Small Business Saturday: Gaining Support Without Asking Clients to Spend Money!

Small Business Saturday is an annual event in November that small business owners eagerly anticipate! It's an opportunity for businesses to connect with their community, boost end of year sales, and build relationships with existing and potential customers.

However, in an age where many peoples’ budgets are tight, not everyone in the community can participate financially in the day. So what’s a business owner to do?

We’ve outlined several ideas below that foster support for small businesses without asking customers to break the bank! Learn how how YOU as a small business owner can encourage your customers and the community to get involved in Small Business Saturday without having to spend money.

1. Embrace the Power of Social Media

Don’t underestimate this one. Social media is such a valuable tool for connecting with your community!

If you don’t already, encourage customers to follow your business on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. By doing so, they can stay updated on your latest offerings, promotions, and events. Ask them to interact with and share your posts to help increase your visibility to the local community. Their engagement costs them nothing but a few clicks or keyboard strokes, but it expands your reach quickly to others who may be interested in what your businesses up to.

Here’s a quick checklist of things to consider doing:

• Add your social profiles and your website to all printed marketing materials, and at your POS (point of sale) for everyone to see

• Make sure your staff understands how you want customers to interact with your business online. Encourage them to be your voice in this and to share the word with customers!

  • Do employees know about your newsletter?

  • Do employees know your company email for customers to email if they have concerns?

  • What social platform are you most active on?

• Run a giveaway offering on social media in exchange for shares or comments on your post. This one may cost you a bit of time and money, but is a great way to expand your reach quickly.

2. Leverage Online Reviews

Every business needs online reviews. If you don’t have a review generation strategy in place, now is the time to act!

Since online reviews are collected by customers who have previously engaged with your business, they really help establish credibility and trust among potential customers who are researching you! Ongoing, and especially during Small Business Saturday, encourage your loyal clients to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. This simple act from your customers is a great way that they can support you without spending extra money, and it can significantly impact your business by boosting its online reputation and attracting new customers.

Oftentimes, all you have to do is send a personal message asking for the review and your loyal customers will happily give you one!

Here’s an idea! In the spirit of Small Business Saturday, you could also encourage your local community to post reviews for other businesses as a sign of support! Prompt them to think about the hidden gems that might not receive as much attentio in town. Call out a few of your favorite businesses in the area.

3. Share Your Story, Celebrate your Customers for showing up for YOU!

It’s time to get creative! Use Small Business Saturday to share your business story, and to celebrate your customers! By giving your customers insight into your brand's history, values, and why you do what you do, you are creating a personal connection that goes beyond monetary transactions. Sharing your journey and the hard work you've put into your business can inspire your customers to support you, whether they spend money or not.

Go a step further and thank your customers for the support you’ve received from them thus far. Ask them to share stories with you about your business so that you can celebrate the memories together.

Here are a few places to consider sharing your story:

• Your newsletter

• Social media

• Blog posts

• Hand-written thank you cards to each of your clients

• Holiday / end-of-year cards or announcements

• Group community pages on Facebook or other social platforms

• Local newspaper

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What we really mean to say is that Small Business Saturday isn't just about dollars and cents; it's about community and connection.

Small businesses have the unique opportunity to create a sense of belonging and loyalty that goes beyond purchasing your products or services. By encouraging your customers and community to engage with your business through social media, online reviews, and storytelling, you can harness the power of community support. In the end, the relationships you build and the sense of belonging you foster may be the most valuable assets of all. <3