While there is nothing new about large companies helping small businesses and consumers create digital online cheer (remember Elf-Yourself), expect to see even more flare this year as the creativity bar keeps growing higher and higher. For example, Instagram Business today launched “The Season for Shops” resource featuring holiday-themed items small businesses can use to prepare for the holiday shopping season. The site also includes downloadable guides and tips for shopping tags, collections — and advertising.  “As small businesses prepare for a holiday season with more people buying online than ever before, we want to help them thrive on Instagram during the shopping season,” according to Instagram COO Justin Osofsky.…

According to a survey conducted by Wakefield Research and funded by the payments company, Square, 76{a87f602f9b65d268d2531d6307ed39cfde24e475374069973d0be7fc923da513} of U.S. small business owners think voting in the upcoming presidential election has become more important since the pandemic. (Note: “Time off” can refer to the length of time it takes to vote.) Here are more findings from the survey 96{a87f602f9b65d268d2531d6307ed39cfde24e475374069973d0be7fc923da513} | Percentage of small business owners who say they plan to vote themselves. 83{a87f602f9b65d268d2531d6307ed39cfde24e475374069973d0be7fc923da513} | Among small business owners giving employees time off to vote, 83{a87f602f9b65d268d2531d6307ed39cfde24e475374069973d0be7fc923da513} plan to give them paid time off. 26{a87f602f9b65d268d2531d6307ed39cfde24e475374069973d0be7fc923da513} | Percentage of small business owners who would be willing to make Election Day a company-wide holiday to encourage…