RelyLocal

RelyLocal - Lake County Local Biz Blog

11/8/2016

Make Small Business Saturday® Work For You!

Are you on the Small Business Saturday train? It's right around the corner - November 26th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. If you’re locally-owned, small or not, this is a great opportunity! Small Business Saturday, officially sponsored by American Express, has taken on a life of its own. Last year, 95 million people “shopped small” and spent $16.2 billion on SBS! And more than 241,000 social media posts were related to SBS! Clearly, you need to jump on board.
 

So, can businesses in Lake County make it work? Is there still time?
Answer – yes, and yes!
 

Here are a few simple tips to make SBS work for your business.

 

  1. Get the Goods. American Express has wonderful materials you can use; you just need to go to their website to download. They have templates for emails, signs, postcards, social media posts and more. No need to re-create the wheel. Plus using their branding helps consumers find you.
     
  2. Make an Offer they Can’t Refuse. Everyone loves a good deal, so give it to them. Can you offer a discount on SBS? Or a BOGO? Maybe even a small give-away or a drawing for a prize. Be creative! And be sure to promote your SBS offers everywhere.
     
  3. It’s all about that Buzz. SBS is a movement perfect for social media – really all channels will work. Schedule your posts leading up to Nov. 26th to build social media buzz. Encourage your customers to check-in when they shop and to post pics tagging your business. Use hashtags in all your posts – your own hashtags and the “official” ones. Try #SmallBizSat  #SmallBusinessSaturday  #SBS.  Or add SBS to your own like #RelyLocalSBS.
     
  4. You’ve Got it, Use it. You probably have an email list of clients and potential clients, right? Email them! Tell them about your SBS deal. Tell your story – why you love your community and love being a small-business owner. If you have a SMS story from last year, share it.
     
  5. Mail isn’t dead – yet. If you have a special direct-mail piece, now is the time to use it. You still have time, and you have the templates from Amex. Maybe even add a handwritten note to your loyal clients. SBS is Thanksgiving weekend, so use this time to thank customers for their loyalty.
     
  6. Walk the Talk. Get out and Shop Small yourself! Remember, SBS is really a campaign to support the businesses that make your community great and unique. If you don’t Shop Small / Shop Local, why should anyone else? Get out and Shop Small!

 

Don’t forget to share and tell us what you’re doing for Small Business Saturday, and let us know what worked for you and your biz! And use the hashtag #RelyLocalSBS.