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subject: Online Sales Expected To Increase Eight Percent Over Last Year [print this page]


According to Forrester Research IncAccording to Forrester Research Inc. online holiday sales will increase 8 percent as compared to last year's online sales. Many bargain hunting holiday shoppers intend to scour the web for the best deals on the products they plan to purchase.

Online business owners take full advantage of every promotional tool available to them. E-mail marketing includes collecting e-mail addresses from visitors and sending them special offers through e-mail. Article marketing includes writing articles and publishing them with online publishers.

Both e-mail marketing and article marketing provide retailers the opportunity to promote their products to people who are already looking for them. Articles allow businesses to share valuable information about the products they sell and promote special discounts in the process.

94 Percent of Shoppers Have Made Recent Online Purchases

"Recent" being the keyword here, 94 percent of shoppers surveyed say they have made an online purchase within the last three months. They also reveal that they will be shopping online more during the next three to six months.

Part of the increase in sales is due to the holiday season. January and February are heavy tax times and people receiving earned income credit will be looking for somewhere to shop. Discounts, free shipping and other special promotions should be taken into consideration during this time.

Set Your Website up for Success

Decorate your website and newsletters for the holidays. Don't overload the website with dancing snowmen or flying reindeer; just add some fun holiday graphics here and there. Sometimes simply changing the color of bars, backgrounds and text makes a huge difference.

Greet returning customers with information about products they were previously viewing. Show them products that go well with the items they already have in mind. Offer special incentives, like a free gift with purchase or discounted shipping.

Shoppers may need reminding that the holiday season is upon us. Encourage them to act quickly to avoid issues with shipping. Special incentives such as discounted pricing will increase sales.

Contact past customers via their registered e-mail address. Make them aware of special promotions you're currently running. Invite them back to your online store because their holiday shopping needs are your first priority.

Envelop the power of big brands. Consumers love getting a great deal on top name brands. Promote name brand products in areas consumers see often.

Never run out of inventory. Shoppers often tend to wait till the last minute to make purchases, even online purchases. Backorders during the holidays are not recommended and may lose the sale.

Consider adding additional discounts if they make a purchase during their initial visit. Some shoppers will leave items in their shopping cart for days, sometimes weeks. Discourage this by offering a one-time-only coupon in the form of a code that expires within a couple of days.

Increase Sales, Fun and Holiday Joy

The holidays are a joyous time for old and young alike. Make the most of your marketing campaign by offering your customers great deals on products they love. Everyone loves getting a special deal on products they'd planned to buy anyway.

by: Mike Lawson




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