In 2016, more than 112 million shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday, spending a reported $15.4 billion dollars at local shops in their community. For many entrepreneurs, the day marked their best sales of the entire year, so it's important that you do everything possible to make the most of the opportunity.
Here's how to increase your foot traffic on — and after — Small Business Saturday.
Creating your own unique signage will add even more flare to your digital and storefront displays. Graphic designers can help you create memorable posters and banner ads that really pop.
These inexpensive additions to your business will help draw in new foot traffic. Want to go a step further? Print miniaturized versions of your poster and send as postcards to encourage local residents to stop in to say "hello."
Chances are you've been to a party or event that had memorable cocktails or appetizers. Just as those goodies can help elevate a party experience, thoughtful snacks or sippable beverages can take a shopping experience from "great" to "wow." To help make Small Business Saturday feel like a special event in your store, consider adding these extras.
Mixologists and chefs can help you craft perfect options that bring in the personality of your store and leave a lasting impression. In addition to keeping shoppers in your store longer, these treats can actually increase their likelihood to spend big – one research study found that consuming a piece of free chocolate made shoppers more likely to buy luxury items, including watches, clothing, and laptops.
Thanks to increased foot traffic, Small Business Saturday is the perfect day to capture promotional video footage of your business to use for marketing. A little bit of planning can lead to impressive clips of your business that will help draw in more visitors year round. Smartphones make capturing high-quality footage easy and inexpensive. Use a tripod (or any stationary surface) to record wide-angle footage and be sure to capture both the inside and outside of your store. If customers are lining up to get in, get a walking shot of the line (be sure to include the storefront signage in the shot!) with customers smiling and waving.
Record short (no more than 10–15 seconds per person) testimonial videos of customers saying why they love your store. A professional video editor can turn these into a cohesive, compelling marketing video for your website, social media pages, or even a television commercial. Small Business Saturday only comes once per year, but with some strategic planning you can leverage the power of November 26 to help attract new customers all year long.
Do you have any tactics for getting the most out of Small Business Saturday? Tell us in the comments below!
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