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Welcome to the Peer Suite Monday Edition, the weekly newsletter where female founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and professionals get the latest trends, opportunities, and advice.

This week, we're sharing thoughts on the TikTok ban, how to sign up for Santander's female founder mentor programme, and the woman on a mission to fund women in the UK with revenge capital.

The world, or at least everyone with a business or income tied to social media, has been panicking about a TikTok ban for months, and yesterday it happened - well for 12 hours, but we'll get to that.

Here is the rundown: the US government is concerned about the supposed risks that the Chinese-run company poses to national security and last year, Congress moved to have parent company ByteDance sell its stake in the app or shut down in the US market.

And on the 19th it happened. And the content creators went wild. Well for 12 hours, then the app came back - thanks to, ahem, 'some help' from someone soon to be in power.

But seriously, while Instagram was filled with TikTok users panicking they hadn't downloaded all their videos in time, it certainly is not just content creators that will be affected if the ban does officially go through. Hundreds of thousands of businesses rely on the platform to reach their customers, and many female-founded brands have been able to leverage the virality of TikTok to get their products off the ground in the first place.

So what should you do if you, your business, or the company you work for, have been relying on this channel?

Some creators and brands are already flocking to apps like Rednote, a Chinese competitor to TikTok, but is that just a knee-jerk move that doesn't address the problem? The answer is most likely yes.

But it does affirm that diversifying your digital presence is no longer a ‘nice-to-do’, it’s essential. We hear your collective sigh, adding another platform sounds like a lot of work. But it's not just about adding more but being selective about where you focus your time in the places that your customers are.

Three Steps to Future-Proof Your Business:

1. Understand Where Your Customers Are TikTok might be off the table for some audiences, but your customers are still somewhere. Find out where. Start with your top 10 most loyal customers and offer them an incentive, a discount, a free product, or a consultation, in exchange for their insights. What platforms are they using? What content do they find valuable? Use their answers to prioritise your efforts.
2. Double Down on Other Platforms Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest aren’t going anywhere (fingers crossed!), and they’re still great for growing your audience and driving sales. Lean into content that performs well on these platforms, short videos, carousels, and interactive posts. Keep in mind that audiences behave differently on each platform, so adapt your strategy rather than duplicate your TikTok approach.
3. Nurture Your Email List If you’ve been neglecting email, now’s the time to focus. An email list gives you direct access to your audience, free from algorithm changes or platform bans. Build your list by offering something valuable, like a free guide, exclusive content, or a discount. Then, focus on improving your open and click-through rates by sending emails that are genuinely useful and engaging (like this one!).

While the TikTok ban might not affect UK users directly, it’s a wake-up call for all business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to build more resilient strategies and find ways to connect with their audience outside of these apps.

• TikTok content creators have been confessing their secrets ahead of the TikTok ban in the US. Since the app isn't banned here in the UK, we can enjoy the tea.
• Wondering where January went? These time management tips for ambitious women will help you reclaim the month.
• ​This woman is on a £50m mission to make British women big in business with what she terms "Revenge Capital".
• Here's how women are balancing their personal and professional success.
• How leading fashion and beauty business owners and execs are setting their 2025 goals for maximum effect.

100 Allies Rising Stars Accelerator Clinic, 6th February: Join rising stars, industry leaders, and seasoned mentors for real advice, connections, and opportunities to grow your career or business at the UK's most inclusive, high-impact accelerator for underserved talent in beauty. Get your tickets here​

SEO Made Simple: How Your Small Businesses Can Outshine Big Industries on Google in 2025, 29th January: Join this workshop with Amy Cook of Mango and Wild, you'll discover how to optimise your website, create impactful content, and leverage keywords to compete with larger competitors. Book tickets here​

​The Santander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders' Mentoring Programme is now open for mentors and mentees to apply.

The programme is for the next generation of fast-growing, ambitious female founders and business owners. You will be matched with a mentor with 5 years of leadership experience in your industry who will help you think differently about your business.

The Details:

• Applications are open until Monday 10 February 2025
• You must be a female founder or majority shareholder of a registered business operating for more than 18 months.

To the ladies who made it to this part of the email, thank you for reading - I hope the Peer Suite newsletters bring value to both your professional and personal journeys.

I’d genuinely love to hear from you! How has your January been so far? What wins are you celebrating, and what challenges are you navigating? Your stories inspire me, and I’d love the chance to cheer you on.​​

Your friend, Rebecca from Peer Suite x​​

Thanks for reading!
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