Strategies for Marketing the Holidays

The season of giving is upon us. The streets are full, the stores are full, the freeways are full and people's wallets are full.

Don't let seasonal sales go unchecked when it comes to your business. People are always looking for the best bargains and, as always, you need to be the business that comes to their rescue to answer their questions and to solve their problems. The question being: what do I get for Grandpa Fred and Mom and Dad this year? Oh, my! What a dilemma.

Online sales are expected to bring in over 12 billion dollars this year. That's a lot of revenue! There are creative ways to market your business so that you can grab your part of the huge cash cow. Here are a few to consider:

Offer a free gift with every order over a set sales amount.
Offer free or discounted shipping with every order.
Send Christmas cards to your mailing list offering them a special discount or deal.
Offer a holiday themed contest on your web site to attract more customers.
Work with charity. Have a donation button on your site. This will attract potential customers as well as provide good publicity for your business.
Offer a free holiday tips report out with every purchase made. Provide tips on saving money, holiday decorating, and more.
Build a special holiday section for your visitors.
Have a gift ideas section for your shoppers who have trouble picking out gifts. Be sure and have gift certificates or cards available.
Send out coupons with a chance at a free gift with every coupon returned.
Provide a little extra for your customers so they come back for more. Customer service is so very important and will distinguish your business from other mediocre ones.
Have the most Christmas spirit of all companies out there. Donate a portion of all your sales to a popular charity.
If you provide the best prices for top-notch products and follow that will great customer service, you are sure to get and keep a loyal following.

Use your creativity and think outside the box. Do things that other companies do not. Go above and beyond the call of duty. Your customers will zero in on those things and it will result in a very prosperous Christmas for your business.

Here's to your success!

Tony