Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday We’re here to help you have a profitable Holiday Shopping Season!
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As you know, Small Business Saturday is a fantastic event that encourages local shopping. Last year, customers spent an estimated $13 billion at locally-owned retail stores! Which is great but, can you handle so many customers all in one day? Wouldn’t you like to consistently have more shoppers all Holiday Season? Below we’ve got some tips, ideas and tools to help.
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- Run promo all weekend long. Make sure to have store hours, details, specials, etc. Is your business listed in the Shop Local App? Get a free listing here. Turn App users into paying customers; add a coupon, special or deal to your App listing!
- Create a Facebook event with all the details. Post on your event page to keep attendees updated and remind them. Make sure to share the event on your timeline. Encourage your customers to share the post with their friends!
- A contest/giveaway is always a great way to generate interest and word of mouth marketing.
- Make sure to talk about Black Friday, Sm Biz Saturday and Cyber Monday on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
- Follow Shop Local on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to participate in the conversation.
- Post the Small Business Saturday logo, Shop Local App logo or Shop Local Recommended image on your Facebook page. You can even ask customers to, “Hit Like if you love shopping small #ShopLocal.”
- Use the Hashtags #SmallBusinessSaturday, #ShopSmall #SmallBusinessSat #SmallBiz #shoplocal #shopsmalleveryday
- Have products on Facebook Marketplace or the Shop Local Online Marketplace? Make sure to boost posts/products.
- Create a SBS Pinterest Board (wish list) pin your products – 90% of pinners use pins to make purchases! Make sure all your pins have links to your website or to buy your product!
- Deals to get them in the door, create loyalty & repeat business.
Have in-store signage, social media, and talk to customers. Remind them to use the Shop Local App for deals, specials and loyalty rewards (coming soon). Utilize our free graphics kit that we provide!
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Smartphone shoppers will make up 43% of the holiday consumer base, which presents a huge opportunity for retailers! And not just for Cyber Monday but for the entire shopping season.
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- Recruit a neighborhood team to support you, team up with fellow businesses. Be a community cheerleader supporting your neighbors. Tag your neighbors on social media. Display their coupons, flyers, pictures, posts, etc and have them do the same for you. Help each other and be successful together!!
- Send an email (or a few!) with the theme of Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday or Shop Local. Include a link to your Facebook event in the invitation and prompt customers to RSVP. Another email idea could be highlighting customer favorites, or Top 10 Gift Ideas under $50.
- Most successful campaigns are when businesses work together. Do community giveaways, and every business can help share and spread the word. You share with just your audience or you get shared with 10 businesses audiences!! 500 people (just your page) vs 10 biz x 500 people = 5000!!
- Make it easy for online shoppers, have gift cert or top products for sale online. Don’t have a website with eCommerce? We make it easy with our Shop Local Online Marketplace.
- Follow up with everyone who attended your Small Business Saturday event. Whether it be via email, or social media, it’s important to keep the conversation going! Thank them for attending and invite them back soon. Maybe offer a discount to encourage them to come back. Or you could even write a thank you note.
- If they make a purchase from your site, send an email expressing your gratitude and send them a discount for their next purchase.
- Make sure to set up marketing for your repeat customers. Loyal customers are exactly what you’re looking for! Facebook re-engagement ads are a great way to target them as well as offering special deals on their next purchases. Extend this well beyond the New Year, and chances are good that the steady buyer will remain steady
