National Small Business Week runs April 28 – May 4 this year. It is a great opportunity to not only celebrate your place in the market, but to expand your reach and deepen your connection with the community. Here are several ways you can leverage this important week to boost your business and engage better with your customers.
Tell Your Story
Everyone loves a good story, and your business has a unique one that can resonate with your customers. Share what motivated you to start your business along with how it has evolved over time. You can write your story in a blog post, but if that seems too time-consuming, here are some other ways to tell your story:
- » Share a series of pictures on your social media from the beginning of your business through now. Flashback photos tend to generate high engagement on social media.
- » Record a brief video on your phone either telling your business story, or even your memory of working with your first customer.
- » Create a social media post asking customers to share their stories of working with you, and respond to the comments to thank them.
Maximize Each Day
With a whole week’s focus on small businesses like yours, some strategic thinking could go a long way to increasing awareness of your brand.
Scheduled Emails: Plan a series of emails to keep your customers informed and engaged throughout the week. Each email can highlight different aspects of your business, special deals, or stories.
7 Days of Deals: Create a “deal of the day” for each day of the week. This keeps your customers engaged and gives them a reason to return, both online and in-store.
Incentives for Repeat Purchases: Implement a punch card system or offer additional discounts for multiple purchases made during the week.
Create a Raffle Giveaway: Raffles can help introduce new customers to your business at a low cost. Invite people to subscribe to your newsletter, follow you on social media, or even stop in at your location. Then, draw a winner from the entries.
Social Media Engagement: Increase your social media activity with daily posts, behind-the-scenes content, customer spotlights, and cross-promotional posts with other local businesses.
Tap Into Local Support
Running a small business can be challenging, exhausting, and lonely. YOUR Chamber, along with several local and federal organizations, have many programs to help.
Chamber of Commerce Membership: Being a member of YOUR Union County Chamber offers many benefits for small business owners. We provide visibility for your business, a welcoming atmosphere for business growth and innovation, resources to develop your business and your employees, and savings for your business as we partner with our members to create a thriving business community in Union County. You can read more about all the benefits here. Contact us at (704)289-4567 or email Director of Business Development Phillip Faust at phillip@unioncountycoc.com.
Small Business Center at South Piedmont Community College: The Small Business Center (SBC) at South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) is part of a statewide network dedicated to supporting you as a hopeful entrepreneur or current small business owner. They offer free seminars, resource information, referrals and confidential counseling to help your small business thrive.
SCORE: SCORE relies heavily on volunteers — experienced business men and women who are willing to spend time with, and offer advice to, others. The main mission of SCORE is to connect these volunteer mentors with new entrepreneurs and business owners who might benefit from an experienced ear and actionable advice. Call them at (704)344-6576 to be connected with a local mentor.
US Small Business Administration: The Small Business Administration is the federal agency that administrates business loans and grants. The SBA provides free business planning and budgeting templates, along with loans for purposes such including general small business loans for new companies in specific niches, disaster loans to help at-need businesses get through disaster recovery, and expansion loans to help businesses grow.
Starting a Business in NC – from NC.gov: Starting a business involves planning, making key decisions and completing a series of legal steps. NC.gov maintains this site to help you get your business off the ground. The site includes information on business registration, taxes, licensing, and much more.
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina: EDPNC (Economic Development Partnership) Small Business Advisors is a free service that works in partnership with the NC Department of Commerce. They offer assistance to people interested in starting a business, small business owners in need of general support, and entrepreneurs interested in moving to North Carolina.
National Small Business Week is more than just a time for promotions; it’s a celebration of your business’s role in our community. Use this week not only to boost your sales but to strengthen the connections that make your business a cherished part of the local landscape.
Last modified: April 30, 2024
