34% of Small Business Owners Have Had a Harder Time Finding Seasonal Help This Year. Here Are 4 Ways to Attract Seasonal Workers

If you need seasonal help, the time to act is now.

At this point, the holiday shopping season is basically in full swing. And if you own a small business, it means you may be eager to get additional workers in to help.

If you're struggling to find seasonal workers, you're not alone. A recent survey by Incfile found that 34% of small business owners have had a harder time finding seasonal help this year than in the past. And given that the clock's ticking down, you might be growing increasingly desperate to find temporary workers.

But don't panic -- there are steps you can take to attract seasonal workers and find temporary help. Here are some to try.

1. Look to social media

Like it or not, posting job ads on social media is a great way to reach out to a broader audience. And if your community has any local web pages, it pays to advertise your job openings there, too. You generally won't have to pay a fee if you're posting a job (whereas fees for advertising might apply), though check the rules for each group you're a part of just to make sure.

2. Ask fellow local businesses if they can spare resources

Maybe there's a small business down the block whose owner hired six seasonal workers, only to realize they actually only need four. If you're having a hard time finding help, talk to other business owners. You never know when someone might be willing to share their resources.

3. Talk to your customers

The people who frequent your business might just take an interest in working there. The fact that they're regular customers means they're clearly drawn to the product or service you have to offer, and that might lead them to want to take a seasonal job. Plus, if you throw in perks, like free or discounted products and services, they may be even more eager to come on board for a number of weeks to get you through the holiday rush.

4. Make seasonal employment worth workers' time

Offering minimal wages and no benefits isn't going to work in your favor when it comes to trying to find seasonal help. You may have to err on the side of being overly generous with wages and benefits if you want to attract seasonal talent. Chances are, the people who come work for you in the coming weeks won't have a job after the holiday rush subsides. So if you're going to expect them to give up their free time during the holidays, you'll need to make sure you're offering up an attractive enough arrangement.

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Finding seasonal help can be challenging whether you have a large company or a small one. But if you're the latter, you might be constrained by limited resources and advertising dollars. That doesn't mean you're doomed to be understaffed for the holidays, though. And if you employ these tips, you may find that you have applicants lining up to come work for you.