MBN USA

December 13, 2022

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USHCC is one of several organizations involved in the SBA program

A few weeks ago we shared 5 tips to ignite your sales and marketing game throughout the holidays.

Today, the USHCC through our program USHCC Navigates Small Business, is pleased to share the 5 ways to help you restart your holiday sales.

Perhaps more importantly, we also put together 2 very robust tips to help boost interest in your brand, products and services after the December sales boom starts to wane. No matter what industry you’re in, the following tips can give you creative ideas to promote your company in intriguing, different ways. Here’s to your increased sales!

1.    Ramp up emails. Your email marketing should have a regular cadence throughout the year: once a week, or once a month depending on your business and budget. A nail salon or grocery store have a lot of competition for critical items, so they may email customers more. A construction company may opt for emailing every other month with news, presenting new equipment, opening up in other regions or offering packaged deals for debris removal or exterior painting. As you close in on the end of December, consider making your emails more frequent. Shoppers will be paying more attention to their inbox, scrambling for deals and gift ideas.

2.    Use video. Video remains one of the most engaging and compelling content mediums online. For that reason, showcase any holiday deals or merchandise you have in a short video on your social media or in advertisements. Extra points if you use captions rather than audio, so people can watch with the sound off in public spaces or at work.

3.    Leverage PR. Newspapers or TV stations may be looking for local merchants to interview about holiday shopping season trends. Consider reaching out to local reporters or news desks and making yourself available as an expert source. Readers and viewers who see the segment are likely to visit your store or website afterward. 

4.    Encourage reviews. Encourage shoppers to leave positive reviews after they make a purchase with you. Potential buyers often look at the quantity and quality of reviews that a small business has before deciding to shop there. 

5.    Google ads. Procrastination is just as much a holiday tradition as mistletoe or Christmas trees. Be clever with Google ads and target last-minute shoppers by using keywords like “last-minute gifts” in your advertising text. If you can guarantee delivery by a certain date, highlight that in your advertising, too. 

After the holiday rush is over, it’s normal for businesses to see a slump in sales compared to November and December. Try these strategies to boost revenue in the new year:

1. Entice gift card holders. Gift cards are popular presents for a reason: You can buy what you really want with them. Shoppers coming in to use their gift cards are already interested in your merchandise: they’re present and ready to shop. Make sure that while you have their attention you highlight sales and promote new products — by doing so, these customers may end up spending above and beyond the amount on their gift card.

2. Offer deep discounts. Everyone loves a deal. Come January, if you are still holding on to some holiday-themed merchandise or last year’s products, mark them at a significant discount or as buy one, get one (BOGO).

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With the holiday crunch right around the corner, USHCC Business Counselors are ready to help grow your business by supporting your marketing and other business needs. As always, our services are free. Make an appointment today to learn how to boost your sales this season. This free, dedicated business counseling is provided by the USHCC Navigates Small Business Program.