By
December 23, 2020
Keep your customers in the know
Whether you only sell online or you have a bricks-and-mortar store, you can use your online tools to reach out to your customers and boost your holiday sales.
Utilise your social media
If you have social media accounts for your business, this is a great time to push out feature-rich posts and promotions that remind your customers of who you are and the products and services you offer.
Running a competition that gets your followers to share your content can be a good way of spreading your word, and if you haven’t posted in while, then even a simple seasonal picture and message can be a good way to reach out and say hi.
Update your opening hours
If you run a physical store, then you’ll probably have holiday opening hours that differ from the norm. So, if you’re expecting customers to come flooding through your door, make sure they know when you’re open!
Update your opening hours on your Google business page, social media, and any other online directories. Stats show that the majority of your customers will be checking online for this information—in fact, online searches for ‘store open near me’ grew by over 250% between 2017-2019!
Plan for the new year
The Christmas rush is often followed by a quieter time and reduced revenue but think about systems you can put in place to keep your business ticking along and connecting with your customers.
Set up online bookings
If your business runs off appointments—for example hair salons, home consultancy, fitness training—then consider setting up an online booking system. That way, even if you close for a break, your customers will still be able to schedule an appointment for a time that suits them—and be thankful for the convenience.
Booking software can be free and integrate into your existing website, popular examples include trybooking, and SimplyBook.Me.
Prepare for the post-Christmas sales
If the words ‘boxing day sale’ conjure up images of heaving stores and stampeding crowds, then you’ll know just how important the holiday sales can be for your customers—and your business!
But holiday Sales are not just about boosting your revenue, they also continue to promote your business in a time where it can fall away from consumer awareness.
Plan a sales schedule and campaign in advance so it’s easy to put in place, and don’t forget to use your social media or email lists to spread the word.
And finally, take some time to rest and reflect.
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a hard slog for many businesses. If at all possible, use these holidays to give yourself the gift of a well-earned rest. Take the time to fill your cup, and reconnect with family and friends.
Get yourself ready to take on next year with a new set of goals and a fresh perspective.
We wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year.