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By: Elise Mitchell
Chair, Small Business Saturday Coalition
President & CEO, Mitchell Communications Group


Small Business Saturday: Free tools available to ensure success

As part of the second annual Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, the specialized products and incredible customer service of thousands of amazing local businesses across the country will be on display for consumers as the holiday shopping season begins. Be sure to take advantage of the many free and easy tools available to ensure your business fully realizes the benefits of SBS.

Advertising and PR:

For starters, SBS will be supported by a national advertising and public relations campaign that highlights the importance of shopping small businesses. Participating businesses will be able to download printable point-of-purchase and storefront marketing materials to let consumers know you are participating in SBS.

Free Facebook advertising:

American Express will offer $100 in free Facebook advertising to 10,000 small businesses to help promote SBS and special offers by participating merchants.  Facebook plays a significant role in driving customers to SBS.

Cardholder shopping credit:

American Express will also offer a $25 statement credit to 200,000 cardholders who register and spend $25 or more at participating SBS merchants in the U.S. that accept American Express. This is a discount small business owners can pass along to their customers.

New Social Media Tools:

The recently launched Go Social tool will allow American Express merchants to create coupon-less deals for card holders using digital and mobile platforms such as Facebook and Foursquare. This tool is a way to reward customers and keep them coming back well beyond SBS.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday, to be held Nov. 26, is a day designated for consumers across the U.S. to dedicate a portion of their holiday shopping dollars to local, independently owned, small businesses. Started by American Express in 2010, SBS is strategically positioned between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the heaviest shopping weekend of the year, and promotes the vital role local merchants play in communities across the country.


Facebook Posts:

The Small Business Saturday packet will give you everything you need to market your small business on Nov. 26. Learn more about the benefits of supporting "Small Business Saturday" here - (link to this SBS Materials blog post)

Make sure to look for this signage when you shop local on Nov. 26th. (link to this SBS Materials blog post)
Tweets:

The #SmallBizSat packet will give you everything you need for Nov. 26. (link to this SBS Materials blog post)

Make sure to look for this signage when you #shoplocal on Nov. 26th. (link to this SBS Materials blog post)

By: Elise Mitchell
Chair, Small Business Saturday Coalition
President & CEO, Mitchell Communications Group

First there was Black Friday. Then, Cyber Monday. Now, Small Business Saturday, designated for Nov. 26 as a day for consumers across the United States to dedicate a portion of their holiday shopping dollars to local, independently owned, small businesses.

Small businesses play a vital role in our communities, complementing our many large enterprises with specialized products, a personal touch and incredible customer service. Through SBS, WIPP is championing local, independently owned businesses during the biggest shopping season of the year.

The purpose of this initiative is two-fold:

•         Drive consumers to think about how and where they spend their dollars.

•         Raise awareness for the value of shopping local - not just on SBS and with retailers, but all year and with any small business. 

SBS began last year thanks to the vision and sponsorship of American Express. As a leading grassroots organization, WIPP plays a key role in leading the SBS Coalition, a national network of nearly 200 organizations that reach more than 6 million business and community leaders nationwide. The coalition has two focuses:

•         Encourage small businesses to participate in SBS.

•         Invite consumers to shop local on Nov. 26.

 

Here's how you can help activate SBS in your own community:

First, spread the word.

•             Tell your congressional representatives about SBS and what it means to us. 

•             Talk about SBS with your local chambers and elected officials. 

•             Ask your mayor to proclaim Nov. 26 as SBS in your community. 

•             Use your circle of influence to talk up SBS with your friends and share details online, particularly through FB and Twitter.

 

Second, help us benefit small business.

•             Encourage local businesses in your community to participate in SBS. 

•             Direct business owners to facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday, where they can download a toolkit complete with printable signage, free Facebook advertising for 10,000 small businesses, social media tools, logos, and a press release to market their business for the big day and align with the national branding campaign American Express is rolling out.

 

Third, and most importantly, shop local!

When you shop local, your impact is big. Local businesses across the country are making a difference every day by creating jobs, bringing new products to market and serving the needs of consumers everywhere. 

Together, we can grow the SBS success story, this year and for years to come.

 

Facebook Posts

First there was Black Friday. Then, Cyber Monday. Now, Small Business Saturday, designated for Nov. 26. Learn more about how to "Small Business Saturday" in your community. [link to: Activate 'Small Business Saturday' in your community]

 Here is a step-by-step guide on how to support small businesses in your community. [link to: Activate 'Small Business Saturday' in your community]

Tweets

Learn more about #SmallBizSaturday here [link to: Activate 'Small Business Saturday' in your community].

Did you know 73% of consumers consciously shop at small businesses in their community because they do not want them to go away?  #SmallBizSaturday

WIPP just completed a meeting in Portland, Maine yesterday:  Where Technology and Opportunity Meet.

Deborah Frett, CEO of Business and Professional Women's Foundation writes on the event. This blog post can also be found at: Young Women Misbehavin'

Women Are Always "On" - The Internet That Is

Deborah L. Frett

CEO, Business and Professional Women's Foundation

Excerpted from a panel presentation at the
WIPP Conference on Using Social Media and Technology to Build Business Opportunities - "Using Broadband Technology to Help People Find Jobs, Build Careers and Expand Their Businesses"
Monday, October 24, 2011
Portland, ME

As the first foundation committed to researching and supporting working women, Business and Professional Women's Foundation since its inception has supported workforce development programs and workplace policies that recognize the diverse needs of working women, communities and businesses.  Since 1956, we have looked at the challenges and opportunities for women what ever they might be. 

 

We all know that in today's workplace technology and the Internet are vital to success.  With that in mind, we wanted to learn how women use high-speed Internet or broadband technology. BPW Foundation conducted an online research survey this spring to explore the opportunities in business and personal advancement that technology has opened up and overall, how it has impacted women's lives.  The survey results, based on answers from 1,400 online participants, found that women continue to use high-speed technology as a critical component of building their businesses and advancing their careers.  

 

The survey demonstrates that while Internet use varies across age, employment, military status, and geographic location, one component remains consistent for all users: most respondents confess that they do not have the necessary tools or knowledge to most efficiently utilize the Internet.

 

This survey brings attention to the tremendous advancements that broadband access has brought to women, women-owned businesses, and women's everyday lives. But the results also demonstrate that there is a critical need for continued efforts to educate women on how to better and more efficiently utilize high-speed technology to empower them to remain competitive in the workplace, in their own businesses, and in their personal lives in this growing digitally-based economy.

 

Our survey indicates that broadband can play a large role in making needed and available resources accessible to women veterans and therefore providing greater support to women veterans as they transition from the military and look for employment, business and education opportunities.

 

As the research reflects, the Internet is essential for social interaction, education, training and economic purposes.  With a wide range and an ever-increasing number of devices that can connect to broadband, the Internet has become an increasingly critical resource.

 

On the personal front, broadband access and handheld devices provide ready information and an ability to make educated decisions and respond instantly.  On the professional front, high-speed technology empowers women via their various connections to edit and add to their resume, search for a job, write reports with a sleeping infant in their lap, download financial reports at their kitchen table at 3am or join a conference call on their way home from caring for an elderly relative.

 

The results demonstrate the need for continued focus on a competitive broadband market to allow for deployment, access and adoption that assures all women in business use of high-speed Internet for professional and educational development.

Visit the BPW Foundation website to read the full report.

The meeting was hosted by WIPP, AEO, Small Business Majority, Women Construction Owners & Executives, SCORE, Echelon Circles, the Women's Business Center and Business & Professional Women's Foundation.  The meeting was sponsored by AT&T.

Women Impacting Public Policy along with President and CEO, Barbara Kasoff, recently held three regional events in California titled, "Working Smarter Online."  The educational seminar traveled to San Rafael, Fresno, and Los Angeles.  The dynamic presentation featured a cross-section of topics including One-Economy's SnapFresh & BeeLocal, a wireless application that helps people find healthy places that accept food stamps and WirelessEd, a multi-lingual program designed to educate consumers on how to best navigate the evolving world of wireless devices with carrier-neutral tools. The program California Lifeline was also featured which provides discounts on basic telephone service to eligible low-income households.  One attendee in San Rafael said "This was great and extremely useful!  I will be sharing this info with city governments in Marin and the public as well as other organizations." A student at the PUENTE Learning Center of Los Angeles had this to say, "Thank you for taking time to come to our school to give us all the very useful information." The Fresno Bee wrote an article covering WIPP's event.    
 
Consumers heard from Elaine Starling of Starling Media.  Elaine is a WIPP National Partner and industry expert when it comes to business development through utilizing social media outlets. She gave a presentation on Leadership through Technology and how as a Leader businesses and individuals are able to stay engaged and connect with their audiences.  "I learned a lot about creating a social profile and the importance of involving the "customer" which I think will help build my relationship between the clinics and patients. Thank you!" -Jennifer Durst of Marin Community Clinics.  The "Working Smarter Online" series was an overall success for sharing resources and information and encouraging leadership within communities. 
 

Thursday, the WIPP team had the great pleasure and opportunity to present a wireless education briefing at PUENTE Learning Center to the 210 students from their Job Training, Adult High School Diploma and ESL programs.   Education and Advocacy are huge WIPP priorities - and this event ranks as one of the best events ever.  Thank you WIPP member, Elaine Starling (Starling Media), and Ken McEldowney (WirelessED),  Anne Wintroub (AT&T) and Nikol Hasler (One Economy)  A special heartfelt thanks to AT&T for making this possible and to the PUENTE team for hosting us.  www.facebook.com/PUENTE.Learning.Center.