Small Business Saturday is a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to lay the groundwork for long-term success. You can increase sales, raise brand awareness, and strengthen ties with your local community. However, with so many small businesses seeking attention, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
Check out our Small Business Saturday ideas and make sure your brand stands out from the crowd:
- Register your business
- Offer deals and discounts
- Link up with other businesses
- Get customers back in store
- Host an event
- Send email campaigns
- Use social media
- Get great graphics
- Create user-generated content
- Tell a story
- Give back
When Is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday that takes place on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. So it will be November 26th in 2022.
American Express created it ten years ago to help small businesses promote themselves. It has since grown in popularity as an annual event. 70% of Americans polled are aware of the event, and they spent $19.6 billion on it in 2019.
What takes place on Small Business Saturday? It’s about more than just making money. It is all about developing customer relationships and strengthening ties with your community.
And, in the aftermath of the pandemic, these bonds are more important than ever.
What’s the purpose of Small Business Saturday?
The big retailers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is your chance to shine on Small Business Saturday.
One thing to remember about Small Business Saturday is that it is all about showing the customer that their purchase is making a difference. Whether it’s assisting the brand’s family or giving back to the community.
The positive social, economic, and environmental impact is important to 96% of Small Business Saturday shoppers.
How Can I Spread Awareness of Small Business Saturday?
This positive vibe should be reflected in your Small Business Saturday promotions. Make your customer feel like they’re a part of something good.
Here are some of our favourite marketing ideas to help you make the most of Small Business Saturday 2022.
1. Register your company
Prepare for the day by registering for the event. If you live in the United States, you can register here. Businesses in the United Kingdom can register here (the UK event is on December 3rd).
Check to see if your community has its list of participating businesses. Sign up to benefit from pre-event advertising or to be a part of a Shop Small map that will direct customers to your store on the day.
You can also reach out to other participating businesses in advance to share ideas and plan joint events.
2. Offer special deals and discounts
Plan your deals next. Small Business Saturday is an excellent opportunity to express gratitude to customers by assisting them with their holiday shopping. Furthermore, by offering a variety of attractive deals and discounts, you will attract new customers who will help spread the word about your brand.
Not sure what types of deals will work? According to an Infusionsoft and Pollfish poll, the most popular Small Business Saturday promotions were limited-time deals (24%), gifts (21%), and “buy one get one free” deals (19%). If you still can’t decide, offer a mix, such as Scout Books.
3. Collaborate with other businesses
Why not connect with a fellow small business on this day dedicated to community spirit? Organize joint marketing campaigns that include reciprocal discounts or giveaways, and work together on social media posts to promote each other’s businesses.
As in this Tattly example, you’re providing a complete experience to your customer, cross-pollinating your audiences, and getting to know a fellow business owner.
4. Reintroduce customers to the store
Because the pandemic drove businesses online, use the day to entice customers back into stores.
Creating an offer that connects your online and physical customer bases is a great way to connect the two. Send loyal customers a QR code that can be redeemed in-store. Alternatively, offer a discount to those who sign up for your newsletter via the QR code displayed on your website
Alternatively, offer in-store pickup to your online customers. “Most customers appreciate the ease and convenience of picking up purchases.” “It’s a fantastic opportunity to upsell, connect with, and retain customers,” says Jonathan Roque, digital marketing and content strategist at Zapiet.
Once in-store, customers typically make larger transactions, increasing your average order value.
5. Host an event
Create a buzz in your space while inviting customers back to stores. Organize an activity, or a cocktail party, or hire local performers to entertain your guests.
Your efforts don’t have to be too extravagant: customers appreciate small gestures like a free coffee or a coupon for the next time they shop with you. Extend your hours, provide refreshments, distribute gifts, hold a raffle — make the day feel like it belongs to the holiday season.
According to Roberta Perry of Scrubz Body Scrub, Inc, the most important thing is to put the customer first. “We love being a micro-mini business and we love treating our customers like gold.” It allows us to recognize and renew our commitment to our customers.”
Local news reporters will be eager to learn more about your event, so make sure to invite them.
And what happens when the party is over? Remember to follow up. A thank you note is a simple and effective way to express your gratitude.
Select the best photos from the event and post them to Facebook or Instagram. Alternatively, include them in a marketing email like this one from The Salty. Remind them of how much fun they had and encourage them to return soon.
6. Send out email campaigns
Email is the best way to spread the word.”
As ‘The Great Facebook and Instagram Outage of 2021’ demonstrated, relying solely on social media to reach your target audience is a bad idea.
Instead, offer discounts to build an email list. Then, keep in touch with special offers and exclusive deals on a regular basis. This will aid in the development of brand loyalty and encourage repeat purchases.
“Your marketing efforts should begin well before Small Business Saturday,” says Andrew Woods of Duckpin. We engage customers and subscribers with high-value promotional teasers in the month leading up to the sale.
7. Make use of social media
Small Enterprise Saturday is a day for socializing and community building. As a result, promoting it on social media makes sense. Customers want to know they’re doing a good thing. Even better if they can publicize their good deed on social media.
Make sure to use the event’s official hashtags, which are #ShopSmall, #SmallBizSat, and #SmallBizSaturday.
“To receive a unique discount code, invite users to like, share, and follow your profile.” This will increase your social media presence, exposing your company to a larger audience. “This means more sales, more hype, and more attention,” says Convincely’s Gregory Yong.
Hire a local influencer to expand your reach. They can publicize your products in the lead-up to Small Business Saturday and even host a meet-and-greet on an actual day.
There are other creative ways to promote yourself on social media. Create an Instagram sticker, Snapchat filter, or gif with your company’s logo. Customers will be delighted to demonstrate their support for small businesses.
8. Obtain excellent graphics
Create coordinated graphics and signage for your Small Business Saturday marketing materials while you’re at it. By sprinkling your online and offline presence with logos, banners, and hashtags, you’ll keep your company top of mind during the holiday season.
Replace your social media cover photos and banners with the hashtag #ShopSmall. Update your bios, pin a tweet, and add a popup to your homepage. These minor changes serve to remind and encourage people to visit you on the day in question.
Every year, American Express, the event’s original organizer, provides free template graphics and imagery to help you coordinate your online presence and shop front.
9. Obtain user-generated content
Create a buzz around your brand by using user-generated content. Organize a social media promotion or contest and invite your customers to participate.
Request a photo of them with your favorite product or a short video about why they love your brand. With their permission, share any content they create. People will warm to your brand, and you will build relationships with your most loyal customers while also getting in front of some new faces.
10. Tell a story.
Some people prefer to leave the noise of sales and discounts behind to tell the story of their products and business.
“We focus less on paid ads for Small Business Saturday and more on showcasing video footage of small business owners at work,” says Ella Jesmajian, co-founder of Honey and Roses Coffee.
Sharing behind-the-scenes content is an excellent way to engage your customers. People want to see the people behind the brands. Small Business Saturday provides an opportunity to make personal connections that large corporations cannot.
Content like this sneak peek from Jack Mason works wonders in email marketing to break up promotions and build those all-important relationships with your subscriber list.
11. Give something back
We understand Small businesses. Saturday is all about giving back to your community; consider how you can help yours. Customers appreciate seeing businesses contribute to the betterment of their community.
Collect donations to fund new sports equipment, a flower bed in a nearby park, or a food bank. Choose something that feels right for your brand.
“When a local small business partners with a local cause, it benefits the cause in two ways,” says Roberto Torres, owner of The Local Marketer. The first is by providing funds for them to continue operating, but also by publicizing that organization.”11. Give something back
We understand Small businesses. Saturday is all about giving back to your community; consider how you can help yours. Customers appreciate seeing businesses contribute to the betterment of their community.
Collect donations to fund new sports equipment, a flower bed in a nearby park, or a food bank. Choose something that feels right for your brand.
“When a local small business partners with a local cause, it benefits the cause in two ways,” says Roberto Torres, owner of The Local Marketer. The first is by providing funds for them to continue operating, but also by publicizing that organization.”
Contact us online or call us at +91 9594309652 to speak with a strategist about our marketing services!
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