The holiday season is fast approaching and with it, a dramatic rise in sales for many businesses. But with every business owner looking to make an extra buck, it’s difficult to find your way through all the noise. Here’s how to make the most out of your holiday sales pitch and cut through all the chaos, mayhem, and stress that comes with the holiday season.

 

1. Check your email list.

Your first step towards a successful holiday season is to revisit your current and potential customers. Send out a catalog of your products and services. This way, anyone on your existing mailing list will know exactly what you’re offering for the holidays and keep your products in mind when looking for gifts.

The important thing is to send out your email before other companies; a week or two before the holiday season begins will prevent blending in with the flood of emails your customers will be receiving in the weeks to come. Additionally, this gives your customers a reason to shop with you at a time where discounts run rampant, giving you that extra momentum to edge out your competition.

With emails, the key is to be memorable.

 

2. Try video marketing.

Instead of having your customers read about your sales, why not let them see them?

Give your customers something easy to look at and even easier to access. Show off your new gadgets and services in a visual way. Be sure to recommend deals that fit every kind of budget, so that you reach every type of buyer. If your business works with a certain demographic, be sure to keep them in mind when creating your video. For example, millennials would much rather see a creatively done visual story than a cheesy sales pitch.

 

3. Trust in social media.

If there was ever a time to jump on social media, the holidays are it. Regardless of your target demographic, you’re likely to find customers on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. The key is finding the right platform. If you don’t already have a social media page, don’t fret; use this opportunity to promote your online presence. Include a card prompting purchasers to visit you on social media or to share their purchases with a particular hashtag.

 

4. Create hype.

If you’re all out of creative juices, go for the sales. Advertise some limited-time product or service that will blow other offers out of the water. Consumers tend to flock towards scarce products before moving on to the more common ones.

If you post or tweet out some form of promotional content, make sure you’re online to answer any questions! Many brands think their social media efforts stop at posting, but that’s only half the job. Social media is an interactive platform that has allowed brands and companies to access their customers like never before, which makes engagement a key determinant of success across social media platforms.

 

5. Optimize your website.

Despite creative marketing efforts, if your website is slow, out-of-date, or difficult to navigate, it will be hard to convince a prospective customer to make a purchase. This is why it is important to optimize your website for the holidays. First, you’ll want to find a good hosting provider. This is especially important during the holiday season when business owners see spikes in traffic. If you haven’t already done so, optimize your website for mobile to keep your customers happy.

 

6. Plan for the worst.

Whenever you’re looking at sales on a larger scale, you need to consider all circumstances, including the worst-case scenarios. If you’re prepared for the worst situation, you’ll be ready to solve the small problems that come your way. An excellent way to help your customers out of sticky situations is to be more active on social media, or to make your customer service more accessible during busy hours.

Good luck during this busy holiday season! Every business is different; did we miss any strategic ways to prepare for the holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash