We all know the importance of buying local and the positive impact it has on our communities. That’s why I’m thrilled to share news about an ongoing campaign by American Express that offers incentives for local businesses to advertise and for consumers to shop locally.
Initially, the campaign “Small Business Saturday,” held the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, offered 10,000 small business owners $100 worth of Facebook advertising, financed by American Express, and provided $25 credits to the first 100,000 clients using their cards at area shops and boutiques. American Express then extended the offering on Sunday through the end of December and raised its commitment to credit 300,000 cardholders.
The program is being spread exclusively via a dedicated website and social media properties on Facebook and Twitter, according to the Associated Press. As of this writing, the Facebook page had nearly 1.2 million “likes” — a strong indication of support for buying locally.
I think this program is a great reminder of the vital role we play as local search providers in connecting neighborhood business clients with area consumers. I look forward to hearing more about the success of this program and hope to see others like it soon!
