founder of Soash Media, she helps start-ups and small businesses navigate the minefield of social media. She takes a simple approach to social media, aiming to reduce overwhelm for founders and provide them with a clear plan for their social media and business goals! Allexia volunteers her time as a mentor for Digital Boost to help small businesses and charities with their social media and marketing!
Meet Robyn, co-founder of Salters Events! She’s making waves in the catering industry and has seen enormous growth in the last few years. She credits this growth with the support of the free business mentoring she received through Digital Boost. With their help, she was able to pivot when the Pandemic hit, dig deep into her new offering, and go on to not only survive but thrive!
Taking the leap into entrepreneurship
Having gathered many years of experience in the industry as chefs, Robyn and her husband Ian had the idea to start a family-run catering business. With a wealth of experience under their belts, they knew they could bring something new to the market. In 2017, they started catering private events alongside their full-time roles and running gorgeous supper clubs 🍝 In 2019, the family decided they were ready for Ian to leave his job to focus on Salters Events full-time and have a go at making the dream a reality!
The very real impact of the Pandemic
In March 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic changed many industries, including the hospitality industry. Overnight, Robyn and her family went down to one salary and a business that couldn’t safely open to customers, an experience that Robyn describes as ‘terrifying’.
Pivoting and finding a new niche
At that moment, Robyn knew it was ‘do or die’, so she set about pivoting the business. Throughout the lockdowns, it wasn’t possible to open the business or offer any in-person catering. But when a regular customer wanted to cater for a 40th birthday party, Robyn realised there was a way they could help and keep their customers safe! They created an at-home dining kit for their customer and began offering them to their audience as a way to experience chef-level food in the safety of their homes.
📸 image taken from https://www.saltersevents.co.uk/
Looking for support to pivot
With this new pivot, Robyn knew that they needed to continue to adapt and change with the market and that they needed support to get their new messaging out there. At the time, Robyn was in several small business communities on Facebook, and a contact there kindly recommended Digital Boost as a free resource for small businesses to access!
At first, Robyn was a little sceptical about the free support, wondering who was profiting from the service. But she soon realised that the volunteer mentors truly support small businesses for the love of it!
She threw herself head first into learning as much as she could about marketing and the ins and outs of running a small business.
Developing her personal toolkit
Although a hugely accomplished chef, Robyn herself acknowledges that you don’t learn the skills you necessarily need to be an entrepreneur when you’re in such a different industry. She was fantastic at creating and making the dining kits, picnic baskets, and menus for bespoke events. But when it came to skills like marketing, finance and strategy, Robyn knew she needed to get support to develop her skills and learn as much as she could to help her family business succeed.
Robyn credits Digital Boost with giving her her own ‘personal toolkit’ of everything she needed to build and grow her business! From marketing, to HR, to website design, Robyn’s mentors have supported her to learn new skills and apply them to her business.
For Robyn, having access to thousands of mentors who had the skills she needed to harness was invaluable for the business. All of the mentors she’s met with have offered new and different perspectives, and each has been able to help her a little further along her journey.
Accessing the Jumpstart Programme
Through Digital Boost’s services, Robyn had the chance to take part in the Jumpstart Programme. A 6-week programme run in collaboration with the BT team that “jumpstarts” small businesses needing a little push and helping them to grow! As part of the programme, Robyn had access to exclusive live sessions where she could learn about a topic, and then apply what she’d learnt in the session to her business with the support of her peers in breakout sessions. Robyn particularly enjoyed the support and collaboration that she experienced in these breakout sessions!
The impact of mentoring on small businesses
As a result of the free business mentoring and support she received from Digital Boost, Robyn’s business has not only survived but thrived. Despite the chaos the pandemic had on the hospitality industry and the tough economic climate that has followed it, Salters Events has consistently remained profitable and is set to grow even more as the financial year approaches in 2024.
Want to work on your own personal toolkit? Whatever support you need to grow your organisation, we can help!
We have mentors in 70+ business topics, ranging from social media marketing, to hiring your team, to working in international trade! All our mentoring sessions are 100% free and totally unlimited thanks to the kindness of our volunteer mentors 😊
Instagram can be a total game changer for small businesses trying to connect with their audience! But with the ever-changing algorithm, you might be wondering, how do I grow my business on Instagram in 2024? 🤔
In this blog, BT’s social media manager, Henry, will walk you through his tips and tricks to grow your small business on Instagram!
Why small businesses should be using Instagram
Instagram has been in our world for over 10 years now, and it’s not going anywhere! It’s one of the most powerful marketing tools out there for small businesses. Thanks to its focus on the visual, it’s ideal for showcasing your products and services.
As of 2021, 64% of marketers plan to increase their activities on Instagram. If you want to shift your focus to Instagram and start leveraging it to grow your small business, here are our top tips.
Before delving into content creation, it's crucial to establish a clear strategy for your channel. Define your goals and start with one or two small goals to get the ball rolling. Once you get comfortable with those goals, you’ll be able to expand into even bigger goals for your channel! Having these goals and strategies in place will help you to theme your content and make your brand more consistent and relatable.
Create a strategy for your Instagram profile
Goals you might like to consider to kick things off:
- Increasing organic sales
- Growing audience
- Improving brand loyalty
- Driving website traffic
What are the different content types on Instagram?
Instagram has four main content types on its platform. We recommend using a mix to hit every possible angle to engage your audience!
- Grid posts - these live on your profile indefinitely
- Stories - these are live on your story for 24 hours
- Reels - these are short-form videos that live on your profile indefinitely
- Lives - these are live videos that you can record directly within the Instagram app and then get stored on your profile the same as grid posts and reels.
Get clear on your content
Often when you’re starting or rethinking your channel, content can be the hardest thing to come up with! So here are Henry’s top content ideas and why they convert 🙌
Behind-the-Scenes Content
Offer a glimpse into your small business operations or product creation process. This creates a personal connection with your audience and allows you to give them a sneak peek at what’s coming up in your business!
User-Generated Content (UGC)
Encourage customers to share content featuring your products. This builds authenticity and trust with your audience and can be a powerful promotional tool too! We love brands like Astrid and Miyu and they're a great example of how user-generated content can grow your business
Polls and Surveys
Engage your audience by seeking their opinions using Instagram’s Poll feature on Stories. This interactive content not only entertains but also provides valuable insights into what your audience is interested in.
Giveaways and Competitions
Organising giveaways and competitions can be an amazing way to engage your audience on Instagram. Make sure you encourage your audience to share your content as part of the competition for maximum impact. Giveaways are also a great way to collaborate and support other small businesses on Instagram. Need some inspiration? Check out this guide to creating a small business giveaway by Sprout Social!
Educational Content
A key pillar of your content should be educational to help you stand out in your industry. By creating educational content you’re positioning yourself as an authority AND adding value to your audience too!
Product Launches
When your audience loves your business as much as you do, they’ll be excited to hear when you have a new product or service launching! You can create even more excitement by sharing sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes content about your upcoming launches! Looking for inspiration? We love Tala's product launch strategy - check out their socials here.
Motivational Content
Sharing inspiring or motivational content can work really well on Instagram. It engages your audience on a personal level and allows you to create a more familiar relationship with them.
How to create Instagram success
So now you've got your content ideas, you might be wondering how to bring it all together! Read on to find out Henry's best practices as you go forward on your Instagram journey 🚀
Start with your profile
It’s often overlooked, but the best place to start when rethinking your Instagram is your profile!
- Set a clear profile picture
- Concisely sum up your business in your bio
- Include your contact information in your bio so it’s easy for your audience to get in touch!
Be relatable, not salesy
Most people are using Instagram as their down time, it’s an app for fun! So focus on creating engaging content and building relationships with your audience rather than constantly promoting and selling to them.
Engage with your audience
Don’t post and ghost! When your audience takes the time to engage with you, return the favour so it feels like a real relationship. Respond to comments, follow back, and get involved with conversations on other people’s posts just as you would in a real-life conversation.
Don’t shortcut your way to the top
The worst thing you can do is buy followers. It’s a longer game but if you follow our guide, you’ll slowly but surely build a highly engaged audience who love what you do - and that’s worth more than any number of followers you might be chasing!
Maximise your reach with hashtags
Hashtags are used to categorise your content on the Instagram app. It helps Instagram to show your content to the right people and has the power to get your content seen by non-followers! So make sure you’re using relevant hashtags on all your posts to increase your visibility. Experiment using a mix of popular hashtags and more niche hashtags to see what works for you and your followers.
Experiment with carousel posts
Carousel posts allow you to share multiple images in one post, a bit like a mini photo album! Instagram have recently launched a new feature where if someone sees your carousel post and doesn’t engage, they’ll then be shown the post again at a later date but with a different image from the carousel. This means you’ve got a greater chance of engaging your audience on that particular post so definitely give them a go if they’re not already in your content plan!
Be consistent with your posts
You don’t need to be posting 10 times a day, 7 days a week. But you do need to be posting regularly in a way that feels right for you. Figure out how often you can consistently post and stick to it! Whether that’s once a week or a couple of times a week, find what’s right for you. And remember, you don’t have to physically be posting the content one post at a time! Make the most of handy scheduling apps like Buffer, Hootsuite and Sprout Social to schedule your posts and free up more time for you to work on your business.
Track your progress
It’s important to celebrate your milestones and figure out what’s working and what isn’t. Instagram business and creator accounts give you access to handy metrics that you can track for free in the app. We recommend tracking your follower count, impressions, and link clicks amongst other metrics to see how your profile is growing!
Conclusion
If you give Henry’s tips and tricks a go, we have no doubt that your small business will grow on Instagram in no time at all!
Need a helping hand? We know social media can be daunting, so if you’d benefit from some 1:1 support - we can help!
We have hundreds of amazing mentors like Henry on our free mentoring platform who give personalised support to help you grow your organisation.
"I can’t believe more people aren’t doing it. Everybody should be using Digital Boost"
With an extensive business background, Nicola was looking for support to grow the social media for her new sustainable small business. Thanks to Meta’s She Means Business programme, she found Digital Boost’s free mentoring and her business has since gone from strength to strength!
The journey to becoming an entrepreneur
Having been an entrepreneur since 2007, Nicola jokingly says she was practically ‘unemployable’ so a 9-5 job was never on the table for her. She’s a natural businesswoman, with a list on her phone of all the crazy inventions and ideas she’s had over the years. After exiting her first business, she knew she wanted to create something more, but none of her ideas were exciting her.
Eye-opening waste
📸 image from citytosea.org.uk
Based in Devon, Nicola spent much of the Pandemic exploring the local estuary with her children. She was horrified at how much plastic waste was washing into the estuary, and even more shocked at how much of it was menstrual waste.
In the UK, over 200,00 tonnes of menstrual waste goes to landfill every single year and can damage the environment like Nicola experienced.
Spending time cleaning up the estuary during the Pandemic ignited a passion in Nicola to address the period plastic issue. When she discovered this passion, Nicola knew it had to be her next business. She got ‘goose pimples’ and ‘that whoosh’ that made her know she was on the right track!
Support from Meta and NatWest
“Without the programme [...] I wouldn’t be where I am now”
After spending the first year of her business developing her products and researching manufacturers, Nicola knew she needed support to dive into the Digital world. Her business was a far cry from her previous business in the wine industry, so she knew she needed a helping hand.
Through NatWest, she found the application for Meta’s She Means Business programme. Nicola was one of 50 female founders selected out of over 3000 applications - something she’s immensely proud of.
Nicola credits the programme with giving her the push she needed to really digitalise her business. She says that without the programme, she ‘would still be sitting on the periphery of working in a digital market’ and wouldn’t have known how to take her business from idea to success.
Through the programme, Nicola received credits for Facebook Ads and support from Meta to develop an ad campaign. Social media for small businesses can feel daunting and it can be easy to feel boxed out by “the big players” when your budget is small. It’s why programmes like this are so important as they give amazing businesses like Power of Pants the chance to upskill and understand how to leverage social media to grow their businesses!
The programme also gave Nicola much-needed accountability and a focus that allowed her to move her business forward. Knowing that she had homework to complete, meetings to attend, and networking sessions to take advantage of motivated Nicola to complete the programme - leading to success!
Finding Digital Boost
The She Means Business programme was supported by NatWest and Digital Boost, with Digital Boost facilitating panel discussions, round-table sessions and unlimited free mentoring for the programme participants.
Nicola discovered Digital Boost through the programme and was totally blown away by the free mentoring and Masterclasses she could access.
Now, thanks to the ongoing support of Digital Boost’s mentors, a year on and things are ‘looking clearer’ for Nicola.
She acknowledges that she had everything she needed, but it was all ‘jumbled’ in her head before she found Digital Boost.
Social media for small businesses
During her mentoring sessions, Nicola has been able to get clarity around her ideal client and put this to work in her social media marketing.
With over 20 million potential ideal clients, ranging in age, circumstance and gender, Nicola had struggled to get clear on how to attract her dream customers.
She’s now worked with mentors to get clear on her audience, taken SEO Masterclasses, and had support to develop Google Ads and Facebook Ads campaigns.
Nicola credits Digital Boost with learning how to ‘really understand social media’. She’s learnt the ‘mechanics of how to do [social media]’ and ‘how to reach people’ which she says has been ‘invaluable’ for her business.
@powerofpants on Instagram
An 'amazing' introduction to Visa
"It was like the stars aligned’
Through their partnership with Visa, Digital Boost was able to invite Nicola to an exclusive mentoring day with members of the European Leadership team!
Nicola joined a 3-hour personalised workshop with two members of the team to workshop ideas to grow Nicola’s business.
Serendipitously, Nicola’s mentors were huge sporting advocates and realised her vision to challenge the way periods prevent many people from taking part in sports.
Through their network, they were able to introduce Nicola to key experts to support her as she took on this new challenge with her messaging.
For Nicola, having mentors not only offer advice but also show so much enthusiasm and open doors to further her business was invaluable. The confidence it gave her was unmatched and she left the workshop totally blown away by this newfound energy!
Impact
“[I] 100% would not be in the position I am now if I hadn’t done any of this and met the mentors and gone through the programmes”
It’s been an absolute delight to see Nicola go from strength thanks to the support she’s received from us and our partners at Meta, NatWest and Visa.
It just goes to show that no matter where you are in your business journey, or what previous experience you have, support is beneficial for everyone! And when it’s personalised through mentorship, there’s no limit to how much a business like Nicola’s can grow!
Want to get on track for success like Nicola did? Whether you’re looking for help with social media, strategy, marketing, fundraising or HR we’ve got you covered with our free mentoring for small businesses and charities!
As a founder, it's often hard to take time out to reflect, but it's an essential part of running your own business. The end of a year is the ideal time to reflect on your growth and achievements over the past twelve months and set new goals, both for yourself and your small business. 🚀
As well as looking at what worked well, it's equally as important (but let's be honest, way less fun) to look at what didn't work so you know what to work on next year. We've put together some tips to help you with your small business reflection for 2023 ⬇️
⏳ Dedicate time for your small business reflection
Firstly, it's important to dedicate some time to doing a small business reflection. It doesn't need to be hours and hours, but if you can set aside a little bit of time without any distractions, you'll be able to think about the year as a whole and make the whole exercise more rewarding. You could try to block time out in your calendar, do it on a weekend or evening, or split it up and do a little bit every morning or evening!
💭 Compare your current position to where you were at the beginning of the year
Did you set any goals at the beginning of the year? If so, now is a great time to compare where you are now to those goals! Remember not to be too hard on yourself if you haven't reached all of them though. For small businesses, a year is a long time and things change very quickly! You may have grown in a completely different way from how you expected, but that's still growth! And it's a good time to look back at those goals and see if they're still right for you.
If you didn't set any goals - don't worry! Instead, compare where you are now to where you were at the beginning of the year. Look at your:
- Finances
- Sales
- Strategy and priorities
- Branding and positioning
- Marketing (look at the quality of your outputs, your following, the amount of engagement on your posts, your conversion rate etc.)
- Feedback from your customers
🏆 What were your wins this year?
It's so important to celebrate your wins! If nothing else, you are running your own business and working SO hard to achieve your dream. You're still going and still trying - that itself is a win! 🥳
Start with milestones - think about your sales, your social media following, and the number of years your business has been around - is there anything you can celebrate there?
Did you receive glowing feedback from a customer? Did you solve a problem for a customer and provide a great service to them?
Did you complete a project? Did you launch a new product? Did you revamp your website? Did you improve your conversion rate? Did you start new activities, like sending out newsletters?
Think about all of the things you've done, make a list of your wins, and be proud of yourself!! You've managed another year as a small business owner 🤩 Have a look at our own list of wins from this year to see what our team is most proud of!
Top tip - from January, try keeping a ta-da list alongside your to-do list. A ta-da list is a list of these achievements and positive comments that, next year, when you do your small business reflection (or whenever you need a little pick-me-up!), you can look back and see how much you've achieved!
🫠 What didn't go to plan?
Next, think about what didn't go to plan. It's more common than you think for things to feel like they're all going wrong and it's often these moments that are the biggest lessons! Think about some of the bigger things that didn't go to plan but also the little day-to-day things. Think about:
- What specifically didn't go to plan?
- Was it something you had control over?
- If not, how can you factor this into future plans so you're prepared for it?
- What could you do differently next time?
For example, if you had a product launch delayed due to a stock delivery issue, you could consider reviewing suppliers but also think about scheduling launch dates further in advance so you can allow extra time for delayed deliveries.
When thinking about the day-to-day things that don't go to plan, think about whether there are any quick wins you could do. For example, if you struggle to manage all the hundreds of things founders have to do, you could think about trying to block out time in your calendar for specific tasks so you ensure you're allocating time to everything.
Here is a blog post with some tips on what to do when your plan doesn't go to plan.
👏 Think about your personal growth
You will have undoubtedly grown your personal skills this year, which is definitely something to celebrate! Take a few minutes to reflect on everything you've done for the first time this year. Think about everything you've had to search on Google or YouTube because you got stuck (that you now know how to do!), the Masterclasses you've joined, and everything you've talked to your mentors about. You've had to grow your own skills in order to grow your business because for most founders, they *are* the business and have to do everything for the business.
💪 What do you personally want to improve?
What skills do you want to improve on next year? Would you like to learn more about marketing? Do you want to be more confident in networking? It could be something completely new or it could be something that you've noticed isn't your strongest skill. Make a list of everything you'd like to work on and keep it handy throughout next year.
It can feel impossible to take time out to learn new things when you're a small business owner, but it doesn't have to be so disruptive! One of the best things about Digital Boost is that our mentoring is 100% flexible to you. Each of our 1:1 mentoring sessions is one hour long and you can submit the dates and times you're available to speak to a mentor. Take a look at the topics our mentors can help with. Our Masterclasses are all recorded so if something comes up and you can't make it last minute, we'll send you the recording to catch up.
Set goals for the future!
It's a good idea to set some goals so you can have some direction and focus for the next year. Think about where you want to be in 12 months - what do you want to see when you do your small business reflection next year? Then, list everything you need to do to get there. Put some timeframes against these to help you figure out what to prioritise and to keep you on track! Here are some more detailed tips on how you can set goals to push your business forward.