All posts tagged holiday shopping

6 Ways to Get in Front of More Customers this Holiday Season

6 Ways to Get in Front of More Customers this Holiday Season

6 Ways to Get in Front of More Customers this Holiday from http://dsef.orgIf you are like most small businesses, you are heading into your busiest time of the year. As customers look for holiday gifts, it’s important to remind them about your business, so that when you have what they are looking for, they shop with you. After all, it’s easy for customers to run to a faceless big box store and get a lot of generic gifts. It’s up to you to make it just as easy to shop with you. The bonus is that your personal attention will help customers find exactly the right gift, increasing both customer satisfaction and repeat business.

But this all happens when customers are aware of you. So this period is critical. What you do now will determine whether or not customers think of you when shopping for holiday gifts. Here are some tips to get yourself in front of customers and remind them that you’re there:

  1. Advertise – Even if you don’t advertise at any time of the year, it makes a lot of sense to advertise when the holiday season comes around. And thanks to online tools, there are many inexpensive options at your disposal. Consider running some Facebook Ads (even $5 or $10 per day can make an impact), check out local publications, and form alliances with local businesses to cross-promote.
  2. Sponsor – At this time of year, many communities hold and other events, and often they look for businesses to help offset the costs of these events. In return, your business is featured in literature about the event. Take some time to identify special events in your area, and sponsor a few. It’s a great way to promote awareness of your business.
  3. Holiday Fairs – Vendor events are another great way to promote awareness of your business. Although you may not make a lot of sales, these can be an excellent way to get contact information that allows you to market more directly to potential customers and prospects. So get a table at a few holiday events to build awareness and your mailing list. And then follow up! That’s the key to success for this type of event.
  4. Book More Parties – If you are in direct selling, you will sell more and recruit more if you do more parties. So especially at the holidays, book double (at least) the amount of parties that you normally do. People are more inclined to book when they know their friends want to do holiday shopping, and you will sell more. Best of all, all those parties will lead to additional bookings and a thriving business.
  5. Special Events – Consider hosting your own special events and inviting past customers, along with their friends and your community. Call it a “Customer Appreciation Party” or a “Holiday Mixer.” By offering your own event with lots of fun attractions, more people will become aware of your business. In your advertising, you can mention the event, which can set you apart from other advertisers that only talk about buying. You are offering something to people in return, which can be a competitive advantage.
  6. Donations – Remember that many non-profit organizations use this time of year to host events and raise funds for their causes. So find ways to donate that will promote your business. For example, if a non-profit is hosting an event where there will be a silent auction, consider donating a basket of your products. If a fundraising event is being held, find out how your business can be listed in the program in return for a monetary donation. You’ll be helping the organization and promoting your business at the same time.

Commit to making this your most profitable holiday season yet! With a little planning, you can get in front of more customers, which will lead to a bigger business.

How do you get in front of more customers during the holidays? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

Support Small Businesses this Holiday Season

Support Small Businesses this Holiday Season

Support Small Businesses this Holiday Season from http://dsef.orgWhere are you planning to do your shopping this holiday season? From a nameless, faceless big box store? Or would you like the personal attention that only a small business can bring? In a season that is often stressful as you search for just the right gift for the ones on your list, the customized product recommendations a small business owner can provide can make holiday shopping a pleasure, and giving those gifts becomes fun!

So this holiday season, consider shopping ONLY with small businesses. It’s a great way to support your local economy and contribute to its recovery, while also demonstrating your support of this essential component of our economy. Small businesses are found on the streets of your town, as well as in living rooms and fairs where direct sellers and crafters share everything from cosmetics to jewelry to educational games to bags to customized stationery and more! You have so many options when choosing to shop with small businesses, and you’re sure to find gifts that are as unique as the people you want to give those gifts to.

So this year, instead of running to the mall or big box store to complete your holiday shopping, reach out to the small businesses in your area. Many have websites where you can shop, which means your gifts can be delivered right to your door. And consider hosting a direct sales party with a company that offers gifts that will appeal to many on your list. You might even get some of the items on your holiday list for free or at a discount!

You can find a list of Direct Selling Association member companies at http://dsa.org. But you can also support small business owners in our community on this page! We invite you to share your favorite product that you sell and a link to your business web or Facebook Page in the comments of this blog post. Then browse the other businesses that are shared here. Let’s make it a small business only holiday!