Free Marketing Materials Promote Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday 2012 is November 24, less than a month away, and no sign-up is necessary to be a part of the celebration. To help businesses and communities get ready for the annual event aimed at helping small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, shopsmall.com [1] features free marketing materials, tools, and other resources.

Marketing materials [2], which businesses can download or receive via e-mail, include online banners and logos, two (2) 11" x 17" pieces of signage that stores can print themselves or have professionally printed for free at FedEx Office®, and social media templates, including editable tweets, posts, and e-mails to send to friends and colleagues, to rally the community and other small businesses [3].

Shopsmall.com also features success stories from small business owners [4] who took advantage of last year’s Small Business Saturday.

In addition, qualifying small businesses can create free personalized ads that link to their website or their Facebook page. American Express, the founding sponsor of Small Business Saturday, will run these ads in a geo-targeted ad buy at no cost to the businesses. Ads are available while supplies of inventory last, and terms and conditions apply.

Businesses are also encouraged to plan a special event at their business or create an exclusive offer for customers who visit on Small Business Saturday. Indie booksellers who signed up for Thanks for Shopping Indie [5], the first multi-publisher initiative for ABA member stores, which starts on Small Business Saturday, have a great opportunity to give back to their customers on a broad range of 2012 Indie Next List titles.

Last year, more than 100 million people came out to shop at independently owned small businesses on the day. Now, in its third year, Small Business Saturday will be even bigger.