Celebrate National Small Business Week | Constant Contact

Do you celebrate National Small Business Week at your business?

If not, this year is a great time to start!

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.

So, when is National Small Business Week?

Small Business Week is celebrated during the first week of May.

How can your business get involved?

Whether you own a small business, work for one, or just love supporting them, there are plenty of ways you can show your support and take part in this tradition.

Here are five ways you can take part in Small Business Week this year:

1. Share your story

You started your business for a reason — probably the same reason that motivates you to get out of bed in the morning, roll up your sleeves, and get the job done.

Don’t keep your story a secret! Use your unique point of view as a way to stand out from the competition and get closer to your customers.

This Small Business Week, take a moment to remind your customers and supporters why you do what you do.

Join other small businesses and share your inspiration using the hashtags #SmallBusinessWeek and #SmallBizSuccess.

With just a sentence or two — and maybe a quick photo — you can pull back the curtain and show your customers the heart of your business — why you do it and what keeps you going.

2. Say thank you to the people who keep your business going

Speaking of what keeps you going, think about who makes your business possible.

Maybe you’ve got a top-notch staff or a die-hard customer base. Maybe you have a mentor you can always call when you hit a lull. Take a moment to step away from the day-to-day frenzy and show your appreciation.

A face-to-face thank you is always great. But you can also write thank you cards, send an email to your supporters, or post a thank you on social media.

If you’re comfortable in front of a camera, think about how you can get your message across in a short thank you video.

3. Invest in education

At Constant Contact, we plan a variety of free marketing webinars throughout the year, and Small Business Week is a great time to sign up and sharpen your marketing skills!

Whether you want to learn about email marketing best practices, using social media marketing, search engine optimization, or marketing automation, you can find a quality webinar, led by a marketing expert.

If you prefer to learn on your own time, you’ll find a ton of great advice and on-demand webinars here on our online marketing blog.

4. Partner with another small business

Are you close to other small businesses in your area? Strengthen your impact and reach a larger audience by joining forces this Small Business Week.

For example, a jewelry store could increase its exposure by setting up a display at a local spa and providing 10 percent off coupons to all spa customers.

Look to collaborate with businesses that reach a similar audience, so your products and services complement nicely.  

5. Get the word out

When you own a small business, the weeks fly by.  Don’t miss out on Small Business Week just because you’re having a busy week.

Get the word out to your supporters by sending an email announcing Small Business Week and encouraging your customers to support you. You can add a coupon to your email as a special thank you to your customers.

Many professional email services allow you to schedule your email in advance so you can set everything up ahead of time.

Once your email has been sent, post it to your active social media channels to increase your reach. Soon, your customers will be celebrating along with you.

Happy National Small Business Week!

Hopefully, these five 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 incredible impact and contributions small businesses make all year long.