Sleigh Bells Ringing? Will your tills be ringing 50% more?
According to the latest Logan Tod Online Shopping Index (www.logantod.co.uk) over 50% of the UK’s online shoppers intending to increase their online spend in the run up to Christmas 2008.
That is a massive growth anticipated again for online retailers to capitalise on. With a challenging "offline" global economy more and more people are turning to online purchases to find added value, better pricing, take advantage of better internet connections, security awareness and protocols and enjoy the ease of shopping online.
Christmas 2008 - 5 things you should be planning?
As an internet retailer there are a number of key areas you can focus on now to maximise your revenue potential at Christmas time.
1. Search Engines
One of the main areas for focus will be the Search Engines and ensuring your products and services can be found by your customers when they search for the products and services you sell.
Getting good position on Google, MSN, Yahoo etc on the right terms and phrases is very important. You can start by introducing those Christmas best sellers and their relevant search terms onto your site now. The sooner the better as this will give the search engines the time they need to spider your website and index your site on these terms e.g. "Christmas gift widgets" instead of "widgets"
2. Retail website
Another
focus should be actually on your internet retail site. What can be done to your website to assist those Christmas shoppers? Will you add "gift ideas" to your website to encourage the uncertain to buy? Are you displaying "best sellers" prominently on most pages to reassure the buyers who feel they have to "beat the Jones"?
3. Customer communication
All those people who have ever bought from you before really need to be reminded that you are here, you're ready for Christmas and you'd love to help them buy from you.
Email newsletters and any other forms of customer communication should be utilised effectively to get the message across to the people who buy from you.
4. Offline Marketing
Do you advertise locally in press or paper mediums? Are you affiliated to any clubs or other parties who help advertise your business? Use these channels to market the Christmas message to your potential customers placing your business, products and services at the forefront of your potential customers minds.
5. Countdown to delivery
One of the key things at Christmas time is making sure people get their gifts and presents before Santa comes along. Make it a priority to promote and reaffirm your delivery timescales and deadlines to your customers at Christmas time. This builds confidence and reassures people that ordering with you will ensure they get their goods at the right time.
Published in July 2008 newsletter
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