It’s hard to believe that the Holiday season is here and it’s extremely important that your website is festive, informative, helpful 
and fun for the Holiday season. As consumers get ready to hit the stores they’re going to prepare themselves by looking online for ideas on items to purchase for that special someone in their life. What makes you unique to all the other retailers is you sell “FUN”! Use your website to grab the customer’s attention to either buy online or bring them into your store. The competition is tough with every retailer promoting an “Unbelievable” deal and it’s important that you offer at least one holiday promotion that you know will engage your customer to want more.
The vehicles, products and services you provide are unique in the sense that all powersports enthusiasts will be interested in your holiday gift giving ideas and promotions. Make customers aware of your promotions, coupons, events and more. Just remember that you’re the expert and customers will be coming to your site and reading your e-newsletters to see what you’re offering this holiday season! Run a new Holiday promotion this year or assess what you’ve done in the past and if it’s worked, offer it up to your customers again this year with even more excitement! Be creative and have fun!
To assist you this Holiday season below are six website recommendations and ideas to get your website holiday ready.
• Holiday Homepage & Gift Guide: Once you have your Holiday plan of action in place I would start with your homepage. Make it festive but try not to overdo it with the holiday graphics! Simple is sometimes better. Your homepage should provide customers with holiday gift giving ideas. It should be a guide that directs customers to other areas of your web site for more information or to purchase online. If you have many promotional items, post the information on a dedicated page to display all of your holiday gift ideas and featured product.
• Holiday Coupons: This is one item that customers will use this Holiday season. Setup a few Holiday coupons that customers can use online or at the store. Be creative and think as a customer! What type of coupon would bring you into the store? This may also be a great opportunity to “blow out” some older inventory with the new year quickly approaching!
• Free Shipping: Free shipping is common during the Holiday season with many online retailers because it’s effective. Many customers love the convenience of shopping online and free shipping is a great Holiday incentive. My recommendation is to establish a set amount that customers have to spend in order to receive free shipping. The standard minimum amount is usually $75 to $100 and setup a timeline for customers to take advantage of your free shipping promotion. Emphasize an “end date” for the free shipping and use it as a “call to action” for the customer.
• Send out a Holiday e-newsletter: Many dealers send out at least one e-newsletter a month and sending out Holiday e-newsletter is a must. In fact, send out a couple this December, promoting all of your holiday specials. Send out a newsletter the first week in December with all of your Holiday announcements and a 2nd newsletter the 3rd week with last minute shopping gift ideas or incentives.
• Social Sites: If you have a social site, take full advantage of it this Holiday season. Provide your “Network of Friends” with gift giving ideas and make sure you have links back to your website for more information. Also, take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy and safe holiday season.
• Send out a Holiday e-greeting card: Make this one from the heart and the only purpose is to wish everybody a wonderful holiday season and to thank them for their patronage. You can use your e-newsletter tool to send out a personal holiday message to your customers.
Effective holiday marketing is something that certainly shouldn’t be done “last-minute”. As we all know “Communication is Key” and for 2009 make it a priority to have a plan in place as to what promotions you’re offering, when to send out your e-newsletters, and if you do have a social site, promote your holiday specials and gratitude of thanks to your network of friends and contacts!
Peggy’s complete contact information can be found on the “Contact” page.
© 2009 Peggy Olson. All rights reserved
