This is the time of year when most entrepreneurs are fully engaged in holiday marketing campaigns. The next few weeks will see businesses hitching themselves onto the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other year-end sales wagons. However, there is another, often-overlooked event coming up that is also worthy of your attention – Small Business Saturday.
The locally-focused alternative to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday is an annual event held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The aim of Small Business Saturday is to drive holiday shoppers to local retailers. However, there also are ways for agents and advisors to take advantage of Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday Marketing Tips
During the weeks leading up to Small Business Saturday, reach out to a few local businesses about cross-promotional opportunities:
- Leave business cards, pens, and other promotional materials that local shops can offer customers or include with online orders.
- Share each other’s social media posts and pages. Relevant hashtags include #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSat.
- Add a local business directory to your website and share it on social media.
Don’t limit your partners to retailers. Engage with service providers and other non-retail businesses.
- Cafes and coffee shops
- Home improvement and remodeling contractors
- Auto repair shops
SBS and the New Normal
Small Business Saturday has traditionally been a community-wide event, often featuring sidewalk sales and family-friendly activities. Pandemic restrictions have made it nearly impossible for these events to take place this year. Local retailers are struggling and must come up with creative ways to keep their doors open. As a financial professional and business owner, you are in a great position to help.
Reach out to your local Chamber of Commerce and area business owners to see what you can do. Even simple cross-promotional activities are good for lead generation. Your involvement will show business owners that you have a vested interest in the community. This can go a long way toward building solid B2B relationships.
