Holidays Archives - Social Media Explorer

Retailers Turning To Social Media To Promote Black Friday And Small Business Saturday

Adam — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 13:57:03 +0000

While Black Friday existed long before the Internet was around, Small Business Saturday – which is … [+] now only in its 11th year – was truly born in the social media era.

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Christmas is coming, but first comes “Black Friday,” which even in the era of ecommerce and online retailers – not to mention Amazon Prime Day – remains the busiest shopping day of the year. This is the traditional start to the holiday season, and retailers offer some of the most attractive holiday deals.

You can’t help but notice the buzz that has built for several weeks about the possibility of deals the Friday after Thanksgiving. These deals may be rare due to the supply chain issues this year. This is why social media can be crucial in finding the lowest prices this year.

Dr. P.K. stated that social media has been increasingly used by businesses. This is especially true for those who are focusing on Gen-Z and millennial customers. They use this type of media the most. Kannan, Dean’s chair in marketing science at University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Kannan said that gift products, electronics and apparel are all likely to feature heavily in social media. This makes #blackfridaydeals a great medium for searching. These channels should feature any product targeted to these audiences.

Furthermore, the holiday is not only for Black Friday. It will also be valid throughout the four-day holiday weekend as well as into Cyber Monday next Monday.

According to Dr. Dustin York (associate professor of communication, Maryville University), “Retailers, large and small, understand the impact of social media.” Consider turning on notification notifications to your favourite stores via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, since retailers might release discounts throughout the day. It’s easier to find deals from these stores on social media than anywhere else.

Go Small

While Black Friday existed long before the Internet was around, Small Business Saturday – which is now only in its 11th year – was truly born in the social media era. American Express created it in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It has been widely promoted via platforms like Facebook since its creation.

While some people may still remember the Yellow Pages’ suggestion to “let your fingers do all the walking”, it is more popular today for your thumbs to do the search. Shoppers can support local merchants as well as smaller retailers around the country by looking for the hashtags #smallbusinesssaturday and #smallbizsaturday.

York stated that local retailers should use Small Business Saturday to increase their power in local searches. Local businesses are promoted by social media and Google search algorithms, therefore digital must be an important factor for business owners. Remember, a majority of local searches online end in a sale – no better day to benefit than Small Business Saturday.”

This holds true especially for younger shoppers.

Kannan stated that small businesses are very effective in targeting customers and converting them on social media. If the product is targeted to Gen-Z and millennial customers, this will be especially true. You can target your customers precisely through social media using their psychographic profile and behavior. This results in highly targeted targeting. Display and video ads can convert with low acquisition costs.

Kannan said that the other benefit of social media is its serendipity in becoming viral hits. According to Kannan, “Gen-Z is more likely to trust their peers than they are advertising pitches. If a small business item becomes viral, this can result in a huge increase in sales. Small businesses should use social media regularly and on Small Business Saturday.

You can be an influencer

For small retailers and brands, a social media influencer could have big results – especially in the run-up to the holidays.

“Social media can be a powerful way for entrepreneurs to profit from the biggest shopping weeks of the year,” Dr. Yuvay Ferguson, Ph.D. assistant dean of Impact and Engagement and professor in School of Business at Howard University.

Ferguson said that although Influencer Marketing can seem intimidating to small-business owners, the power and reach of social networking has proven effective in getting your company seen by potential customers. Don’t be afraid of reaching out to new influencers, even if they don’t have a lot to spend. They may be interested in highlighting brands similar to yours. You can also offer them a coupon code that you could share with their followers. It’s amazing how many people would be open to the idea of your connection. It’s easy to make it a win-win situation by offering a discount or gift certificate for your customers.

The post Retailers Turning To Social Media To Promote Black Friday And Small Business Saturday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Nonprofits To Donate To This Holiday Season

Mary Smith — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:01:05 +0000

The holiday season is truly the season of giving and for this reason there is no better time to help those who are currently in need. There are many organizations that exist for the purpose of gathering resources for those who are impoverished or in dire straits. There are also non-profit organizations who specialize in other areas of social improvement, including animal rights small business growth assistance, and environmentalism. Shalom Lamm, a CEO, donates to non-profts regularly. This holiday season one can choose the gift of donation for any non-profit one sees fit. It is possible to give a donation to one’s local homeless shelter. In order to acquire a list of homeless shelters in your area, it is as simple as performing a simple Google search. It is feasible to contact each shelter and ask how one can go about donating. This is an excellent way to contribute to humanitarian efforts close to home. The Arbor Day Foundation is an organization that promotes environmentalism. specifically, this organization plants and cares for trees. It is possible for one to donate to the Arbor Day Foundation in order to have a tree planted on their behalf.

Asha India helps to lift impoverished people in India out of their conditions and into healthy living. They work primarily in the slums and train those who live in this area as to how to contact their government officials to advocate for change, too. This is a group who helps to empower the older generation. They encourage passing down stories of history from generation to generation. They are based in the city of Atlanta and they were funded 11 years ago, in the year 2009. This is a household name in the world of nonprofits who have done enormous good for those in need of healthcare. Headquartered in Washington DC, they encourage the giving of blood and plasma in order to donate to medical patients who are suffering a loss of these vital liquids. This is an organization who aims to eliminate national hunger. It is the second largest charity in the United States according to Forbes magazine. they feed over 46 million people and operate 200 food banks across the United States. This is an excellent option in donation for those who desire to aid in humanitarian efforts.

This heartwarming group helps to lift children out of poverty, according to Shalom Lamm, they have sponsored 3.4 million children and provided clean water for 3.4 million children. their Christian faith based organization who truly have helped millions of children in order to enrich their lives and restore themselves to the safety they were born deserving. The international rescue committee’s mission statement is to assist the public through surviving humanitarian crisis. The organization does work in 40 countries and 26 cities helping refugees.

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Shalom Lamm: Celebrating the Holidays Devoid of Social Media

Mary Smith — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 19:55:59 +0000

With the pandemic still circulating, it’s sometimes hard to find the positives in things. Being worrisome over financial discomfort, health concerns, and many other stressors is very common during this time of turmoil. Many religious holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, will feel very different from the norm. Shalom Lamm, CEO of project Benjamin, has developed a plan to counter any indifference some might have about celebrating Rosh Hashanah this year. On his Twitter, he speaks out about how change doesn’t have to be so frightening.

For about his whole life, Lamm has kept and treasured his Jewish heritage. He has co-founded organizations, like The Chevra Hatzolah Volunteer Ambulance Service to help his community. In addition, being the CEO of Project Benjamin has been a staple in his career. He and his team rightfully bury Jewish World War II soldiers under the Star of David. This testimony to his culture is why he has become such a successful entrepreneur. After doing research and debating with his family on how to safely celebrate Rosh Hashanah, he has developed a plan.

Tradition 1: The Shofar

This tradition will not be stagnant during 2020 celebrations. Hearing the sound of the shofar may not be as loud this year, but families can still do this. After the reading of the Torah-reading. House calls may be crucial this year if synagogues won’t be open.

Tradition 2: Candle Lighting

Although candle lighting is usually done in person, if there is no female present at the home because of quarantine, use Zoom! It is very easy to set up and all members can watch as the ladies light the candles from afar. Blessings can also be recited during those times.

Tradition 3: Greetings

Wishing family members and friends a good year will also be virtual this year. It may not be ideal because of how joyful this holiday’s nature is, but it’s definitely an alternative. Shalom has discussed this in great length on other platforms as well.

Tradition 4: Tashlich

Of course, going to a body of water to carry out this ceremony can be dangerous. If large crowds start to appear, the virus could easily spread. At least for this year, filling the sick with water or having a tub on a table will have to suffice. The prayers are the most important part of this ceremony, which can be completed anywhere.

Tradition 5: Torah Readings

Once again, live streaming services from the synagogue might be the safest and most realistic approach. That way, any responses can individually be prayed and more people can enjoy the service.

Tradition 6: The Food

One of Shalom’s favorite parts of Rosh Hashanah is the amazing food. The bread, challah, is dipped into honey to represent the sweetness of a new year approaching. Eating many other Yiddish foods such as fish, lamb, pomegranates, and tzimmes, all can be done from the comfort of one’s home. Many recipes can be found online if local stores are shut down because of the pandemic. Shalom Lamm’s Blog can be a resource for anyone struggling to find hope during this time. He wants many of his friends to understand it’s okay to compromise and still have a successful holiday. Rosh Hashannah is all about starting fresh and releasing negative energy that could be holding us down. In preparation for this celebration, remember to set times with your family to plan how to be safe. With the excitement of Jewish holidays starting to circulate, it’s easy to lose sight of possible dangers like too much outside exposure. In addition, remember to pray for those in other countries who have little resources during the pandemic. It is important to implement the strong core values of the Jewish religion every day.

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TODAY Is #GivingTuesday

C.C. Chapman — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:00:53 +0000

Anyone else sick of the endless stream of news stories about Black Friday and Cyber Monday? I know I am.

Yet, I have not seen a single news story about Giving Tuesday which is today!

It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.

Instead of only focusing in on how you can spend money on yourself and gifts for others, this day was created so you could take some of your energy and dollars and put them towards worthy causes.

Last year, we started the #GivingTuesday weekly column here to shine a light on organizations that needed it and to encourage you to help. Today we want you to take the time to step up and make the world a better place.

So, besides donating to your favorite charity what else can you do?

Take and Share an #UNselfie on Instagram & Facebook

Upload a selfless selfie to your Instagram account and use the hashtags #UNselfie and #GivingTuesday to let the world know you support the cause.

Tweet Your Support

Here are a few tweets that you can copy and paste to help get the word out.

#GivingTuesday is a day for everyone, everywhere, to GIVE! @GivingTues
Celebrate #GivingTuesday- donate to a @GivingTues partner at givingtuesday.org
Enough shopping –time for GIVING! Happy #GivingTuesday! @GivingTues

Post on Facebook to Show Your Support

Handy dandy status updates that can make a difference.

Join the worldwide #GivingTuesday movement – take a moment to visit givingtuesday.org and donate to an organization that speaks to a cause you believe in!
#GivingTuesday is a day for everyone, everywhere, to GIVE! Find a cause that matters to you at Givingtuesday.org
Tell me how YOU are participating in #GivingTuesday. Take a video of your #GivingTuesday activities or take an #UNSelfie, and share what you’re doing on Facebook. Twitter or Instagram!

Change Your Avatars and Photos for the Day

We all know people may not notice when you get a haircut, but they do notice when you change your avatar. Consider using one of these to get even more attention.

Visit GivingTuesday.org to Find Out More

Take the time to find out as much as you can about this movement because I hope we can all agree it is better and more important than any of the other “special” days around Thanksgiving.

Giving Tuesday has a great website full of information. Be sure that you don’t miss their partner list of organizations who are actively involved.

Thank you for helping make this years #GivingTuesday a big success!

The post TODAY Is #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

The Wonder of The Holiday

Jason Falls — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:00:53 +0000

On December 24, 1979, I feigned sleep to see if Santa really did exist. My bedroom looked out over the front porch of the apartment my mother and I lived in and there were no other ways in or out, sans jumping out a window. We had no chimney and while part of the magic of Santa is that there’s magic in the first place, I was convinced no fat ass could enter my house without first passing my bedroom window.

Only six-years-old, I think I somehow knew Santa was a hoax. But my heart raced as every creak of the house, brought on by wind or by weight, gave me cause to peel back the curtain’s edge and peer out into the night. My mother, sensing I was likely window stalking, came in to distract me. In the midst of her “go to sleep” orders, I heard something outside.

As I pulled back the curtain, I saw a large, long object just outside the front door. It was surrounded by shadow and covered in darkness. It wasn’t moving, but it hadn’t been there before. There were no reindeer or elves, or little fat men in red. Just a big, dark mass.

I thought to myself, “An elephant took a dump on my porch?!”

(Skeptical of Santa, but convinced a 3,000 pound pachyderm defecated on an Eastern Kentucky doorstep, site and sound unseen. Ahhhh the luxury of being six.)

Mom distracted me again, seemingly for just seconds, then left the room. I looked back outside and the mass was gone.

I would have screamed, “WTF?!” had I known what that meant. Fortunately, Internet Relay Chat was a few years off, so I yelled something appropriately inappropriate for the times.

My mother came back in the room and looked out of the window with me. I explained the elephant poop and then the absence of it and blathered on about whether or not this was an act of Santa or Marlin Perkins. I suppose in my excitement, I finally gave up, gave out and went to sleep.

The next morning, a shiny, new, Schwinn, faux motorcycle, chopper bicycle was parked in front of the Christmas tree. I’m sure it was plastic with bad stickers, but it looked like all chrome and hand-painted, with custom flames shooting down either side of the body. The front axil seemed to be nine feet long. I was going to have the biggest, baddest bike on the street. I may even need to start wearing shades!

Mom and her boyfriend convinced me I caught Santa in the act of coming into the house, that the big, dark mass was the bike under a blanket and that I almost busted Santa’s cover.

It was another couple of years before I gave up on the fairy tale.

That night rekindled a bit of Christmas mystery and wonder for me. Sure, it was as elaborate a ruse as my single-parent mom could finagle with an over-curious and too-smart-for-his-own-good son. But it helped me not grow up too quick.

It’s easy for us to get distracted with our lives and adulthood, deadlines and responsibilities. The dog-eat-dog environment of business has forced us into 70-hour work weeks and not enough vacations and under-promise, over-deliver work ethics. We don’t spend enough time with our families and no time taking care of ourselves anymore.

Maybe that’s something worth focusing on this holiday season: Let the magic back in and be a kid again for a few days. Forget deadlines and meetings. And maybe this can be encouragement to do that more often … claim back a bit of our sanity and our hours on the clock.

“Balance” is something we talk about having in work and in life. But we don’t practice what we preach. We think it’s impossible. But it’s not.

And I know because for two years of my life, I drove the biggest, baddest bike on Jay Street. I even wore shades.

But I believed in Santa Claus.

_____

Whether you recognize or celebrate it or not, I hope your holiday is merry.

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