8 Ways to Prepare & Market Your Business for the Holidays
With the holiday season right around the corner, preparing your business is paramount. Minimizing stress is a major priority, so getting started early on preparations can help reduce stressors and headaches while increasing productivity and profits. Since the holidays are one of the busiest times of the year, taking advantage of all potential revenue outlets will increase your sales.
Shoppers are hunting for the best deals and discounts as they research gift ideas for loved ones. This opens up opportunities for your business to utilize digital marketing strategies and campaigns as holiday gift-hunting has shifted to online shopping. During the 2020 holiday season, a recorded 73% of people planned to have holiday presents delivered after shopping online. As soon as the leaves begin to change color and the weather gets a bit colder, people are ready to start their holiday shopping. So get ahead of the rush and begin your holiday business planning by following these eight tips.
1. Review Last Year’s Sales
Overlook your business’s previous year of sales and determine what products your customers preferred, and which ones they disliked. After comparing previous years’ sales, you should be able to come up with a forecast for this year’s potential profits. Also, speak with your staff and managers to get a better understanding of what was successful the previous year and what you can streamline to be better this year.
2. Plan Marketing Campaigns and Incorporate SEO Strategies
Utilizing marketing campaigns, digital marketing tools, and SEO strategies is crucial in this digital era. Each business may have a preferred form of marketing, so try out different channels and experiment with Facebook and Instagram ads, email campaigns, direct mail, or radio and TV ads so you can discover what works best for your business.
Incorporating search engine optimization (SEO) into your digital marketing strategy is a must in today’s age. SEO is looking at current trends to determine what people are searching for, so you can align your business with what’s currently popular. As you produce content, make sure it is relevant to your target audience and primary keywords.
Nothing says the holidays like ample amounts of promotions, discounts, and deals for shoppers to get excited about. Plan out your business’s promotions so you know when they will be launched and when to expect the crowds.
3. Prepare Your Website
Making sure your website is up to date and running smoothly is important so your customers can easily find the information they’re looking for. Your website should be organized and ready to navigate, so shoppers can find products or information without any problem. Be sure to list holiday hours and promotions to help avoid unnecessary phone calls and questions.