Throughout November, we’ll be publishing interviews with small business experts on how local business owners can improve their online marketing in support of Small Business Saturday!
- Nov 1: Jim Kukral talks about the importance of supporting small businesses
- Nov 2: Anita Campbell details what it takes to build a credible small business website
- Nov 7: Jason Falls talks small business content
- Nov 8: Lisa Barone provides tips for promoting your business online
- Nov 9: Christine Perkett talks about how to build a relationship with your customers
- Nov 10: C.C. Chapman tells you how to establish footprints on all the major social networks
- Nov 11: Pamela Slim explains how to improve your website performance
- Nov 14: Ramon Ray tells you why you need to shine and iron your website
- Nov 15: Mari Smith explains the importance of being visible online
- Nov 16: Dave Fleet explains how to hone your listening skills
- Nov 17: Ann Handley outlines creating credible content
- Nov 18: Kristi Hines discusses creating local value online
- Nov 21: Derek Halpern discusses the social media tools for your biz website
- Nov 22: Aaron Strout explains how to get the most of location-based marketing
Welcome to our newest blog series, created to support Small Business Saturday, a day to shop local and champion our neighborhood business communities. This year, Small Business Saturday will be held on Nov. 26, 2011, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. We here at Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp., along with more than 200 organizations, have joined American Express to support this year’s Small Business Saturday efforts.
First, there was Black Friday for the big box retailers. Then there was Cyber Monday for online retailers. Now the small business community has Small Business Saturday, their own designated day for consumers to show their love for their favorite local shops and merchants. This national program, founded by American Express, encourages consumers to spend at local stores. Historically, the small business community has been the backbone of our economy and the driver of new job creation. By supporting Small Business Saturday, we hope to spread recognition about the millions of small businesses and their importance to economic development and local communities.
For the month of November, we will be posting Q&As with top small business and social media experts on marketing tips and advice for local business owners. Our dynamic and diverse panel includes Anita Campbell, Mari Smith, Jim Kukral, Ramon Ray, Derek Halpern, and many other experts. Topics discussed range from recommended online tools for local retailers or business owners to the best use-case for using a social check-in tool like Foursquare. Our goal is to offer small business owners helpful and informative ideas that will make this Small Business Saturday (as well as any other day) a money-maker!
Why supporting small businesses matters:*
- As of 2007, small business constituted the majority of our GDP
- Small businesses employ more than half of U.S. citizens
- Small businesses created more than 64% new jobs in the past 15 years
- Today, small businesses have lost a substantial market share and are still 4% lower than the beginning of the recession.
Why we support “Shop Small” and “Buy Local:”*
- Because it works! Independent retailers located in areas where “buy local” campaigns were adopted saw 5.6% revenue growth on average in 2010 compared to 2.1% growth elsewhere.
- 55% of business owners who live in cities with an active “buy local” initiative said it created more existing customer loyalty which is vital to their existence.
We believe this initiative can help bring prosperity back to our local neighborhoods. Let’s make this Small Business Saturday the biggest yet!
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