Home stretch for Small Business Saturday

Please note: As of summer 2011, neither I nor The 3/50 Project support SBS. For an explanation, please see this. If I’d known then what I know now….

This is it, folks. The Week. The Big Kahuna. The Weekend When Consumers Open Their Wallets and Don’t Close Them Until Christmas Eve.

This is Small Business Saturday.

Now is when we need to ramp things into hyperdrive, really hammering home the importance of shopping with local independents over the biggest shopping weekend of the year. For the maximum impact, here’s the battle plan I suggest:

Visit SmallBusinessSaturday.com
Download the goodies, check the tools, get in the game. It’s not too late (but will be soon).

If you have an email newsletter:
Put a piece in it about The 3/50 Project and Small Business Saturday, beginning with the following statement:

Which three local, independent businesses would you hate to see close?

Trust me. It gets attention. In your piece, be sure to include the definition of “independent” since the whole idea is to support those of you who have zero benefit from someone else’s brand name or support staff:

Independent businesses are those who don’t wear the name of a national or regional chain. We rely solely on ourselves, with no benefit of outside advertising or national office to call for advice. We’re underdogs, and proud of it.

If your business has a Facebook page, post this:

Which three locally owned, independent businesses do you not want to lose? Please list them here, then be sure to stop in and say “hello” to them this Saturday—Small Business Saturday!

In the link box below your message, type this:

http://www.smallbusinesssaturday.com

That way, readers can list the businesses they love AND share your post with all their friends.

If you have a blog:
Write a post about Small Business Saturday -and- The 3/50 Project. We’re working hand-in-hand to make this happen, so don’t be shy about including both. Be sure to put our web addresses in your piece so consumers can learn more if they like:

SmallBusinessSaturday.com -and- The350Project.net

Do you tweet?
Well then, get typing. Be sure to tweet both (The 3/50 Project and Small Business Saturday), since we want this message to resonate loud and clear.

Contact local media
Invite them over to do a piece about Small Business Saturday. Most large and mid-sized markets received a press release on November 8 about it, but that’s been a while ago, so here’s a copy you can send them yourself. If they need a quote from me (national spokesperson for SBS), have them email me at press_inquiries@the350project.net. Offer to bake cookies if you have to. Just get them in the door and get yourself some face time.

Hand out those flyers
Everyone who comes into your store should walk out with a flyer from The 3/50 Project so they realize loyalty to independent brick and mortars is important ALL year long, not just during the holiday season (the flyers are free, available on the Resources page of our website). This is the time to get that message in front of as many consumers as possible. Go for it!

Here’s to up-ing the headcount on inspired consumers. Let’s get out there and spread the word!