If there’s one day of the year that gets the entire Bindo family amped up, it’s…Small Business Saturday!

This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30th, and we couldn’t be more excited.Why?

Because it’s the one day of the year that is dedicated to “shopping small,” as in celebrating and supporting small businesses around the nation.

Last year on Small Business Saturday, U.S. consumers spent $5.5 billion at independent merchants across the country. That’s no chump change. So, as a local store owner who loves your community, how can you get in on the action and connect with loyal and new customers?

Here are eight easy tricks that you can use to ROCK Small Business Saturday:

1. Use free Twitter ads to grow your community of loyal customers

With 53 million monthly active users in the U.S. – and 213,000 tweets sent in support of Small Business Saturday last year (go #ShopSmall!) – using Twitter to promote your business and engage with current and potential new customers during this event is a no brainer.

Twitter is offering businesses $100 in free Twitter advertising credits – so go and use them!

By registering here, you’ll also receive Twitter’s tool kit that includes ways to get your business ready for the big day, launch promotions to help increase sales, and write tweets that excite followers, drive word-of-mouth, and grow your community of loyal customers. Boom.

2. Attract nearby customers with free Foursquare ads

If you haven’t already, claim your business on Foursquare. Over 40 million people use the free app to find places to go and things to do or eat. Be one of those places.

Get more customers walking through your door by creating a Foursquare ad using $50 in free Foursquare ad credits. You can do it in under 2 minutes. Foursquare will target your ad to people who are near your store and will only charge you for actions (not impressions) on your ad.

3. Turbocharge your efforts on Facebook

Facebook cooked up these 5 quick tips to boost your Facebook efforts on Small Business Saturday. Why not try them? Measure the results so you can identify which ones work best for you, so that you can improve your efforts in the future.

4. Spotlight and engage with your customers on social media

Sure, advertising on social media works to some extent. But don’t forget to spotlight your customers and engage with them. Share pictures, Instagram videos, or Vines of your customers and staff having fun in your store. If your customers and staff are cool with it, tag them in the photos or videos and they, along with their followers and friends, will be more inclined to engage with and talk about you. Also, don’t forget to include #ShopSmall in your social media posts to join the Small Business Saturday conversations.

5. Promote your business with a personalized marketing campaign

Use the slew of resources offered by American Express to promote your business with a personalized marketing campaign. On this page, you can download Shop Small logos, print signage (such as this one (click here) that lets customers know they can get $10 back when they spend $10 or more using their AmEx card), order Shop Small shopping bags, a welcome mat, and more.

Once you receive your marketing materials, distribute those bad boys around town. Get some extra help if you need to. Update your website to announce that you’re participating in Small Business Saturday and send personalized emails to your customers. Explain the event and invite them to join you.

6. Encourage and incentivize others to spread the word

40% of small businesses consider word-of-mouth the most effective way to find new customers, according to a survey conducted by Constant Contact Inc. So ask your customers to invite their friends and family too, and give a special reward (such as a thoughtful gift, coupon, same-day discount, or some other exclusive offer) to those who bring others to your store.

7. Party, but not too hard

Order drinks and food from another local business nearby (hey, shopping small works both ways, right?) and throw a party for shoppers. Set up sign outside that grabs attention, play some chill music, and decorate your store. Shoppers will appreciate and remember you for the extra effort you put in, resulting in return visits and word-of-mouth referrals. And we all know how well word-of-mouth works.

8. Show your appreciation

Be grateful! Show your customers and staff just how much you appreciate them. Make sure you train your staff to always be flexible and deliver amazing customer service. On the flip side, remember to reward your staff for a job well done with free food an drinks, a bump in pay, or some extra vacation days- or heck, maybe even all three!

Looking for more inspiration?

Watch these videos of how other small businesses drove results last year. (Scroll down to the section that reads “See How Some Small Business Drove Results Last Year.”)

Download these 10 tips to help you rally your neighborhood.

Join a Neighborhood Circle to connect with other local business owners online so you can share ideas and promote each other before and during the big day.

Most importantly, give people more of a reason to do business with you. Give your staff more of a reason to love being on your team. Be irresistible.

And here’s a message to the shoppers out there (like me). By shopping or dining at mom and pop shops, you’re reinvesting in the community you call home and helping entrepreneurs offer more jobs, which in turn stimulates the economy.

As for me, I’ll be starting the day by fueling up at my favorite coffee shop in Woodside, NY – Lucide Café. If you happen to be in that area, check them out, and don’t forget to ask for a stamp card after you buy a cup of their tasty Counter Culture Coffee. For every 10 coffees you buy, you get one free. They also offer free Wi-Fi so you can search for other great local stores and restaurants to support on November 30th.

Get out, #ShopSmall, and have fun!

How did you rock Small Business Saturday? Let us know in the comments!

Image Credits: Kenneth Sponsler/Shutterstock, mangostock/Shutterstock