Small Business Saturday (#shopsmall) is a terrific opportunity to engage new customers, increase sales and reward your regulars. Capitalizing requires planning, though, and we see a lot of folks waiting till the last minute. We get it. The end of November seems so far away in the rush of end-of-summer and back-to-school activities. But advance planning not only sets you up for better success, it reduces administrative load later. To help you get started, we've got two round-ups for you.
How your business can support small enterprises
Shopping small isn't just a personal choice. Your business can support small enterprises on a B2B level. Here are 10 ways any business can support #shopsmall:
- Amplify Small Business Saturday posts
- Leverage your social media reach
- Buy an ad
- Allocate some of your marketing budget
- Write a blog post, op-ed, LinkedIn article or radio commentary
- Identify opportunities to funnel more work their way
- Flag upcoming contract renewals
- Write recommendations and reviews
- Offer a small business discount
- Choose locally owned restaurants for catering
Get the details and examples here.
How to win Small Business Saturday
Here are five things you can do now to prepare for a successful Small Business Saturday:
- Plan your print and digital marketing
- Collaborate with other small businesses
- Design a give-away or event
- Brainstorm ways to showcase your business' hometown status and unique aspects
- Consider ways to show your appreciation for customers' business
We created a slew of #shopsmall how-to articles for Staples covering everything from event and gift wrapping ideas to digital marketing and loyalty programs. Check out the topics and find links to the articles here.