It’s no secret that the pre-holiday season is one of the most profitable times of the year, and it’s most important for online store owners to not let potential gift-buyers slip by. There are several ways of boosting sales. Some of these are largely universal, and can be used outside the holiday seasons.
1. Keep goods in stock and deliver them on time.
An important criterion on the road to increased sales is delivering goods to the customer by the date promised. If a gift is delivered to the recipient only after the holiday, you can imagine his disappointment. Your service’s reputation could be undermined in the eyes of the customer. To avoid this situation, it’s best before or during the purchase to let the customer know the latest possible purchase date for delivery in time for the holiday. This information can be posted on the product description page and/or during the purchase process.
2. Use visual reminders of the approaching holiday.
It would be nice if your customers became caught up in the holiday spirit and thoughts of doing nice things for their loved ones while browsing your online store. This can be encouraged by making small changes to your store’s décor, perhaps by adding holiday banners. Many buyers don’t give a thought to the upcoming holiday until the day before. Hence, a gentle suggestion that it might be best to buy their gifts earlier may be in order.
3. Be customer-oriented.
There are two types of customers:
1. Customers that know exactly what gift they want to buy
This customer usually uses the online store’s search system, or else goes straight to the category he wants in the catalog. He is primarily interested in the item’s price, specifications, description, payment and delivery conditions, and similar items. This information should therefore be given special attention, and displayed conveniently on the store’s pages.
2. Customers that know who they want to buy for, but haven’t yet decided on a gift
These customers need a kind of consultant, who can tell them or at least suggest to them what gift to buy. This can be done by creating several categories for various target groups: for example, “Over 500 gifts for children”, “Everything for grandmothers”, etc. The result is that the client saves time, and consequently spends less time deciding whether or not to buy something.
4. Mailings and advertising
Don’t forget to arrange periodic and pre-holiday mailings to registered clients. Letters can contain information on current special offers, new catalog items, and discounts. Also, be sure to use contextual advertising in search systems such as Google AdWords.
I would like to end this article with the most important and value piece of advice I can give you: put yourself in your customers’ shoes, and think about what occurs to you when you’re shopping for gifts.
By following the recommendations above you’ll be sure to boost you store’s sales, and you’ll make your customers happy, as well.
Happy sales!
