Held the day after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday is dedicated to supporting the millions of small businesses that create jobs and boost the economy. For these businesses, it can be a great chance to gain new customers, grow sales and carry momentum into the holiday shopping season.

On Small Business Saturday 2016, 112 million shoppers showed their love for their favorite spots, and spent a reported $15.4 billion at local businesses like yours! Don’t miss out on this incredible annual opportunity.

Here are some easy ways to prepare for a successful Small Business Saturday:

Make it clear on your website, on social media, and in the local community that everyone’s invited to shop with you on Small Business Saturday. Also, give consumers an idea why they should visit your business or use your service.

Use Small Business Saturday hashtags on Twitter — #shopsmall and #dinesmall are popular ones — to stir up conversation about your event, engage customers, and make your tweets easier to find.

Update your social media with #ShopSmall profile pictures, cover photos and, social posts also double-check that your business’ information is accurate and up-to-date on your website and social media accounts. 

•          Plan unique events for your small business such as raffles and freebees.
•          Create your own posters, event flyers, and offer signage and save-the-date materials for your physical location. (There are many free downloadable options available).
•          Support other local businesses by partnering up with each other for the big day.
•          Update your display – have fun and get creative with promoting Small Business Saturday.
•          Create holiday gift bundles for your customers to conveniently holiday shop for their loved ones. Think: “for him / for her / for your pet.” 

•          Use the #DineSmall hashtag on social media to encourage your customers to support local restaurants
•          For local restaurants that would like to get involved, create a special dish for the day
•          Take this opportunity to debut new items on the menu for returning customers…
•          …or to promote old favorites for new customers!
•          Extend your hours a little to get the absolute most out of the day

It’s going to be a crazy day – don’t forget to prioritize customer service!

Remember that bringing your community together is what the annual Small Business Saturday shopping tradition is all about!

Zibster recognizes the important roles that small businesses play in our local communities. We encourage everyone to mark your calendars for Saturday November 25th – then do all you can to make the day a big success for small businesses in your area.