Media personality, Somizi Mhlongo, boasts well over 3.6 million followers on his Instagram page, with another 2.4 million followers over on Twitter. Suffice to say, the Idols host has bagged a whole lot of cash using his influencer status, advertising for brands such as Bathu and G. H. Mumm & Cie champagne.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, 11 November 2020, the celebrity showcases some of his famous friends who own successful businesses, giving them more attention than they have already acquired. He spotlighted Lerato Kganyago’s Flutter by LKG eyelashes, Boity’s Pink Sapphire range and Zanele Van Zyl’s cooking book, Cooking With Zanele.
He stated, “I’m crushing on these entrepreneurs......let's support them... let's make their empires grow... @leratokganyago @boity @cookingwithzanele their products are out....please go to their pages for more info.”
A few hours later, Somizi acknowledged that although he is super proud of his friends who are doing great at their business, chances are that they were doing fine without his promotional post. He explained that he was in fact inspired by DJ Sbu’s initiative to support local businesses, and felt as though he would like to use his platform to support them as well.
He claimed to be charging brands large sums of money for a single post on his social media, however his plan to showcase smaller business will be done for free. Somizi’s plan of action will begin in 2021 and will run for the first six months of the year. According to the television star, he will be choosing a deserving small business to promote on his page on the last week of each month in hopes of it bringing traction to their companies.
He stated, “I’ve got a platform that is powerful enough and has a huge following, and I could use it as well to support and promote undiscovered beginners or ideas or businesses that might not necessarily get the opportunity or can afford to pay for advertising.” Somizi went on to explain that he is hoping to target up and coming businesses from young or old entrepreneurs that could really benefit from the opportunity.
One of his fans commented with, “Hey Somizi what if it’s not a business maybe a person is looking for a 9-5 in the corporate world, can they still advertise themselves using your platform? Or it’s strictly business. Thanks.” To which Somizi responded with, “For now it’s just for business... but u have just given me another great idea... I will look into it.”
