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As the holiday season comes to a close, you need to continue driving sales and keep your business thriving.
This can be tough this time of year, though, as people are less apt to be in shopping mode. But this doesn’t mean your selling power has to come to a standstill.
Below, you’ll find ten tips to help you increase your ecommerce sales after the holidays.
Let’s take a look…
Run a post-holiday, winter clearance sale for a limited time
People love clearances. And just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean people have stopped shopping entirely. After the holidays, people have gift cards and cash they received as gifts to spend. So running a post-holiday sale is a fantastic way to keep your sales momentum going strong.
Plus, it’s a great way to push unsold or slow-selling inventory. It works best if you can add a sense of urgency to your sales by running them for a limited amount of time, like for two or three days. That way, people are more likely to act quickly.
And if you have an Etsy shop, you can use a tool to automatically put your listings on sale. I wrote about this a while back. You can check out that blog post here.
Focus on repeat customers
Acquiring new customers is typically more expensive than retaining existing customers. So if you want to boost your sales, focus on customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Offer excellent customer service. Respond to all inquiries within twenty-four hours. And consider implementing a loyalty program to reward repeat customers.
For example, you could send everyone who bought from you during the holidays a coupon for 10% off their next purchase. To learn more about how to create coupon codes and discounts on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay, click here.
Also, check out the links below to read more about creating repeat customers:
10 Customer service strategies that create repeat customers fast
5 Easy ways to encourage repeat business and build a loyal following for your Etsy store
Encourage user-generated content
Another way to boost your post-holiday sales is to encourage customers to share reviews, photos, and videos of your products on social media. User-generated content can be a powerful tool for attracting new customers and building trust.
After customers make a purchase, you can send them a message thanking them for their business. In your message, you can include links to your social media profiles. And you can let customers know how they can connect with you or share information about their purchases or your business.
For example, you might say something like…
Hello,
Thank you so much for your recent purchase!
As a small business, we truly appreciate each sale, and we hope you’re thoroughly satisfied with your purchase. If there’s anything we can do to make your experience doing business with us better, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We also love seeing pictures and videos of our customers with their purchases. You can follow us or get in touch via social media here:
[Facebook profile link]
[Instagram profile link]
Thanks so much!
Take care,
[Your name]
Provide customers with options other than a refund
After the holidays, you’re bound to get some refund requests. But when that happens, try giving customers an alternative solution first.
For example, if an order arrives broken, see if the customer would be okay with having a replacement item sent instead of a refund. Or if a customer wants to return a $20 item, see if they’d take a coupon code for $25 off their next purchase from your store.
You can learn more about how to set up Etsy coupon codes here.
Offer excellent product descriptions
Provide detailed and accurate product descriptions to help your customers make informed decisions. When your product descriptions answer customer questions upfront, you remove points of friction. And you make it easier for customers to say yes to purchasing.
In your descriptions, include information about materials, dimensions, and care instructions. And use high-quality product images to showcase your products. (You’ll find more information on this below.)
To learn more about how to create great product descriptions, click the link below:
Etsy listing descriptions that sell: 8 tips for writing standout product descriptions
Add mockups and lifestyle images to your product listings
When shopping on Amazon and Etsy, customers want to know as much as they can about a product before they purchase. And images are one of the best ways to teach customers about your products.
If your sales are slow, try adding more images to your listings. Show your products from every angle and include lifestyle images showing your products in use.
Lifestyle images make it easier for customers to imagine themselves owning your products. In turn, this makes them more likely to purchase. So if you sell coffee mugs, for example, add images of people holding your mugs while lounging on a couch or sitting at a desk. This makes your listing more dynamic and engaging to customers.
Below, you’ll find a list of the mockups I’ve had my designers create over the years. All of the mockups are free to use. And you can add them to your listings on Etsy and Amazon to increase your sales:
Other special events and seasons
Become active on social media
You don’t have to use social media to be part of the Low Hanging System. But if you want to keep your ecommerce sales going strong, you can create accounts on popular platforms. These include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.
To get more sales, keep your social media accounts active and engaging. Post regular updates. Respond to customer inquiries. And promote your products with listing links and relevant hashtags. Your social media updates can help with brand awareness and increase your sales.
To get inspiration about what to post, check out the link below:
31 Days of social media content ideas (grab this free calendar!)
Experiment with new marketing channels
If you’ve engaged in marketing before, don’t limit yourself to the same old marketing channels or strategies. Explore new platforms and tactics. This could include social media advertising or influencer partnerships to reach new audiences.
Host a contest or giveaway
Contests or giveaways can be an effective way to increase engagement and attract more visitors to your shops. Consider hosting a contest or giveaway on your social media channel. You can offer customers a chance to win products in exchange for following your accounts and promoting your products.
A few years ago, I had success with a necklace giveaway I hosted and promoted via Facebook. You can read about how the process worked and the results I got here.
Basically, I picked a product from my inventory to give away. Then, I set up a basic web page on which people can sign up for the giveaway.
Next, I promoted the giveaway on Facebook and Fiverr. And I sent emails to the people who signed up, letting them know the winners and where they could purchase my product if they didn’t win.
This technique earned me $171.85 and over 500 new subscribers to my email list.
List new products for sale
Introducing new products can help keep your customers engaged and excited about your business. Every listing you create is another opportunity for customers to buy from you. Consider launching limited-edition collections to drive sales and boost interest in your brand.
So if sales have been slow, add new listings. If you need some help coming up with new design ideas, here are some resources that can help:
10 Ways to make new designs even if you’re not creative (update)
10 Ways to make new designs even if you’re not creative
Not feeling especially creative? Here’s a list of strategies to come up with new design ideas
Creating new design ideas – A compilation of effective strategies
…and if you want hands-on help with optimizing your product listings, check out my Easy POD Mastermind! We’re all about accountability and taking action to make sales fast.
I hope you find these tips about how to increase your ecommerce sales after the holidays useful. If you have any other advice you’d like to share, please leave a comment below. Also, if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and followers.