11 Things You Need to Do Now to Prepare for the Holiday Selling Season

 

Online shoppers will soon be rushing to shop online for bargains, the perfect gift, and avoid the holiday rush at local department stores. Many entrepreneurs online don't get up to air until Christmas and rush through all tasks to make up for the slow months. Preparing ahead is key to being able handle the sales rush. These are 11 tips to ensure your holiday season is smooth and efficient.

1. Your website needs to be updated.Online shoppers expect to be able to quickly find what they are looking for and make a purchase. You can make sure your website is user-friendly by browsing your shop and buying something. Or, you can ask a friend to do the same and give you feedback. Is it easy to navigate your site? Is it up-to-date and welcoming? Are your categories organized and well-stocked How many steps did it take for you to checkout? Make it easy for holiday shoppers to shop from your website by updating its look and feel.

2. Specials and free shippingBuyers are motivated by incentives, with free shipping being the most popular. A 2013 Boston Consulting Group survey found that 74% of respondents would shop more online if they could get free shipping. Include free shipping as an option on your website and in your advertisements if you are able. Vendio CEO Mike Effle says that even though free shipping is not required for minimum orders, it can attract more customers. You can also tie a minimum order to other enticements such as a discount or free gift. These enticements appeal to shoppers' sense of value and can make them spend more than they might otherwise.

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3. Get rid of your email marketing.Email is still one of most powerful marketing tools. The only thing that has changed is the way people read them. Nearly half of all marketing emails are opened via mobile devices. Make sure your subject line is concise and compelling. Your business name should be used as the "from" address to make it easily identifiable. The offer should be clearly stated and it should make it easy for the reader's to take action. You should not spam people by emailing previous buyers.

4. Get in the holiday spirit.Social networking can be a great way for your business to promote products, spread the word and connect with buyers. Use social media to promote your brand. Share information that people will want and re-share. Open-ended questions can be used to encourage people to engage with you, and to generate excitement about the upcoming holidays. To encourage your followers to visit your e-commerce website, offer them special deals. Keep an 80/20 balance. Keep promotions to a maximum of 20% of your posts and keep the rest interesting and informative.

5. Increase your inventory.You can't please everyone if you don't have the right product at the right time. To ensure that you always have enough stock of the top sellers, seasonal products and products you are most likely to promote, consider increasing your restock levels.

6. Get ready to stock up on shipping suppliesYour holiday shoppers depend on you to get their items shipped in time to give them gifts. You won't have the time to shop for supplies when holiday orders are coming in fast. You should have enough boxes and envelopes to meet your inventory. Make sure you have enough packing-slip and tape. Don't worry if you have too many. It will be used up quickly enough.

11 Things You Should Do Now to Prep for the Holiday Selling Season

7. Keep your content current.Websites that have no life or substance can look stale and abandoned. Your content should be interesting and fresh so that shoppers know you are available for business and have great things to offer. Consider displaying your holiday promotions prominently. You might also consider adding a countdown timer to your home page. Also, make sure that your contact and "about" information are up-to-date. The home page should highlight top-selling seasonal items. An attractive way to get shoppers to visit your site is to offer a "daily deal".

8. Polish your policies.Your store policies build trust by explaining to buyers what they can expect of you and what you expect from them. Make sure to review your return, payment and delivery policies and make any necessary changes. Your policies should be easy to locate, concise and simple. This will make holiday shoppers feel more relaxed. Review these policies and make sure you have the most current information. Also, check for spelling and grammar errors. Finally, consider how polite and professional the tone is.

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9. Reward frequent flyers.Your best marketing channel is repeat customers. They are more likely to recommend your company to their friends, family, and social networks. These customers are worth your time and deserve special pricing, access to new products or frequent-buyer programs, as well as referral credits. To show your appreciation for their business, you might include a surprise gift in their order.

11 Things You Should Do Now to Prep for the Holiday Selling Season

10. Consider your customers.Holiday shoppers may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to find the perfect gift for everyone. So show them what you're buying. You can create a "Gift Ideas" section and highlight your best products there. You can highlight "Gifts for Her", "Gifts for Him", "Gifts for Kids," and "Gifts for Teacher". Your suggestions and the time you saved will be appreciated by them.

11. Breathe.It is easy to get too caught up in holiday madness and neglect to make time for yourself. You need to allow yourself some downtime every day to avoid burnout. You can schedule rest breaks and set an alarm, or step away from your desk. Take a walk, nap, visit family, or make cookies. You will feel refreshed and ready for the holidays if you give your body and mind a break from everyday stress.

Don't wait. You can make holiday selling a breeze if you prepare now.

Crystal WellsA product marketing manager is someone who works withVendioMultichannel e-commerce service provider. She has more than 14 years experience in online sales and oversees projects that help sellers save time and money in an ever-changing, competitive online marketplace. Wells has extensive experience in guiding merchants to establish an online presence and sell through multiple channels.


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