Tips for a Successful Small Business Saturday
One of the most charming and unique characteristics about small businesses is that they can serve as the lifeblood of an area. They bring people together, create a sense of community, provide jobs, and so much more. It’s for these reasons—and many more—that it’s important folks do their part to help these establishments succeed. With Small Business Saturday quickly approaching, read on for a few quick tips about prepping your business for the biggest day of its year!
Let the Neighbors Know
Get the word out to your community that you’ll be an active participant in Small Business Saturday. You can reach out to the local media, who may be able to feature you on their website or social media feed. Signage in your front windows can also help, as can posting to your own social media accounts. Send emails to your list letting customers know why it’s important to shop small, and don’t forget to promote the #SmallBizSat and #ShopSmall hashtags.
Think Safety First
The difference between shopping at a giant retailer on Black Friday and shopping small on Small Business Saturday can often come down to atmosphere and experience. Create the most pleasant shopping experience for your customers by letting them know what to expect when they come to your store. You can advertise this on social media as well as your website.
If you’re expecting an influx of customers for Small Business Saturday, remember to consider safety. Especially during these pandemic times, it’s important to keep social distancing, mask policies, and maximum occupancy in mind. These are also critical pieces of information you should put up on your website—no need to have customers shocked if they show up and see you have (or don’t have) a mask policy in place.
Ask Customers to Share
Word of mouth marketing is an endlessly helpful (and free) form of advertising for businesses and brands. According to Investopedia, word-of-mouth marketing “happens when consumers talk about a company’s product or service to their friends, family, and to others with whom they have close relationships.” Ask your customers to share the love they feel for your business on their social media accounts or elsewhere, and again – use the hashtags #SmallBizSat and #ShopSmall to get even more traction.
Offer Special Promotions
If you aren’t already considering some type of Small Business Saturday incentive, now might be the time to do so. There are tons of great ideas out there, large and small. You can offer free gifts with purchase, hot coffee or cider, an extra 15% of a purchase, and so much more. Sweetening the deal to get customers through your doors is paramount to a successful shopping day.
Keep a pulse on all things small business by visiting The Financial Pantry every week. We have scores of content that speaks to everything from marketing tips, hiring how-tos, and financial advice for business owners like you. And be sure to keep us in mind when you’re in the market for a small business loan. With the new year upon us, it’s a great time to dive into those projects you’ve been hoping to tackle—and a line of credit may just be the ticket to getting them done!