How to Support Small Business Saturday
The holiday season is here already—and with it comes big shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But now, more than ever, it’s important to shop small and support local businesses by celebrating Small Business Saturday. Wondering how you can help? Here are a few tips to put the spotlight on your favorite small business owners!
Interact with small businesses on social media.
Businesses have had to find ways to adapt and engage customers in light of new health guidelines and recommendations. This means many of them are doing more on their social media pages. An easy, free way to support small businesses is to interact with and share their content. Tag your friends on posts that you think they would like. Enter giveaways. Comment on their live videos. Share about them on your Instagram story. The key here is engagement. This will help them get more eyes on their content, which brings more prospective customers and business. It won’t cost you a thing, and it will help more than you know!
Leave great reviews.
Leaving a positive review is another great way to give back to small businesses and artists. Every creator and industry—from authors and illustrators to bookstores, boutiques, and restaurants—benefits from a good review. Our consumer culture is driven by reviews, and the more positive reviews a business or product has, the more likely it is to bring in more customers. Your kind words may be exactly what another person needs to read before making their purchase. Be honest and genuine, and let people know about some of your favorite products through a quick review.
Share about your favorite small businesses.
You don’t have to be a high-profile influencer to influence the people around you. If you love a small business, tell people about it. Take pictures of the books from your favorite indie book shop. Show off your new sweater from the charming boutique that just opened. Recommend products or small businesses to your friends and family. This type of advertising is so impactful for small businesses, and others love to see real people and their real experiences with products. I have learned about some of my favorite stores and products from friends posting about them. When a trusted friend endorses something, you’re more likely to want to give it a try, too.
Buy local.
This is a big one. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on small businesses, and if we want to see them succeed and move forward into the new year, we need to give them our support financially as well. Keep in mind that this may mean ordering things earlier to account for shipping and production times, but it will be so worth it when you buy unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones—and you can be doubly excited about these gifts knowing that your money is supporting families and small business owners with big dreams and big talent. If we want to see our favorite small businesses survive, we need to lift them up this holiday season.
This has been a difficult year for everyone, and many have taken a toll financially. If your holiday budget is smaller this year, that’s okay. Every bit of support helps—and that includes your free reviews or recommendations. There are many ways we can support local businesses, and it will look different depending on each person’s capabilities this season, so, I encourage you to support small businesses this year in a way that feels right to you.
Happy shopping, everyone!
