Maximize your reach this Small Business Saturday with these tips to promote your business.
Small Business Saturday is a great time of year for small business owners to capitalize on the momentum of holiday shoppers.
Why Customers Want to Shop Small
According to a survey from NMI, 87% of consumers agree that gifts from a small business are more thoughtful, and 78% of consumers are willing to pay more to help a small business.
Consumers enjoy shopping at local small businesses because of the direct impact it serves on their community. Shopping small boosts local economies and offers convenience for local residents.
Ways to Promote Your Business on Social Media
Social media broadens your reach for potential customers to shop on Small Business Saturday.
Choosing the best social media platform that best suits your business can be daunting. You know your business the best; once that platform is identified, you can begin to strategize ways to showcase your business most effectively.
Ahead of the date, strategize how best to put your business out there. Here are a few tips.
- Get ahead of the shoppers. Promote your business’ deals, events or offerings on social media a couple of weeks ahead of Small Business Saturday. This puts the event on their radar.
- Create campaigns with your customers. Create photo opportunities around your business or create a fun, engaging hashtag so visitors can upload on their own and tag your business.
- Engage with your followers. Don’t just post aimlessly, interact with those who interact with you. Reply to the comments left on your posts. Like or react when others post about your business.
- Capitalize your customers’ fear of missing out. Livestreams are a great way to show your followers who aren’t presently at your business all the deals they are missing out on. You don’t need fancy filming equipment, just your phone and social log in!
- Work with local influencers. These are the people within your community who others look for inspiration on where to shop!
While sometimes costly, according to a study by Bocconi University’s Maximiliian Beichert, nano-influencers with less than 10,000 followers yield an average return of $1,000 on a $50 investment, typically on the products they receive from the business.
If you are unsure on how to promote your business for Small Business Saturday, American Express offers a free digital library of resources for your Small Business Saturday promotion.