by MelanieD | Apr 18, 2016 | Blog, Constant Contact, email, email marketing
Your customers want more than promotional emails from your retail business.
Are you giving them tips to use your product effectively? Have you introduced them to the people behind your business? When was the last time you asked them for feedback?
To drive sales with email marketing, go beyond self-promotion; look for ways to provide value and build customer relationships.
But even if you want to send a non-promotional email, how do you know what to send?
We get it. Sometimes coming up with an idea is the hardest part.
If you’re stuck, use these 20 writing prompts as inspiration.
Download your writing prompt worksheet to get started right away!
And check out a few examples from other small businesses:
Provide a “how-to” tutorial
Orange Cycle, Orlando, Florida

Provide a gift guide
The Basketry, Luling, Louisiana

Highlight your social media profiles
Art Impressions, Salem, Oregon

Syndicated from the Constant Contact Blog ➞ [Worksheet] 20 Writing Prompts for Quick and Creative Non-promotional Emails
by MelanieD | Aug 26, 2015 | Blog
It may be August, but it’s never too early to start planning for the holidays. If you start now, you have time on your side, and you can stage a successful Small Business Saturday event that will have everyone talking!
Saturday, November 28th is the date for 2015 Small Business Saturday. Not sure what Small Business Saturday is? Here’s some background from American Express®, the founder of the annual event:
“First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. November 27, 2010 was the first ever Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is the day we celebrate the Shop Small® movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.¹
“Shop Small® is a movement encouraging people to shop at small businesses; millions of individuals, businesses, and communities have embraced it nationwide. . . As a small business owner, you [have access to] free marketing materials, including in-store signage, social media posts, and email templates, to help you promote your business. You can also read stories of how other small business owners have made the most of Shop Small® marketing materials.²
“More than 200 organizations have already joined American Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday.¹”
So, what can YOU do to make your event a success? Here’s 6 ways to rock your Small Business Saturday

1. Plan a unique event
Have an early bird sale, offer free donuts for first 50 customers, hold a scavenger hunt for items in your store, etc. Tell your current clientele about your Small Business Saturday event in your email campaigns and talk about it on your social media sites
2. Use a count-down calendar
Download a count-down calendar to add to your website, add a paper count-down calendar in your store, or share the Small Business Saturday countdown calendar on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Coordinate with other Small Business Saturday participants
Work with another local business to offer creative packages: buy a donut in my shop, get 20% off your purchase at the hardware store–just show the donut receipt. Be creative and have fun, and experience the excitement with other local merchants.
4. Talk about it on social media
Small Business Saturday has done the hard work: social media posts and hashtag campaigns have already been created–jump on the bandwagon. Tweet about it, post it on Facebook, tag your Instagram photo. No need to reinvent the wheel!
5. Collect contact info at your event
Make it easy to collect email addresses: use QR code to join your list, text to join, paper sign-up at register, enter into POS at time of sale, customize your printed/digital receipts with your social links to follow/like, etc. Give them a reason to join your list—maybe offer an additional discount that is only good for your Small Business Saturday customers. Think outside the box!
6. Follow up, follow up, follow up
Well before your event, create your email follow up campaigns. Then, on Sunday (or Monday), just upload your new contacts, and hit the send button. Make it a little easier on yourself.
Using these methods, you are sure to create some unique, successful campaigns. Be sure to share your success stories with your local media and online. For more information about Small Business Saturday, visit www.shopsmall.com
Sources:
¹ https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/faqs
² https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday/info?tab=page_info
by MelanieD | May 25, 2015 | Shop Local
Shop Local Rolesville had a very successful event on Saturday, May 16, 2015. Sixteen local businesses participated in our 2nd quarter event.
Melanie Diehl, local business woman and one of the event organizers, shopped all day and shares her adventure.
“My first stop was the Rolesville Farmers Market. Even though the market wasn’t an official participant, it doesn’t get much more local than this. I met local farmers and business owners who offered samples and business cards. One of my favorite purchases at the market: snickerdoodle cookies from Michele Bobe of Scrumdelicious.
“I tried to visit every business who participated in the event and take pictures of my purchases. I really enjoyed visiting with the business owners, and look forward to shopping with them again in the future. It was a truly enjoyable experience, and I encourage everyone to support our local business community!”
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and join our mailing list for regular updates, and join us for our 3rd quarter event on Saturday, August 15th!
Diehl shares her day with pictures:
Scrumdelicious at the Farmers Market
The Bobe family, owners of Scrumdelicious, at the Rolesville Farmers Market
Chef salad from Anzios
The salad at Anzio’s is always fresh and delicious!
Herbs from Ace Hardware Rolesville
Herbs for my garden from Ace Hardware in Rolesville
Heritage Market wine & cheese special
Heritage Market had a special on NC cheese and wine.
Pope’s Dry Cleaners
Deborah at Pope’s Dry Cleaners was happy to help me in getting my drapes dry cleaned.
Macon Garden Center
The great folks at Macon Garden Center helped me pick some flowers for my front porch flower pots. That place is bigger than I thought!
Apple pie & Ice cream!
My husband loves apple pie, and when I got this amazing creation at MB’s Tasty Pastries, I got a free Lumpy’s Ice Cream (locally made in Wake Forest) from the Heritage Market. Triple-dip local shopping!
Jumpin Jojo’s
Jumpin’ Jojo’s offer is a free popcorn with the purchase of an entry. I got my snack when I purchased a gift card for my godson.