Support Small Business Saturday: 8 Ways The Chamber Of Commerce Can Make an Impact

As a Chamber of Commerce, you play a vital role in supporting the local business community. Small Business Saturday is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact. Instead of having one day for Small Businesses, why not do it for a week? November 30, 2024 – December 7, 2024.

Here are 8 ways you can support Small Business Saturday and help local businesses thrive:

1. Create a Dedicated Webpage

• Highlight participating businesses, promotions, and events on a dedicated webpage.
• Include a list of local businesses, their addresses, phone numbers, and websites.
• Add a map feature to help customers find participating businesses.

2. Leverage Social Media

• Share engaging content, business profiles, and promotions on social media platforms.
• Utilize relevant hashtags, such as #SmallBusinessSaturday, #ShopSmall, and #ShopLocal.
• Share behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks, and exclusive deals to create buzz around Small Business Saturday.

3. Send a Dedicated Email

• Notify members and the community about Small Business Saturday, highlighting local businesses and promotions.
• Include a call-to-action, encouraging recipients to visit participating businesses.
• Share exclusive deals, discounts, or bundles offered by local businesses.

4. Provide Marketing Materials

• Offer free marketing materials, such as posters, flyers, and social media graphics, to help businesses promote their participation.
• Create a customizable template for businesses to promote their own Small Business Saturday deals.
• Provide a list of suggested social media posts for businesses to use.

5. Host a Small Business Saturday Event

• Organize an event, such as a ribbon-cutting ceremony, downtown shopping event, or small business expo, to draw customers to local businesses.
• Partner with local businesses to offer exclusive deals, discounts, or bundles during the event.
• Promote the event through social media, email marketing, and local press.

6. Partner with Local Businesses

• Collaborate with local businesses to offer exclusive discounts, promotions, or bundles on Small Business Saturday.
• Encourage businesses to offer special deals, such as “buy one get one free” or “10% off all purchases.”
• Promote these deals through social media, email marketing, and local press.

7. Distribute Small Business Saturday Swag

• Provide branded materials, such as shopping bags, buttons, or stickers, to participating businesses.
• Encourage businesses to distribute these materials to customers on Small Business Saturday.
• Create a social media contest, where customers can share photos of themselves with Small Business Saturday swag.

8. Encourage Community Involvement

• Invite community members to share their favorite local businesses on social media, using a branded hashtag.
• Encourage customers to shop local on Small Business Saturday and share their experiences on social media.
• Create a social media challenge, where community members can share photos or videos of themselves shopping local on Small Business Saturday.

Procrastination is the thief of time. Keep your Chamber’s marketing ahead and organized with this guide.

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