The holidays are right around the corner, and while the past several months have been a rollercoaster for businesses, they can still finish the year strong. We can help your company make this season count—we want to offer you some of our tips for boosting customers and revenue. To learn more about how retailers can increase holiday sales, just keep reading.

Clarify Your Target Audience and Understand What They Want

Before advertising for the holidays, you must really recognize your target audience—who they are, where they live, and what they like—and cater content directly to them. Often, businesses fail to clarify their ideal customers beforehand, and then they waste money and time on products that won’t sell. Instead of blindly advertising, aim for a specific demographic, and don’t lose sight of them. Additionally, if you previously received feedback from customers through surveys or other outlets, make those changes before the holidays. People will appreciate your willingness to accept criticism and better your brand.

Prioritize Ample Preparation

Of course, all business owners need to plan, especially during the holiday season. You not only take more stress off yourself and your co-workers, but you also create a stronger first impression to your customers when you seemingly have it all together. So, first, have enough inventory. You may think you won’t run out, but during this time of year, assume that there’s a strong possibility your company sells out of product—and then some. In fact, consider having three or four times your regular stock, and don’t forget to make your most popular products accessible. At the end of the day, you must ensure your customers can order what they want, especially since they’re counting on you for gifts for themselves or loved ones.

Further, troubleshoot your website before your company unveils its holiday promotions. If your site contains any broken pages, or if your site includes pages for products you no longer carry, update these as soon as possible. Keep in mind that your website should properly show up in search engines, too—if it doesn’t, you’ll need to make some adjustments to ensure it appears in search engines’ indexes. Plus, dozens of people will be shopping together at any given time, so your site must have ability to handle more traffic than usual. The key is to create a seamless shopping experience—otherwise, prospective customers may bounce.

Clearly Communicate with Your Customers

Most transactions happen because customers are intrigued by something. Maybe they heard about a company’s products and its mission via word of mouth, or they saw a company’s eye-catching ad around the internet. Therefore, if you want people to know and see your business, you need to make the first move. Let everyone know you’re having a sale, or perhaps announce you’re supporting an amazing cause. People want to be in the know, and they want to support businesses whose values align with theirs. Also, remember to release festive email and mobile messages and engaging video—both marketing tactics have the potential to dramatically increase traffic to your website. Regardless of what you plan to say, lean on social media to showcase your brand and encourage post circulation.

Experiment with Offerings

Because you’ll experience stiff competition during the holidays, now’s the time to differentiate your business from everyone else out there. For example, get creative with your merchandise, and use our company as inspiration. We offer bulk plain snapback hats, so what you can do is purchase these and customize them. There you go—anyone who wears your hats is essentially a walking advertisement for your business. You can also think about branding other products people typically use daily—think drinkware, tote bags, pens, and similar promotional items.

Reevaluate Your Message If Necessary

While not every business has to create a new mission every season, it may be worth reconsidering your current message. Is it tired? Does it really speak to what your company strives for now? Today, it seems customers really resonate with brands that are relatable or aren’t afraid to tell their story. In this case, be honest about where your company started and where it will go. Once you solidify your mission, stay true to it. If your business strays too far from what it promises, your audience may grow confused about what you’re trying to accomplish.

Promise Exceptional Customer Service

Lastly, show your customers that you appreciate them. They’ve made it possible for you to grow your company, so provide them with access to exclusive sales, host giveaways, or roll out loyalty programs. On the same hand, to show your fans that you care about them, listen to them. For instance, prospective customers commonly request accessibility to your products, so if you have the means to expand shipping options, make sure to do so before holiday shopping begins. Return policies are another big factor when it comes to winning over your customers. Businesses should determine fair and flexible guidelines, and during the holidays, it’s essential that your staff initiates positive return experiences.

Additionally, the holidays can be a slippery slope when it comes to customer treatment from your staff members. Loop in your team and educate them about ways to treat customers kindly and respectfully. Remember to update staff on new marketing directions and product releases as well—this way, they’re able to remain confident and knowledgeable when conversing with people who express interest in buying from your company. Although this time of year can be stressful, if your team goes beyond expectations, you’ll earn long-time customers. Speaking of your staff, remember to staff up—while hiring is crucial all the time, your business requires sufficient help during the holiday season. Without an adequate number of people, your customers could experience delays in email responses, returned calls, and other pertinent interactions.

We hope our insight regarding how retailers can increase holiday sales aids your business this year. It won’t be an easy season, especially if your business primarily relies on in-person sales. However, reading our guide should help set your company up for all its online purchases. From all of us at KBETHOS, we wish you a successful holiday campaign!