| "Black Friday" has just passed, marking
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| | Offer gift certificates for the shopper
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| the traditional start of the holiday
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| | that isn't sure what to buy, or who needs
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| shopping season. Web sales are already
| |
| | a last-minute gift. TIP: Make sure your
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| at a record high this year and the fourth
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| | shopping cart ships gift certificates
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| quarter of 2004 is projected to bring in
| |
| | free.5. Wrap it up.
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| $22 billion in online sales alone - a
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| | Offer to wrap and ship a gift directly
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| whole third of the sales for the entire
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| | to the recipient for a small
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| year. (Source: eMarketer.com)And since
| |
| | fee. You'll earn loyalty from your
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| Friday, your in-box has been overflowing
| |
| | customers if you can help them out during
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| with all those new orders... right?Or
| |
| | a busy, stressful time.6. "Will it get
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| maybe not.If you're like many small
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| | there on time?"
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| retailers, you've waited until the last
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| | Concerns about delivery are at the top
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| minute to start thinking about your
| |
| | of Web shoppers' lists.
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| online holiday sales. You've been too
| |
| | Overcome their uncertainty by posting
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| busy, too short-staffed, too distracted,
| |
| | information about shipping times, order
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| or perhaps even too confused to take the
| |
| | cut-off dates for holiday delivery, and
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| necessary steps to get your Web site
| |
| | express delivery options in a conspicuous
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| ship-shape for the holidays.Don't
| |
| | place.7. SHOUT!
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| despair! you can still take advantage of
| |
| | NOW is the time to toot your own horn
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| the holiday sales season ifyou take
| |
| | and help people remember that
|
| immediate action.Here are seven things
| |
| | your products and services make great
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| you can do RIGHT NOW to boost your online
| |
| | gifts. Email the folks on your mailing
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| holiday sales this year.1. "Hello, is
| |
| | list at least once a week until the end
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| anybody home?"
| |
| | of the holiday season. Pick a different
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| Update your Web site. If your home page
| |
| | gift product to feature with each email,
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| still boasts "Summer
| |
| | and be sure to include a direct link to
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| Specials," this means you! Put photos
| |
| | the product page. Also, work the phones.
|
| of your best sellers out front, and
| |
| | Don't be afraid to be low-tech! Pick up
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| highlight any holiday specials.2. Use the
| |
| | the phone and call your 10 best customers
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| power of suggestion.
| |
| | to let them know about your great holiday
|
| Make it easy for shoppers to figure out
| |
| | deals.Although there are lots of things
|
| what to buy. Try adding a
| |
| | you can do to jumpstart your online
|
| "Great Gift Ideas" list on your home
| |
| | holiday sales, there's one thing you
|
| page with links to each product. Better
| |
| | *shouldn't* do right now.DON'T try to
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| yet, organize the list into categories:
| |
| | give your web site or e-commerce system a
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| "Gifts Under $20," "Stocking
| |
| | major overhaul during the peak season.
|
| Stuffers," "Gifts for Kids," "Gifts for
| |
| | The last thing you and your customers
|
| Him/Her," etc.3. Bundle it.
| |
| | need is to deal with echnical glitches or
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| Combine popular items into a "gift set"
| |
| | lost orders during the holiday crunch.
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| that shoppers can add to their carts with
| |
| | If you're panning a major upgrade, wait
|
| one click. Package them together in an
| |
| | until January when things are a little
|
| attractive gift box or basket. Be sure to
| |
| | slower and there will be minimal
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| display a photo of the gift packaging.4.
| |
| | disruption to your customers.© Copyright
|
| Sell the gift that always fits.
| |
| | 2004 Jamila White. All rights reserved.
|
