7 Tricks for More Holiday Web Sales

"Black Friday" has just passed, marking the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Web sales are already at a record high this year and the fourth quarter of 2004 is projected to bring in $22 billion in online sales alone ? a whole third of the sales for the entire year. (Source: eMarketer.com)

And since Friday, your in-box has been overflowing with all those new orders... right?

Or maybe not.

If you're like many small retailers, you've waited until the last minute to start thinking about your online holiday sales. You've been too busy, too short-staffed, too distracted, or perhaps even too confused to take the necessary steps to get your Web site ship-shape for the holidays.

Don't despair! you can still take advantage of the holiday sales season ifyou take immediate action.

Here are seven things you can do RIGHT NOW to boost your online holiday sales this year.

1. "Hello, is anybody home?"
Update your Web site. If your home page still boasts "Summer Specials," this means you! Put photos of your best sellers out front, and highlight any holiday specials.

2. Use the power of suggestion.
Make it easy for shoppers to figure out what to buy. Try adding a "Great Gift Ideas" list on your home page with links to each product. Better yet, organize the list into categories: "Gifts Under $20," "Stocking Stuffers," "Gifts for Kids," "Gifts for Him/Her," etc.

3. Bundle it.
Combine popular items into a "gift set" that shoppers can add to their carts with one click. Package them together in an attractive gift box or basket. Be sure to display a photo of the gift packaging.

4. Sell the gift that always fits.
Offer gift certificates for the shopper that isn't sure what to buy, or who needs a last-minute gift. TIP: Make sure your shopping cart ships gift certificates free.

5. Wrap it up.
Offer to wrap and ship a gift directly to the recipient for a small fee. You'll earn loyalty from your customers if you can help them out during a busy, stressful time.

6. "Will it get there on time?"
Concerns about delivery are at the top of Web shoppers' lists. Overcome their uncertainty by posting information about shipping times, order cut-off dates for holiday delivery, and express delivery options in a conspicuous place.

7. SHOUT!
NOW is the time to toot your own horn and help people remember that your products and services make great gifts. Email the folks on your mailing list at least once a week until the end of the holiday season. Pick a different gift product to feature with each email, and be sure to include a direct link to the product page. Also, work the phones. Don't be afraid to be low-tech! Pick up the phone and call your 10 best customers to let them know about your great holiday deals.

Although there are lots of things you can do to jumpstart your online holiday sales, there's one thing you *shouldn't* do right now.

DON'T try to give your web site or e-commerce system a major overhaul during the peak season. The last thing you and your customers need is to deal with echnical glitches or lost orders during the holiday crunch. If you're panning a major upgrade, wait until January when things are a little slower and there will be minimal disruption to your customers.

© Copyright 2004 Jamila White. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jamila White, "The E-Commerce Diva", is an Internet Strategist, Web Designer, and E-Commerce instructor in the Washington D.C. area. For a FREE subscription to her "Sell More Online" e-newsletter, go to http://www.ecommercediva.com.

[NOTE: You are welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end and the copyright notice), and you send a copy of your reprint to info@jamilawhite.com.]

---

Year In Review: Top Ten Internet Businesses 2004

The internet boom hit a high mark in 2004. With... Read More

The Power Of Viral Marketing

You certainly know by now that the term "viral marketing"... Read More

Product Marketing for Internet Based Home Businesses

All small business owners, especially those internet based, are concerned... Read More

Quick Guide to Internet Marketing: 9 Tips for Success on the Net

To market successfully you must incorporate the Internet into your... Read More

Ten Simple Tips To Create A Money Magnet Web Site!

Staying awake at night wondering how to pump up your... Read More

Have You Got Your Ear To The Ground Or Your Head In The Sand?

What happened on your website yesterday? What about last week... Read More

From Niche Marketing to Fragmentation

Think about something Bill Cosby said and ask yourself "how... Read More

Creating Your Internet Marketing Plan

For large corporations, a marketing plan is a huge document... Read More

Using Ad Boards in Your Marketing Campaigns

Are free advertising boards a waste of time?Not if you... Read More

The Ugly Side Of Internet Marketing, What The Gurus Wont Tell You!

Did that headline grab your attention?I have experimented with many... Read More

You Know Youre an Internet Marketer When...

Did you make the switch from corporate slave to independent... Read More

8 Excellent Ways to Sell Your Back-end Products More Successfully!

A back-end product is a product that you attempt to... Read More

Using Autoresponders In Your Online Business

Autoresponders return previously stored messages or sets of messages in... Read More

Internet Marketing Requires Lots of Patience!

When you first make a decision to start an Internet... Read More

Five Ways to Quadruple a Websites Revenue

Many website owners all too often give up on their... Read More

Internet Marketing Simplified! 2 Pillars For Achieving Massive Results

Are you confused by the flood of information on how... Read More

What Businesses are Succeeding on the Net?

The most basic question any Internet business owner will have... Read More

Solution Catalog - Getting More Out Of Your Searches The Fast And Easy Way

Are you Tired of being Burned by your Internet solutions?... Read More

Internet Marketing

What is Internet Marketing?Internet Marketing is application of Internet and... Read More

Niche Marketing - How to Find Your Perfect Niche Market

If you don't find a niche market for the product... Read More

The Most Profitable Internet Marketing Strategy Ever

So what's the most profitable internet marketing strategy you can... Read More

The New Marketing Landscape

Many of us in the marketing services and/or agency business... Read More

Internet Promotion - Advantages and Disadvantages

The emergence of globalise trade, increase in foreign investment and... Read More

With Todays Internet, Is Banner Advertising Worth Your Time?

A banner exchange program is a network of websites that... Read More

Increase Sales: The Secret To Using Offline Advertising To Magnify Your Online Sales

Since the internet happened, and everybody went for the gold... Read More

The e-Marketing Plan - Brief Overview and Working Scheme

I. Summary of a marketing planThe marketing planning (concretized in... Read More

The Worst Internet Marketing Strategy Ever?

Many people are downright frustrated.And when you look at their... Read More

Free Web Advertising: Chat Room Marketing Secrets Of Internet Marketing Gurus Exposed

Have you ever been to a chat room?Have you ever... Read More

4 Ways In Which You Can Achieve Critical Mass

Critical Mass Website Promotion is the elite goal rarely attained... Read More

Seven Easy Steps to Boost Your Professional Image With Adobe

Often-overlooked commands can boost sales and project a more professional... Read More

Visibility Equates to Higher Profits

One of the greatest challenges businesses face is how to... Read More

Arrgh. . .Those Stupid Internet Marketing Cliches Are True!

If you have read any internet marketing resource ever created,... Read More

5 Ways Al-Quaeda is Using Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing is not dead. But it may have caused... Read More