It’s Time to Start Getting Your Website Ready for the Holidays

While the holidays are still several weeks away, those last weeks always seem to fly by too quickly. Having your holiday marketing plan in place in advance can enable you to focus on other aspects of your business during the busy holiday season.

While the holidays are a particularly important time of year for retail-based businesses, every business can take advantage of the season to attract new customers or clients as well as to cement relationships with old ones.

As far as your business’s online presence is concerned, your website should be the focus of your holiday marketing plan. All of your online advertisements and social media platforms should be directing potential customers back to your website.

For retail businesses, the holidays are an ideal time of year to introduce new products. You may want to consider featuring your new products, as well as products that would make particularly good gifts, on your website. You may also benefit from making sure that your retail business’ website makes it as easy as possible for customers to complete their purchases online. Wish lists and shopping carts that can be saved, and automatic reminders to customers who abandon their shopping carts can all make shopping easier for your potential customers.

This may be a good time of year to offer promotions, such as free shipping or gift cards. Contests or giveaways may also be useful tools to draw customers to your website.

Service-based businesses can also take advantage of the holiday shopping season to promote their services. Some services are well suited to give as gifts. Other businesses, such as those offering catering or restaurant services, may want to promote their services for holiday parties or offer special holiday meals.

Even local businesses that do not sell products or services online can benefit from focusing on their website marketing at this time of year. Many consumers will research their holiday shopping lists online before venturing out to the stores. If your business’ holiday presence is lacking, you may be missing out on these potential sales.

Any type of business can benefit from incorporating holiday themed graphics or music into their website at this time of year. This can be done as subtly and professionally as might is appropriate for your business. Contributing in this way to your clients’ holiday cheer can go a long way towards building a lasting relationship.

No matter what your business, having a holiday plan for your website can help you meet your marketing goals throughout the holiday season and into the New Year.