It's that time of year already! There have been many challenges for small business this year but one good thing to come out of the year 2020 is that people are more willing to shop online and to shop small. So, how do you make this work in your favour this holiday season? Read on to find out!

Turn Your Product Into a Gift

First of all, you need to turn your product into something that can be given as a gift. This might mean bundling a few items or even just presenting it in festive packaging. Whatever you need to do to make your product the answer to the age old question, ‘what do I get them for Christmas??’. Is your product more of a service? No worries - convert it to a gift by offering gift cards in various dollar amounts. Easy!

Give Your Website a Festive Makeover

To get customers to consider you as a gift option, why not decorate your website just like you would for a bricks and mortar shopfront? Maybe add a Christmassy twist to your logo or sub in some holiday themed images. While you’re there, make sure your website is mobile friendly. This year, it’s likely most of your audience will be shopping on mobile so you’ll want that looking as good as possible.

Be Upfront About Delivery Times

Most customers are by now aware of delays in the postal system and are likely to be relatively understanding. The best thing is to be completely honest with the delivery timeframes so that the customer can make an informed decision. Is there a good chance it won’t arrive before December 25? Make sure your customer knows that before they checkout. It'll save you a headache in the long run and create trust with your customers.

If delivery times with Australia Post are too delayed for you, consider an independent courier company like Sendle to get it to its destination before the big day. If it’s local you might even consider jumping in the car and delivering it yourself.

Offer a Christmas Discount

Cut through the noise by offering a competitive discount if you can. At this time of year there is a lot of competition so this is a good way to stand out from the crowd and turn a potential purchase into a completed purchase. Depending on your type of product or service, you could offer discounts for spending more.

Use Social Media to Get the Word Out

Social media can be a great tool for generating buzz around your business and can turn your business into a brand. It’s easy to make mistakes here so do your research before you start and be prepared for a bit of work to get started. Lots of people scroll Instagram and Facebook for ideas so boosting your online presence can definitely boost your sales.

So that’s our hot tips to making the most out of the Christmas crowds. The team at Connective Accounting would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and safe and happy holiday season!