With the holidays fast approaching, there's no better time for small businesses to get noticed. Recently, Proxi’s CEO, Chelsey Roney, and Marketing Director, Katie, hosted a webinar showcasing how local businesses can create engaging holiday guides to drive community support and promote shopping local this season. If you missed it, here’s a comprehensive recap of the session!

Watch the Webinar Recording

Dive deeper into Proxi’s map-building features and strategies by watching the webinar replay. Chelsey and Katie walk you through every step, from setting up categories to customizing icons and sharing best practices. Whether you're creating a map for the first time or looking to make the most of your holiday guide, this webinar is packed with practical insights to boost your small business engagement.

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Getting Started with Holiday Resources

Proxi’s Holiday Hub is stocked with tools to kickstart your seasonal maps and marketing. Available resources include:

• Shop Local Guides: Spotlight local businesses and their unique holiday offers.
• Holiday Light Tours: Map out festive light displays to attract families and holiday enthusiasts.
• Volunteering Opportunities: Engage the community in seasonal giving.
• Seasonal Event Calendars: Provide an easy reference for all the local happenings.
• Festive Icons and Customization: Add a holiday flair to your maps with seasonal icons.

Inspiring Small Business Guide Examples

Chelsey and Katie shared successful maps from communities across the country, each with unique strategies for promoting local businesses:

Blue Springs Chamber Passport Challenge

The Blue Springs Chamber invites you to join the Buy Blue Springs Passport Challenge, a fun way to support local businesses and win prizes this holiday season! Running from November 14 to December 12, 2024, the challenge encourages participants to check in at local "passport stops" using a unique code at each business. Collect points to earn entries for a $400 grand prize drawing and win a free Blue Springs tote bag by visiting 10 locations. Earn bonus points by snapping photos of your stops or purchases to boost your chances!

Murrieta Chamber of Commerce

The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local organizations, has launched the "Shop Small This Season" campaign, encouraging community support for local businesses during the holidays. Shoppers can enter a #ShopSmallSouthwest contest by posting selfies from participating businesses for a chance to win prizes, including a 55” TV and local gift cards.

Downtown Pullman Association‍

This interactive map highlights a variety of local spots, from cozy cafes to unique shops, making it easy for residents and visitors alike to discover everything Downtown Pullman has to offer. Whether you're looking for a place to dine, shop, or relax, use the map to navigate and enjoy the best of Pullman’s local scene.

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Building Your Own Small Business Saturday Guide: Step-by-Step

Get started by using this ready-made template to start customizing your map!

1. Branding and Style

• Customize your map’s title and subtitle.
• Set brand colors for the banner and text.
• Add your organization’s logo.
• Select from various map backgrounds.
• Define custom redirect URLs.

2. Categories and Tags

• Create distinct categories with custom icons.
• Adjust icon sizes for emphasis.
• Use tag groups for detailed filtering options.
• Arrange categories to highlight key points of interest.

3. Adding Business Locations

• Multiple options for adding points: direct search, bulk upload, map placement, AI-assisted search, or community contributions.

4. Customizing Point Information

• Add business descriptions, special offers, photos, and media.
• Tailor form fields to gather useful details.
• Set default map views for easy navigation.

5. Sharing and Distribution

• Generate links for online sharing.
• Embed the map on your website.
• Create QR codes for print and in-store promotions.
• Download print versions or share interactive lists.

Advanced Features

Passport Challenges

Take your business guide to the next level with Passport Challenges, designed to turn shopping and exploring into an interactive adventure. Set up check-in points at participating businesses where customers can easily register their visits through a unique 4-digit code. Not only does this encourage people to visit more businesses, but it also makes the process fun and rewarding by offering incentives, such as discounts, prizes, or exclusive deals. 

Track participation in real-time, monitor engagement, and celebrate your most active participants. By offering rewards and driving foot traffic, you foster a deeper connection between businesses and customers while increasing visibility for all participants. The Passport Challenge Program helps transform ordinary shopping into an exciting journey, with the added benefit of real-time feedback on how your campaign is performing.

Crowdsourcing & Custom Form Capabilities

With crowdsourcing and custom form features, the possibilities for enhancing your business guide are endless. Enable businesses to add their own locations to the map, giving them the opportunity to showcase their offerings directly. By using custom submission forms, you can collect consistent data from every participant, ensuring that each location has the right information and details that reflect its unique offerings. 

Add conditional logic to your forms, guiding users to provide relevant data specific to their business type, making the submission process seamless for both contributors and organizers. This feature empowers you to maintain high-quality content while keeping the process efficient and user-friendly.

Pro Tips from the Webinar

Start with a Strategy

Before diving into map creation, take a step back and craft a clear strategy. Organize your businesses or locations into logical categories - think restaurants, retail shops, service providers, and more. This structure will not only make your map easier to navigate but also improve the user experience by helping visitors find exactly what they’re looking for in a flash. 

Also, plan ahead with filters - whether by location, business type, or featured offers - to give users a seamless way to explore your map based on their preferences. Keep your audience in mind as you build out your categories and filters: what will help them make the best decisions? What’s most important to them when they’re using the map? Having a strong strategy from the get-go ensures that the end result isn’t just a map, but an optimized, user-friendly guide that meets your audience’s needs.

Promote Your Guide

Now that you’ve created an amazing map, it’s time to get the word out! Promote your map across as many channels as possible to make sure it reaches the right audience. Share it on your social media accounts with eye-catching visuals and a catchy call-to-action to drive traffic. Don’t forget about traditional marketing avenues - consider printing flyers or posters with the QR code to distribute in local shops or community centers. 

Embedding your map directly into your website or newsletter also makes it accessible to visitors right when they need it. The more channels you use, the more people will see and engage with your map. Think of your map as a valuable tool, and treat it like the resource it is by spreading the word far and wide!

Pricing and Support Options

Proxi offers flexible packages:

• Basic Plan: $29/month, ideal for smaller maps.
• Passport Challenge Add-On: $99/month for interactive programs.
• Full Feature Package: ~$130/month, including advanced features.

Get Started Today!

Jumpstart your holiday map by visiting Proxi’s Holiday Hub for ready-to-use templates and resources. With a free tier for up to 25 points, you can start building your guide risk-free.

With a blend of clear organization, engaging features, and strategic promotion, your Small Business Saturday guide will draw foot traffic to local businesses and help make this holiday season a win for your community. Ready? Let’s put your community on the map!