It’s virtually time for Small Enterprise Saturday once more. This yr it’s on December 7, 2024.
Discover out how one can make the most of the annual occasion and what assist you might get to spice up your small business.
What’s Small Enterprise Saturday?
Small Enterprise Saturday was based by American Specific within the USA means again in 2010. As for the UK, it’s coming into its twelfth yr. On in the future in December yearly, shoppers are inspired to ‘store small’ by visiting impartial companies.
It usually runs on the Saturday after Thanksgiving within the States, following the Black Friday and Cyber Monday gross sales bonanza.
What can I do to advertise my enterprise?
Be sure you go to smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com. It’ll provide the lowdown on what Small Enterprise Saturday is and the way you should use it to leverage your small business. Within the meantime, listed here are some pointers.
Register your small business so to be discovered extra simply
Register and promote your small business on the Small Enterprise Finder in order that customers in your space can discover you. Better of all, it’s free!
Obtain the Small Enterprise Saturday brand
Obtain the Small Enterprise Saturday brand so to apply it to your web site and social media. There’s additionally a free print advertising and marketing pack which you could obtain, with supplies you may print at residence.
Contact the Small Enterprise Saturday staff
The staff at Small Enterprise Saturday can share any particular plans or promotions you’ve obtained going. They will publish it on Fb, Threads, Instagram and X.
Add photographs on social media
To your personal social media posts, use the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK.
Provide up offers and reductions
Take a look at what offers you might supply. In case you run an outside clothes store, you might supply a 2-for-1 deal on mountaineering socks, for instance.
Make a celebration of it
Present tea, espresso, cake and nibbles for customers to entice them in! Maybe you might think about staying open later too, particularly because it’s a Saturday within the run-up to Christmas.
Faucet into your on-line clients
Is your small business solely on-line? Time to ramp up your social media output and present what you must supply. Even a last-minute reminder electronic mail to your database would offer you a lift.
Bonus ideas
Nat Sharp, advertising and marketing knowledgeable and founding father of Sharp Pondering Advertising, has been concerned in Small Enterprise Saturday for the previous few years and was a part of the SmallBiz100 final yr. She offers us her insights on what try to be doing for Small Enterprise Saturday.
It’s a prime alternative to construct your model, strengthen relationships, and showcase your values. Small Enterprise Saturday isn’t nearly fast gross sales; it’s about constructing long-term connections and making your model memorable. Begin planning now to make the week main as much as it rely!
Shout out different companies
Collaboration beats competitors! Use your social channels or your publication to advertise different companies you’re employed with, akin to suppliers or clients. Tag them and embody hyperlinks to their web sites—this may encourage them to share your posts, amplifying your attain. I’ve carried out this for the previous few years.
Ramp up opinions
Ask your followers and dependable clients to go away opinions on platforms like Google. Clarify how very important their suggestions is to assist small companies like yours thrive. Critiques not solely increase credibility but in addition enhance search engine rankings lengthy after the occasion.
Run an occasion or unique night
Host an occasion to share recommendation or showcase experience. In case you’re a retailer, think about an unique buyer night with particular affords, drinks, and nibbles. Collaborating with different companies for this will entice much more curiosity. For retail companies, think about partnering with different small companies to create Christmas reward bundles. This can be a nice solution to cross-promote whereas offering added worth for purchasers.
Interact with the neighborhood
Organise interviews with like-minded companies or host reside chats to supply useful content material. Share insights from business specialists to supply mutual publicity throughout your channels. This builds neighborhood goodwill and highlights your collaborative efforts.
Two years in the past, I partnered with a HR consultancy, an accountant, and a digital marketer to host a sequence of small enterprise interviews. These discussions had been shared throughout all our social feeds, rising visibility for everybody concerned. Final yr I ran the Small Enterprise Periods occasion, bringing collectively native specialists like accountants and social media professionals to supply free recommendation to 30 small companies. I secured press protection and it generated curiosity from a whole lot of native influencers.
Leverage PR alternatives
Strategy native on-line or enterprise press to function your initiatives for Small Enterprise Saturday. Whether or not it’s a neighborhood occasion or collaboration, getting lined regionally can considerably increase your visibility and credibility.
Is there some other assist accessible?
Some native councils assist Small Enterprise Saturday by offering issues like free parking. Elmbridge Borough Council and Basingstoke Council are doing this for 2024. Check out your native council’s web site to see in the event that they’re doing something to supply assist this Small Enterprise Saturday.
Learn extra
How you can create a profitable gross sales technique – With the precise technique, each lead could be a potential alternative to propel your small business. Tom Luke, founder and CEO of Closers Ace, shares his six steps for a profitable gross sales technique
Six digital advertising and marketing instruments each small enterprise wants – Getting a powerful grasp of digital advertising and marketing is necessary for small companies. Listed here are the very best instruments that will help you
How you can write a advertising and marketing plan – This information affords sensible recommendation on growing and writing a advertising and marketing plan utilizing easy English
