How to Plan for Small Business Saturday
As Halloween lovers, it pains us a bit to see stores already putting out their Christmas decor (don’t worry though, we like Christmas, too. No Scrooges here). But feelings about Christmas creep aside, if you’re a small business owner this sudden influx of red and green should have you thinking about one thing: Small Business Saturday. Here’s how to plan for your best SBS yet.
Offer a Deal or Discount
Let’s start with the obvious — Sales! Discounts! Deals! Doorbusters! Christmas may not come from a store, but there’s no denying that consumers expect sales during the holiday season. The entire Black Friday-Small Business Saturday-Cyber Monday weekend is all about saving, so offering your customers some kind of deal is a no brainer. It doesn’t have to be a “mega blowout 70% off all inventory” kind of thing, either. Decide on what works with your margins and what will encourage your target consumer to shop.
Post Consistently on Social Media
Getting the word out about your participation in Small Business Saturday is key. Post at minimum once a week in the weeks leading up to SBS, and utilize Instagram and Facebook stories to spotlight items and tell people about the deals you’re offering.
Use Popular Hashtags
#ShopSmall and #SmallBusinessSaturday are great hashtags to use, but also consider what makes your business unique. Hashtags like #blackowned and #LGBTowned help people discover businesses that are part of communities they want to support. Your products are also a good source for hashtags. For instance, if you sell vintage furniture hashtags like #midcenturymodern or #vintageforsale could be useful. Also, include some hashtags that use your location. If you are based in Dallas, for example, #ShopSmallDallas or something more specific to your offerings, i.e. #DallasVintage or #DallasComicBooks, can help people find you online.
Increase Your Ad Budget
Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to invest in your online ads. Upping your ad budget for the holiday season can yield great results. Most people shop for gifts online, so it’s important not to simply rely on social media and foot traffic (if you have a brick and mortar location). Increasing your ad budget can help with your online visibility, and be sure to use keywords like “Shop Small” and “Small Business Saturday” in some of your ads.
If you want some help planning next year’s Small Business Saturday, hit us up! No matter what, we wish you best of luck in your SBS endeavors, and for the whole holiday season.
