10 things to make your Small Business Saturday go with a bang!
With Small Business Saturday just around the corner, the team approached me to ask for my tips to make sure you have a fabulous day. Even though you may not think so, there is still time for you to get involved, enjoy the day and pick up a little extra business along the way.
I’ve put together my 10 tips on how you can achieve that and have your day go with a bang. Read them, and then print off the handy infographic as a checklist!
1. The Small Business Saturday marketing pack
If you haven’t got your marketing pack yet, what are you waiting for? The team at Small Business Saturday put together a pack to help you promote you’re taking part. The best thing is – it’s free! So, head over to the Small Business Saturday website and download your pack now. Then, tell all your small business friends about it. They’ll thank you for it!
2. An irresistible offer
A good offer will go a long way to get people into your business or on your website to spend money with you. You still have time to work out what you want to do. If you’re struggling with what that is, read this blog post. Don’t panic, just work through it systematically.
3. A promotional plan
Once you’ve worked out an offer, you need a plan to promote it. Don’t worry, it needn’t be hugely complicated. Remember two things: tell your email list and plan your social media to reach new people. Read this blog post for advice on a simple promotional schedule.
4. Automate – set it and forget it
You’re going to be plenty busy on Small Business Saturday, so don’t add the extra pressure of doing your marketing. Get as much out of the way as possible with automation. Schedule your emails and social media posts in advance and that stress will disappear. Read this post to learn more about email automation.
5. A way to collect email addresses
This is really important. The reason? You want to be able to keep in touch with every new customer, regardless of whether you have a shop or are an online business. Capturing email addresses is a great way to do that. So, make sure you’re prepared by having a clipboard and a form by your till if you have a shop. If you’re online-only, have a box on every page of your website. Read this post for more ways to grow your email list.
6. A working website
It doesn’t matter whether your business has a physical presence or is online only. You need to make sure your website is working before the day arrives. You need to give people every chance to find you, learn more about you and buy from you. So, test everything’s working properly before the big day.
7. Your smartphone
This is going to be your best friend on the day because you will want to capture the day in photos or on video. Make sure all the social media networks you used are loaded on to your phone as an app. This will let you quickly post any updates that you want to share on the fly. Remember to fully charge your phone overnight and keep your charger with you all day.
8. Comfy shoes
This might sound obvious or even a little bit weird. Having done more tradeshows than I care to remember in my career, I can’t tell you how important it is to look after your feet. Whether you’re in your shop, at an event or out and about shopping, comfy shoes go a long way. Don’t be tempted to try that new pair you bought, even if they are flat. Rely on the old, tried and tested shoes so your feet last the distance.
9. Plenty of water
Stay focused and full of energy all day by staying hydrated. Again, this is one of the best tips I learned doing tradeshows. Your body will thank you for it because you’ll be alert, be able to provide stellar customer service and show customers you’re the business they want to work with. The same goes if you’re attending an event. Stay on top of your game by staying hydrated.
10. Sleep
I know it’s in our nature to work all the hours we can. This is like any other event you might go to. If you’re married, think back to the advice you were given for the night before your wedding. The biggest piece of advice I received was to get plenty of sleep the night before. And it stood me in good stead. This is no different. You’ll expend huge amounts of energy, and maybe even have to do the same the next day, so give your body every chance of getting you there.
I hope you have a fabulous Small Business Saturday. I’ll be following the hashtag on the day, so if you post on social media, remember to include #SmallBizSatUK and I’ll be able to see what you’re doing!
Ready to make your mark?
If you’re not sure where to start, create an irresistible offer with my new eBook. At only £9.99, it’s the recipe you need for a stellar Small Business Saturday offer.
Here’s the BIG plus. You can use the process at any time of the year. Buy once and use it again, and again! Get your copy today.
Ready to make your mark?
If you like this advice, you’ll love The Marketing Morsel Club! I’ve created it just for business owners like you. Every week, on a Tuesday, you’ll receive a bite-sized, practical email to help you with your marketing.
But there’s more to the Club than an email. Find out more about the benefits of joining, as well as what other Club members think. Then sign up today!