It is that time of year again! Small Business Saturday is just a few short weeks away on November 28th! The leaves have fallen, the air is getting colder and people are ready to begin shopping for the holidays. Small Business Saturday is going to look much different for most people this year and especially for small businesses. If you own a small business and are wondering how to ensure your customers will find you this holiday season, we have a few tips and tricks for you.
To get our full Small Business Saturday checklist so that you can be prepared for your small business, click here to get the free pdf!
HOW TO BE PREPARED ONLINE
SELL GIFT CARDS
Selling gift cards is one of the most effective ways to generate sales during special holidays like Small Business Saturday. Gift cards are a great thing to offer during Small Business Saturday because 1) it can quickly generate sales and 2) it will bring in new customers long after the holidays have come and gone.
Check with your current merchant processing company to see if they can get you gift cards, or look into companies like Square or Giftfly to set up your unique online gift card. Once you have a link to where people can purchase gift cards, start dispersing the message on social media, your website, your current client list, etc.
Offer Small Business Discounts
Once you have your gift card in hand, you’ll want to offer some kind of promotion. It could be 15% off or even 50% off (depending on your marketing budget). You want to make the gift card as appealing as possible and one of the best ways to do that is offering discounts to your store, service, or product.
Promote on Social Media
After you have your gift card promotion nailed down, it’s time to promote it! Social media is the best place to start. When posting online, be sure to use relevent hashtags to reach new customers like:
- #smallbusinesssaturday
- #supportsmallbusiness
- #smallbusinesslove
These hashtags will ensure that you’re reaching new customers in addition to your current followers.
Promote on Website
Super important is making sure your promotion is displayed on your website. There’s several places you can highlight it:
- Writing a blog post about it
- Including it as a banner
- Adding it to your main navigation
This will ensure that all your website visitors are aware of your special promotion.
REACH OUT TO YOUR EMAIL LIST
If you have an email list, make sure you utilize the power of email and reach out to your small business clients and customers to let them know what offerings your small business will have going during Small Business Saturday. Here’s some tips to get you started:
- Use captivating subject lines that pique curiosity
- Be sure to “segment” or categorize your lists for more relevant messages
- Always include ONE call to action (AKA to buy your gift certificate)
HOW TO BE PREPARED OFFLINE
UPDATE YOUR HOLIDAY HOURS
Believe it or not many people forget this simple step and it can cost your small business in sales, especially on Small Business Saturday. Also, updating your hours for the holiday season, in general, will help you communicate directly with the algorithms of each platform so they feel confident in your business information. Verify your business hours on all of the following platforms:
- Your Website
- Your Google My Business Listing
- Your Yelp Listing
- Your Facebook Page
- Apple Maps
- Bing Places for Business
- And all other directories and listings
STAFF FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Whether this is online through chat, phones, and email or in person at your store, make sure your small business is ready to offer outstanding customer service on Small Business Saturday! Have a plan of action or a customer-led funnel for when people reach out to you. Whether you write down a list of FAQs, have a sales pitch, or have links to book or buy, preparing ahead of time can help streamline your communication.
CONNECT WITH OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES
Spread the love and connect with other small businesses in your community on Small Business Saturday! Ideas like scavenger hunts that have stops at other participating businesses in your community are not only fun for your customers but bring in new customers to your small business who may have not heard of you before!
Get a Free Small Business Saturday Checklist
Small Business Saturday may look different this year but consumers are also excited to support small businesses more than ever! Make sure your small business is prepared by downloading our Free Small Business Saturday Checklist here!
