For small business owners, the holiday season, while a very merry and joyous time of the year, can also feel like a very stressful end. Early planning is key to boosting profits and minimizing stress as you head into the year’s final months.
Here are some steps you’ll need to take to get you through this year’s festivities.
Ensure your office, store or workshop is well stocked.
Priority number one should ensure you have all the materials you need for your business to function smoothly, from necessary supplies to enough inventory to meet customer demand.
Manage employees’ holiday schedules.
You may need to ask your employees to work extra hours or even think about hiring some extra help to cover the holiday period if you are expecting a heavy workload. Reducing scheduling confusion and ensuring each day is well-staffed will take care of many holiday headaches.
Redesign your online store.
As the holidays approach, you can bet that consumers will flock to the web to make many of their purchases. Make some website design adjustments to get into the festive spirit. Create holiday-themed content, and make any promotions and deals clearly visible. This will help attract customers that are doing their holiday shopping.
Draft and schedule your social posts in advance.
Ignoring your social media during the holiday season is a missed opportunity to connect with your customers during peak vacation times. Make sure to plan your content and schedule ahead of time to keep your social presence active despite the holiday chaos.
Don’t forget your email marketing.
Make your customers aware of your discounts, sales, and promotions. Propose enticing offers that will encourage online and offline shoppers. Create a sense of urgency through your emails to make them want to purchase your products and services before they miss out on the offer.
Show your customers some love during the holidays.
Make sure to send out holiday cards, emails, or packages as a token of appreciation. Retaining your customers is far more affordable than attracting new ones. The holiday season is a fantastic opportunity to thank them for their engagement, support, and loyalty to your products/services.
You know the next few months will go fast, and the season will be gone before you know it. Follow the above guidelines to get your business into the holiday spirit and take advantage of the most profitable time of year.
Are you interested in planning your social media content and holiday email marketing, as well as writing better thank-you notes? Outsource them all to a virtual assistant.
To find out more, book a consultation with TimeHelperz today, and let’s have a chat!