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Is Your Internet Business Ready for Holiday Shoppers?

by Angela Wu

Okay, I confess: I can be a terrible procrastinator when
it comes to shopping for the holidays. I don't much like
fighting my way through crowded shopping malls. So, instead,
I'm ready - even willing - to surf the web looking for the
perfect gift.

And I'm not the only one. According to one article from
Internet.com, experienced web buyers found online shopping
more satisfactory than traditional 'brick-and-mortar'
stores or catalog shopping.**

It seems that Internet shopping is poised to become bigger
each year. By preparing your online business for the
throng of holiday shoppers, you too can pick up additional
sales, both from new customers and from repeat business.
Here are a few tips to help your business make the most of
the holiday season ...

== Offer discounts and specials - free shipping, bonus
gifts, whatever's appropriate for your business.
Display these offers prominently on your website and
make sure the ordering process is simple and obvious.

== Use your customer list! Email a special offer directly
to previous customers and newsletter subscribers. They
already know you and conversion rates are much higher
than for first-time visitors.

== Redo your pay-per-click campaigns. Provided that your
bids will still give you a reasonable return, bid on
select holiday or gift-related key phrases to boost
your visibility to holiday shoppers. Read the article,
"How to Instantly Boost Traffic and Sales for Just
Pennies!" for more on pay-per-click search engines.
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/articles/payperclick.html

== Encourage referrals. Put up a 'Tell a friend' button
or script on your site so that visitors can let their
friends know about your great holiday offer. Or offer
a coupon and invite the customer to 'share' it with a
friend. More on encouraging referral business is
available in the article, "Building a Referral-Friendly
Business":
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/articles/referrals.html

== Send out a holiday-related press release. For instance,
people love to hear heartwarming stories and acts of
charity, particularly during the holiday season.

== Write holiday articles or stories that relate to your
product or service. Distribute the article and encourage
others to pass it on. At the end of the article, leave a
small link or blurb about your business and the current
holiday specials.

Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes' work to grab the
attention of eager holiday shoppers! Have a safe, happy,
and prosperous holiday season.

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