Small Business Saturday is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This celebration is a great opportunity to promote your small business and attract customers, but you have to prepare early.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of Small Business Saturday:
Announce Your Participation
Use the free advertising tools and resources on
www.shopsmall.com to inform your customers that you’re participating in Small Business Saturday. Update your website to announce your involvement and let customers know if you are holding a special event or sale. Create an in-store calendar countdown to help people anticipate the day.
Become a Neighborhood Champion and Host an Event
If you are part of a business association, state or local chambers of commerce or other community organization, you can become a Neighborhood Champion. As a Neighborhood Champion, you can host an event. Small businesses can set up pop-up shops for consumers, and coverage by local media can help spread the word. Be sure to invite B2B customers and prospects, other small businesses and local politicians to any events you hold.
Use Email and Social Media to Promote Your Store
Sending emails that are short and sweet to customers can help inform them that you’re participating in Small Business Saturday. Use a festive design and clearly state what the email is about in the subject line. Don’t forget to abide by online marketing rules and follow government guidelines for list management, SPAM and others. Use your social media pages to help get the word out and make sure you use the hashtag #ShopSmall.
Create a Passport Program
Another unique way to engage communities is to join other local businesses in creating a passport program where shoppers receive unique stamps for visiting each business. This is a fun activity for families with children.
Reward Loyal Customers
Hold a sale for your loyal customers, offer discounts only available on Small Business Saturday, or provide free shipping as a reward for customers who shop small.
Decorate Your Store
Use balloons, banners and other decorations to showcase your involvement in Small Business Saturday. Making your store festive will show passersby you’re participating and can help drive traffic and sales to your location!
Be Secure
Customers using their credit cards will want to know that their information is safe when they purchase items from your business. Ensure all payment data is secure, and take every precaution to make sure you have safeguards in place like end-to-end encryption, payment card industry (PCI) standards, no storing of credit card information and properly trained employees.
Lakeland Bank offers a full range of business banking services including online services, business loans, and cash management solutions. Our Customer Service Team can be reached at 866-224-1379.