What is National Small Business Week?

National Small Business Week is a week hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that’s dedicated to highlighting the impact of small businesses, their owners and their employees. Small businesses are responsible for 2 out of every 3 new jobs in the U.S. annually,¹ making them a key piece of the U.S. economy. 2018’s National Small Business week will occur April 29–May 5, and businesses and consumers alike can get involved.

How to get involved in National Small Business Week
National Small Business Week shines light on small businesses, so it is a perfect time to market your small business.

Consider these ideas and tips:

• Contact your local SBA office and inquire about any events it may be hosting in honor of the week. This could give you a chance to network with other small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as win awards for your business.
• With the national push to support small businesses, you could see an increased volume of customers. Whether your business is brick and mortar or web-based, National Small Business Week could be a great time to run a promotion or launch a new product.
• National Small Business Week is a good time for you to engage with the local community. Find a community service project and encourage your employees or fellow small business owners to join in. Not only are you bettering your community – you’re also meeting future partners and bonding with potential customers in your area.
• Use official hashtags on your social media channels to interact with other participants and increase your reach. Some of these hashtags include #SmallBiz and #SmallBusinessWeek.
• Use free resources that the SBA offers during the week to help improve your business. For example, in 2018, you can join a free virtual conference May 1-3.
• Share fun facts about your small business online or through informational slips at the register. You can include things about the way small businesses impact the economy, local communities and employee families – including offering group benefits or perks.

As a business owner, you can help your local small business community by participating as a customer. During the week, consider getting groceries from your farmers market instead of a national grocery chain, eating at locally-owned restaurants instead of larger chains, and leaving positive reviews for local businesses you enjoy.

Participating in National Small Business Week is just one way you can help build a better, stronger business. If you’re looking for other ways to better your business, start with these money saving small business ideas and learn how to increase the worth of your business.

Sources:
¹SBA (2018). Web page: National Small Business Week. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.sba.gov/nsbw/nsbw.

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