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Spring and summer businesses, it’s time to gear up and step back into your game. Whether you’ve sold with Square before or you’re just getting started, here’s a checklist to help you hit the ground running this season:
Get your equipment set up.
For some seasonal businesses, all you need to get going is Square Reader. You can order one free here and start accepting credit cards from anywhere via your mobile device. If you’d like a more robust setup, we have kits specifically tailored towards different kinds of sellers. One that’s particularly relevant right now is our outdoor market kit, which comes equipped with everything you need to accept credit cards, manage cash, and print receipts outside and on the go.
Rev up your social media.
If you’ve been inactive on social media over the past few months, it’s time to get back in there. Check out our best practices for networks like Twitter and Pinterest to get the creative juices flowing. Now is also a good time to pick your blogging efforts back up. We recently featured examples of some top-notch blogs from fellow Square sellers, which you can check out for some inspiration.
Audit your website.
A solid SEO strategy — aka making it as easy as possible to find your website in search results — is really important, especially for seasonal sellers. Think of all those people Googling things like “bridal shower caterers in Philadelphia” right now. Make extra sure that your website looks okay on your phone — there’s a huge change in Google’s algorithm next week that makes mobile friendliness a significant factor in determining your organic search ranking.
Hire some help (if you need it).
If you anticipate a particularly busy season, you might consider taking on some extra hands — but be sure to hire smart. In a recent Seller Spotlight interview, venture capitalist and Paperwheel Press founder Elizabeth Weil cites strategic hiring as one of the most important aspects of running a successful business. Need help sussing people out? Check out our list of the most important interview questions to ask seasonal help.
Get all your Square products in order.
Whether you’ve sold with Square before or you’re new (welcome!), our Support Center has a handy checklist of everything you need to do to get up and running as a seasonal business. It outlines things like how to set up mobile staff and order additional readers, so be sure to check it out before you’re off to the races.
Good luck this season.
