If you’ve got just began a business, chances are you’ll be looking for ways to get your name on the market in your community. Why not do it on the national shopping day dedicated to small businesses – Small Business Saturday (SBS)?
Small Business Saturday is a part of the weekend after Thanksgiving that kicks off the holiday shopping season. Businesses across the country (young and old) use today to extend brand awareness, increase sales and prove that they are a lasting a part of their communities.
Do you ought to try it? Read on to learn the way your local startup can make a lasting impression in your community.
How to make an impression this Saturday for small businesses
Back in 2010 American Express founded Small Business Saturday. It takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Sure, Small Business Saturday is only one day a yr. However, there is an entire Shop Small movement that goes beyond this one day and encourages consumers to support local startups and businesses all yr round. For some small businesses, this movement begins with participation in SBS.
To make a splash on this Small Business Saturday that can have a positive impact on your startup all yr round, it’s essential:
1. Market, market, market.
How much exposure you make on Small Business Saturday often depends on how much legwork you do before the event. After all, people have to know you are participating.
Promote your company’s participation in Small Business Saturday by:
- E-mail.
- Social media.
- Your business website.
- Shop signs.
Are you too busy to create marketing materials yourself? American Express provides free marketing resources which you could download or print for use on and off SBS. Materials include posters, social media posts and storefront signage.
2. Look at what’s happening in your area.
Not only small businesses can get involved in Small Business Saturday. There are also “Neighborhood Champions” who publicly promote today and encourage the community to get out and do a little shopping. To do this, Champions can organize a neighborhood event for the community to participate in.
You may come across events – with food and drinks, games and music – comparable to:
- Block parties.
- Event guide activities.
- Neighborhood parades or street fairs.
- Purchasing activities.
- Pop-ups.
Go ahead and attend a neighborhood event at SBS. Contact your local chamber of commerce, library or business associations to seek out out who can host events in your community.
3. Offer a special deal.
What higher solution to kick off the event than by offering someone a special offer?
Offer a special Saturday deal for small businesses to sweeten your marketing campaigns, attract customers and increase sales. And when it comes to selecting what you have to supply, the world has your oyster in front of you. You can make a percentage discount, offer free products or bundled items.
Before you compromise on the best deal, you’ll want to consider how it can impact your bottom line. You don’t desire to supply such a good deal that you simply find yourself losing money overall.
4. Collect contact information from customers.
Small Business Saturday is not only a one-time event. This is the start line for your company to attach with consumers. So stay in touch with the people you meet at SBS after your day is over.
Try to gather contact information from individuals who come into your business or land on your company website on Small Business Saturday. You can do this through giveaways, surveys or loyalty programs.
Be sure to gather customer names, email addresses and phone numbers.
5. Partner with one other company.
Imagine this: a consumer goes to a bakery shop that has a partnership with the coffee shop round the corner. So the bakery shop gives the customer a coupon for the discounted coffee round the corner. Win-win.
Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to build partnerships with other local businesses. This permits you to increase each brand awareness and sales. The partnership may carry over into the future, bringing mutual advantages.
Ask what other local businesses plan to participate in SBS. You can contact local organizations (e.g. chamber of commerce) to see if in addition they know someone.
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6. Don’t skip it just because you are online.
Online-only business? Don’t worry. You can still get involved in Small Business Saturday by following the suggestions above. Additionally, many e-commerce platforms (e.g. eBay and Etsy) host events specifically for Small Business Saturday.
For example, if you are an web startup, you’ll be able to:
- Advertise on social media, send emails, etc.
- Attend pop-up events in your local people.
- Announce your participation on your website or e-commerce platform.
- Join online communities and network with other online firms.
- Find out if there are any influencers (e.g. Instagram) who could support this event.
Good luck on your first Small Business Saturday, start-ups!