National Small Business Week is celebrated during the first week of May every year and takes place from May 1 to 7 this year. The aim of this week is to honor the entrepreneurs of our country, who have played their part in bringing new ideas to life and growing our economy.
In 1963, after the proclamation from President John F. Kennedy, the first National Small Business Week was celebrated to honor the top entrepreneurs in every state with awards and special recognition. This week became an annual practice to encourage other small business owners and educate them about the success stories of the top performers. As a tradition spanning over 50 years, National Small Business Week gives you the opportunity to celebrate small businesses and the contributions that they make to local communities and the national economy.
How can your business get involved? This Union Commercial Capital blog posts shares 4 ways you can take part and celebrate Small Business Week this year.
1. Raise Awareness
As a small business you can leverage Small Business Week to raise awareness to your brand online. Small businesses have contributed significantly to the US economy by generating wealth and creating employment, having reported creating 1.5 million jobs every year. Creating awareness about small businesses like yours helps to keep employees' jobs secure and promotes your business as well.
Most people don't have Small Business Week pre-scheduled into their calendars, so it's up to you to get the word out about the week and your related offerings. A great place to start is on social media. Use your most popular channels to invite customers to your store, whether through Facebook adds, Instagram, or a special giveaway campaign. Let customers know how you're staying involved in their community though your networks. You can also spread the word on your blog, email lists, or even through additional advertising. In short, pushing your message as a small business while rewarding customer support with discount promotions can encourage higher sales numbers.
2. Share Your Story
This Small Business Week, take a moment to remind your customers and supporters why you do what you do. Being among the top-performing businesses is an achievement that should not go unpraised. If you are a small business owner, proudly share your story on social media to encourage others to be self-employed or simply learn from your experience. You can share your insights and experiences that many other small business owners can benefit from. This helps build authority for your brand while giving you the chance to network and engage on social media. Use your unique point of view as a way to stand out from the competition and get closer to your customers. This will ignite your customers with your passion and share your company's journey with them in a way that builds trust and loyalty.
3. Tap into Education and Free Resources
Throughout Small Business Week, the SBA is hosting free webinars to help you learn new skills and increase your knowledge in many different aspects of running a small business. The SBA creates resources to help your small business take advantage of all that National Small Business Week has to offer. You can also check your local SBA district office to learn about any meetups going on.
4. Say Thanks to the People Who Have Supported You and Your Business
It's a good time to think about those who make your business possible. Maybe you have an excellent staff or loyal customer base that has been there with you since day one. Take a moment and show your appreciation to those who supported your business and stayed loyal to you. Use this week to acknowledge their support, and be the same type of support for another small business.
Taking the time to speak on why you do what you do shows customers your passion. It's a way to express your genuine commitment to them in a way that drives customers to return.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these four ideas will guide you in the right direction this Small Business Week.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, the most important thing is to recognize the great impact and contributions small businesses make all year long.
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