Small Business Saturday

Written By Alicia Vial

Small Business Saturday is one of the biggest opportunities of the year for local businesses, but standing out online is key to making the most of it.

Small Business Saturday is a nationwide day dedicated to supporting local shops where customers are actively looking for small businesses to visit and spend money with. Many shoppers make their decisions based on what they see on social media, so a strong online presence can directly impact foot traffic and sales. It’s also a great time for businesses to showcase their personality, products and community connections.

Start by announcing that you’re participating. Share, the dates, hours and any special promotions or events your business will have. Create a simple graphic or reel that highlights your offer, whether it’s a discount, bundle or free gift with purchase. Be consistent: post announcement, a reminder and a countdown leading up to Saturday.

Share behind-the-scenes moments including setting up displays, unboxing inventory or introducing team members to make your content feel more personable. Short videos perform extremely well, so consider posting a quick product walkthrough, a staff pick or “here’s what’s new this week” clip. Lean into storytelling: explain why your business opened, what makes your products unique or how you source locally.

Use hashtags like #SmallBusinessSaturday, #ShopSmall, #ShopLocalNOLA or your neighborhood tag. Tag your city, nearby businesses or partner to expand your reach. Make sure your Google Business profile is updated with holiday hours and photos—many customers search there before visiting.

To keep the momentum going on the day-of, post real-time updates such as restocks, crowds, staff highlights or quick walk-through of the store. Encourage customers to take photos, tag your business and share their purchases. Continuing to engage by replying to comments, resharing tags and thanking customers goes a long way.

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Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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