Emily Clarke

How to Support Black-Owned Businesses

The black experience in America is much different than it was in the past. Black-owned businesses are on the rise, and many Americans want to show their support for these businesses to support the African-American community.

Additionally, many in minority communities, including the LGBTQ community, want to go a step further and support LGBTQ black owned businesses. This can be a little bit more challenging given that not every black LGBTQ person is out or voices their identity as it relates to business practices.

Whether you're interested in supporting LGBTQ black owned businesses or just African-American-owned businesses in general, below are some tips:

Search Local and Regional Online Directories

Finding businesses owned by black Americans is easier than ever these days thanks to the Internet. There are plenty of online directories available that are specifically devoted to listing black-owned businesses. Many of these directories filter listings by industry and area, and some may even provide information regarding a business' stance on LGBTQ issues.

Share Your Experiences

Once you've found a black-owned business that you had a good experience with, be sure to share your experience with others. This will provide marketing and promotion opportunities for the business owner, and it will help your friends and family to have opportunities to support the business on their own.

Social media makes a great place to share your experiences, but you can also write reviews. Even if you share an anonymous review, providing a positive review about your experience can go a long way in supporting a black-owned business.

Get to Know Black Business Owners

You can also show support by getting to know black business owners and their needs. While you might think a business needs one thing, the business owner is going to be able to tell you what they really need.

Take some time to introduce yourself the next time you visit a black-owned business. Ask the owner what they think you can do to show support and spread the word about the business. This also helps to form closer communities and demonstrate community support for black-owned businesses.

Author Resource:-

Emily Clarke writes about social networking apps and LGBT community. You can find her thoughts at LGBTQ app blog.