This year is a bit different from past years. Regardless of what may be going on with the pandemic and politics, people still want to celebrate with friends, family and colleagues. This week, we will give some tips to small business owners as well as encourage everyone to support small and local business.
To no surprise, this year has been extremely difficult on small businesses. The leading online retailer has been having record profits. If we do not support local, we shouldn’t be surprised if our neighbors are closing shop. Can they count on us?
Small Business Saturday® falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It was started in 2010 to help promote shopping local. It is always the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year it falls on November 28. It has continued to grow and gain traction with a day focused on promoting shopping in a local brick-and-mortar location and expanding to online — it is also trademarked by American Express. So, as a small business, are you leveraging to support your business?
Each year feels like the holiday shopping season comes up faster and faster. With the weekend after Thanksgiving right around the corner the time to start marketing is now! There are some new tips and fresh ideas from AMEX on social media and online businesses to help one standout from competitors.
1) Freshen up Marketing Collateral with Free Content and Materials – If your business accepts AMEX, they provide free materials that they will ship to you and easy to customize downloadable content. It takes just a few minutes to create. Check out their site and access all the available resources. Think about what makes you unique and why customers frequent you. Share the content via Social Media and include it in your regular marketing campaigns.
2) Be Found and Team up – Check and ensure you are listed on the Shop Small Map® or create a listing if you are not. Team with your local Chamber of Commerce and other trade alliances. Consider donating prizes such as gift cards to shine the spotlight on your business. Leverage your membership and network to share additional ideas.
3) Safety and Local Marketing – For brick and mortar business – a safe environment is top of mind. This includes health and physical safety. Share what you are doing to sanitize your business. Ensure parking lots and surrounding areas are well lit. Create a welcoming environment. If successful with marketing driving foot traffic, can you meet social distance and capacity limits without excessive queues and wait times. Think about what you can deliver online or via curbside pickup. For Social Media be sure to leverage Twitter hashtag’s #ShopSmall and #SmallBusinessSaturday and regularly spread the word through your customers favorite social media platform. Visit the official Facebook page and leverage #ShopSmall on #SmallBizSat on your communications.
Think through
Even though this year is very different, people are still buying gifts. Are your products or services top of mind and reaching your target customers? If not, what’s stopping you? Check out the official Facebook page not only for ideas but motivational success stories. See what your industry peers are doing and build on that for your unique business
It is not too late to leverage Small Business Saturday. Make “shopping local” part of your overall marketing message and year-round campaign. Would love to hear your ideas and success stories. Feel free to post comments or email them to me. Small Business, Big Lessons® – Go small business!
Small Business
About the Author:
Gregory Woloszczuk is an entrepreneur and experienced tech executive that helps small business owners grow their top and bottom line. Gregory believes in straight talk and helping others see things they need to see but may not want to with a focus on taking responsibly for one’s own business. He and his wife, Maureen, started GMW Carolina in 2006.
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