Saturday, November 26 is Small Business Saturday, is a day designed to promote the importance of small businesses for the local economy on one of the biggest shopping days of the year! Take action now to prepare yourself and your business to serve your customers, hit your sales goals, promote your offers on social media, and celebrate the magic of shopping local this winter!
This guide contains tips and resources to make your holiday shopping season a success, from preparing your staff and website to priming your customers and community. Make sure every touchpoint with your business is up to your standards using these helpful tips, brought to you by The Cook County Small Business Source. Start implementing them now and you won’t miss a beat on Small Business Saturday. And remember, The Source is here to support you all year long.
We can’t wait to celebrate Small Business Saturday with you on November 26!
Set a goal
What is your goal for Small Business Saturday? What is your goal for this holiday season? It might be to sell a certain amount of inventory, add 40 subscribers to your email list, or build and execute a promotional campaign from start to finish. Whatever your goals are, make sure they connect to the broader strategy you have for your business—then make a plan to reach them. Before you dive into our other tips, make sure you have defined what success looks like for you. Having a defined goal(s) in mind will help you streamline your actions and make informed decisions on how to spend your limited time and resources.
Be prepared
Make sure your shelves are stocked, your team is ready to provide exceptional customer service, and your website can handle an influx of traffic on November 26.
Don’t get caught with items out of stock! Use previous peaks in sales to understand what your customers want—then make sure your online and in-store inventory is ready to handle these needs! Prominently feature your most popular items and determine a fulfillment plan if customers want items that aren’t in stock.
- Make sure you’re appropriately staffed
Your staff is the face of your business, and the best way to serve your customers and your community on Small Business Saturday is with amazing customer service. Get ready to answer questions, respond to inquiries quickly on social media, and greet customers with a smile. Spend the time now training your team to provide professional, exceptional service to every single person who shops with you.
Thoroughly test your customer journeys, check that your security software is current, and ensure the website will work smoothly, even when traffic is higher than normal. Run tests and make sure you have a plan if you experience downtime or crashes.
The shopping and checkout process on your website should be an excellent user experience, whether they’re visiting from their phone, computer, or tablet.
Now is also the time to make sure your website is search engine optimized so that online shoppers can find you, your products, and your services when they search throughout the holiday season. Make sure you publish content relevant to your brand and interesting to your customers—and plan regular content updates so customers have a reason to return to your site. Finally, spend some time finding and implementing keywords that will help improve your search rankings and help potential customers find your website.
Promote, promote, promote
Your community is excited to shop small on Small Business Saturday, so leverage the buzz to promote special events! Use promotions, special campaigns, and collaborations with other local businesses to spread the word and attract even more customers.
Small Business Saturday is a great day to celebrate and collaborate with other local businesses! Consider cross-promoting your offers, partnering on an event, or simply recognizing other incredible businesses on your social media. Use the power of community to increase awareness and make shoppers feel that they’re part of something bigger—because they are!
- Offer a special promotion
Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to offer your customers a special promotion or incentive! Whether it’s a discount, a contest, or a unique product, make a splash on November 26 with something that will get your community excited. A discountlike 15% off or a one-of-a-kind gift with purchase can be just the push they need to shop small on November 26.
Once you identify your offer, start building buzz about it on social media and through your communication channels. This is another opportunity to collaborate with local businesses to get the word out to a broader audience. Consider a dedicated email campaign, social ads, or even a print flyer. Think about where your customers are and bring your message to them!
Don’t forget about your loyal customers during this time. They’re part of your community and want to support you! Encourage them to be a part of the day by offering a special “friends and family” deal or reaching out with a targeted campaign. You could even ask them to share your messaging via their own social media channels.
If you want to take it a step further, plan an event to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Think of an event as a curated brand experience and specifically invite community members to attend and bring a friend! Take plenty of photos during the event and be sure to post them during and after on your social media channels.This tactic can help get even more people in the door and increase the reach of your company.
Think local
Your personality is your superpower as a small business! It gives you a unique opportunity to connect with your community in a targeted and meaningful way. This Small Business Saturday, do what the big guys can’t leverage your local area. What does your neighborhood love? How can you build relationships with your customers? How can you respond to your unique (and amazing!) community?
Think about how to capitalize on foot traffic, connect with other businesses in the area, or promote to local community groups.
Perfect your customer service
The best way to serve your customers and your community on Small Business Saturday and beyond is with amazing customer service. Be sure that everyone on your team is ready to step up with a friendly smile, a helpful demeanor, and the knowledge they need to problem-solve on the fly. Have an easy way for customers to find answers to their questions—either in person or with a comprehensive FAQ page. Make sure that your team knows just how appreciated they are! When your team is feeling the love, they’ll show that same attention and care to your customers!
Keep the momentum going
On Small Business Saturday, collect new customers’ information and add them to your e-list or encourage them to follow you on social media—then share information tailored specifically for them! Now is a great time to refresh your welcome email for new subscribers or your incentives for first-time purchasers. Get new clients excited to stay involved and keep the community love rolling.
And don’t forget that Small Business Saturday is just the beginning of your holiday campaign. Continue communicating regularly with your audience and show them why they need your product or service. Can you make their lives easier during the busy winter months? Will your product make an amazing gift for their aunt or sibling or best friend? Now is the time to tell them! Don’t assume they’ll figure it out on their own. Communicate clearly and consistently to keep customers engaged and coming back!
Use these tips to help you have your biggest Small Business Saturday ever on November 26—and make sure this special celebration is just the beginning of a successful holiday shopping season!
The Cook County Small Business Source is here to support you on Small Business Saturday—and all year long! Make sure you’re visiting our website regularly to receive free resources, to connect with our team on questions, or to join us at an upcoming event. We’re here for you—and we can’t wait to celebrate amazing small businesses in Cook County this Small Business Saturday!
