10 Free Ways Boise Businesses Can Finish 2026 Strong Oct 15, 2026 · @SheenaD The last 10 weeks of the year can make or break a local business's annual numbers, and the best moves for this stretch don't cost a dime. They cost time and a little planning, which is good news for Boise owners who already spent most of this year's marketing budget. I grew up working in my parents' grocery store in Southeast Idaho, and I've spent my career since then in retail, media, and advertising here in the Treasure Valley. The businesses that finish strong in Q4 usually aren't the ones spending the most. They're the ones that get the basics in place early and show up consistently through December. Here are 10 free things you can do right now to bring in more leads, foot traffic, website visits, and sales than you did last year. Mark your calendar Date Day Thursday, Nov. 26 Thanksgiving Friday, Nov. 27 Black Friday Saturday, Nov. 28 Small Business Saturday Monday, Nov. 30 Cyber Monday Tuesday, Dec. 1 Giving Tuesday Tips 1 through 3 should happen in the next two weeks, before shoppers start making holiday plans.

  1. Update your Google Business Profile this week When someone in Boise searches "gift shop near me" or "plumber Boise," they usually decide from your Google Business Profile, not your website. That makes it the most valuable free tool you have. • Set your holiday hours now for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year's Eve and Day. If you don't, Google may show "hours may differ" next to your name, and shoppers will skip you. • Post at least once a week. Use the Offer post type for holiday deals. • Add fresh photos of your storefront, your team, and your holiday products. • List your products or services with prices.
  2. Ask for reviews before Thanksgiving Recent reviews help you show up in the Google map results, which is where holiday shoppers look first. Most happy customers will leave a review if you simply ask. Put a QR code that links to your review page at the register, on receipts, and in invoice emails. Train your staff to ask in person. Then reply to every review, including the bad ones. A calm, helpful reply to a complaint often wins over the next customer who reads it.
  3. Make Small Business Saturday your biggest day Small Business Saturday falls on Nov. 28 this year. American Express runs the Shop Small program, which has offered free signage, social graphics, and a listing on its online map of participating businesses. Sign up early. Then give people a reason to come in that day: • A free gift for the first 50 customers • A pop-up with a local maker or artist • Free hot cocoa or cider while people shop It works even better when the businesses on your block or in your shopping center plan it together. A street full of activity pulls in more people than one store can on its own.
  4. Market to the customers you already have Your past customers are the cheapest sale you'll make all year. They already know you and trust you. Use the free tier of Mailchimp or Brevo, or the email tool built into your point-of-sale system, to send two or three messages this season:
  5. Early access to holiday deals for your list only
  6. A holiday gift guide with your best sellers
  7. A last-call reminder before your final shipping or shopping deadline Pull a list of customers who haven't bought from you in six months or more. Send them a short, friendly note with an offer that brings them back.
  8. Sell gift cards with a January bonus Gift cards bring in cash in Q4 and bring people back in January, which is often the slowest month of the year for local businesses. Make them easy to find on your website, your Google profile, and your counter. Then add a bonus, such as "buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card good Jan. 2 to 31." The bonus card gets the buyer back in the door after the holidays, when you need the traffic most.
  9. Team up with the business next door The shop down the street isn't your competition. Its customers are people you'd like to meet. • Swap social media posts and tag each other. • Put together a shared gift basket or bundle with products from both businesses. • Run a stamp-card "passport" across three to five nearby shops, with a prize for anyone who fills it. A coffee shop, a boutique, and a salon on the same block can share customers without taking anything from each other.
  10. Get on free local calendars and pitch the local news Boise has plenty of places to list your business and events for free: • Community calendars run by the Idaho Statesman, Boise Weekly, and local TV stations • Free business listings on Nextdoor, Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Business Connect Local reporters also need holiday stories, and they often have trouble filling those slots. If you have a good angle, such as a toy drive, a record year, a new local product, or a family business milestone, send a short email to the newsroom. Keep it to a few sentences and include a photo.
  11. Give back, especially on Giving Tuesday Boise is a community that shows up for each other. Giving back during the holidays does real good, and it also brings people through your door. • Become a drop-off spot for the Idaho Foodbank, a coat drive, or Toys for Tots. • Donate a percentage of sales on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, to a local nonprofit. People who drop off donations often come back to shop. The nonprofit you partner with will often share your support with its own followers, too.
  12. Make a few quick fixes to your website You don't need a new website before the holidays. A few small changes can make a big difference: • Add a holiday gift guide or seasonal page with "Boise" in the headline and page title. • Put your phone number (tap to call) and directions at the top of the mobile version of your site. • Show your gift cards and holiday hours on the homepage. • Set up Google Search Console and Google Analytics 4 if you haven't. Both are free and show you which searches bring people to your site.
  13. Ask for referrals and work your network This one matters most for businesses that sell to other businesses. Q4 is when many companies spend what's left in this year's budget and plan next year's. If you wait until January, those budgets may already be spoken for. • Reach out to past clients now with a simple check-in before their 2027 budgets are set. • Go to Boise Metro Chamber events, BNI meetings, and other local networking groups. • Ask your best customers directly: "Who else do you know who could use what we do?" Before you start, write down your numbers To know whether these steps worked, you need a starting point. Write these down this week: • Google Business Profile views, calls, and direction requests • Website visits • The number of people on your email list • Last year's Q4 sales, week by week In January, compare them with this year's results. You'll see what moved the needle, and you'll know where to put your time and money in 2027. Want help putting this plan to work? Biz 2 Market helps Boise businesses plan and run marketing that brings in real customers, from a quick Q4 push to a full 2027 marketing plan. If you'd like a second set of eyes on your holiday plan, reach out for a free consultation. Sheena Dance, MBA Biz 2 Market | Biz2Market.org 208.996.4988 | info@biz2market.org