Does Consumer Know your Products or Services can be Classified as a Gift?

So, you lack large marketing budget for radio and TV commercials, and running additional print ads are out of budget too, what can you do to increase your sales while getting your company in minds of consumer? The first thing I would ask you is if you have changed your ads around to take advantage of giving approach. It is season of giving isn’t it? Then how have you changed your ads to reflect happiness of receiving your goods or services as a gift? Have you even bothered to give consumer idea that your goods or services CAN be given as a gift? If you haven’t, then maybe they’ve never thought of giving your goods or services as a gift, or that anyone could even be happy receiving them as a gift either. If consumer doesn’t perceive your goods or products as a potential “gift”, then you are going to loose out on holiday sales. Around this time of year, most people are in “gift buying” mode. The more you can get your goods or services perceived as a potential “gift”, better chances you will elevate your sales during this giving season.

Differentiating Yourself from Competition - Impulse Sales, Up-Sells, Back-End Sales and Other Promotions.

Now you’ve altered your ad copy to reflect your products or services as gifts, what benefits do you offer over your competitors? Almost every business is running some sort of special or discount as an enticement for shoppers to buy. Are you doing same? At this stage of seasonal game, anything you can do to set yourself apart from competition is going to be beneficial to your goals of increased holiday sales. Just don’t be too greedy. Find a happy medium of sales discount that will still provide comparable profit cushion to what you usually enjoy during normal sales season. Look for creative ways to encourage impulse sales along with up-sells and back-end sales promotions. Say for instance, you are going to offer a coffee maker in your sales. You could discount coffee and maybe offer free filters with a purchase. Take a close look at how your products or services relate to one another, and then offer freebies and discounts on other products or services that compliment your sales item. All of these areas will help you enjoy increased sales during holiday season.

Testimonials – Letting Past Customers Tell Others About your Goods or Services.

Do you have customer testimonials about your goods or services? Maybe you have testimonials about your sales or service. These are additional tools to pull out of your marketing arsenal, especially during this time of year. The best ones are ones that talk about how happy they were when receiving your goods or services as a gift, or how someone felt giving your goods or services as gifts, but any others that show those goods or services in a positive way will work. The non-solicited type of testimonial works best, but again, any testimonial from a previous customer to show potential customers your goods or services values will work. Keep these testimonials handy for sales presentations, or you can put them out on display in your shop. Always be sure to ask writer’s permission before showing their written works. Believe it or not, those are copyrighted works owned by your customers. Although any customer suing you over using them is less than likely, it’s always, better to be safe than sorry.

Gaining Consumer Awareness Economical Way – College Campus Community Boards.

Now that you have your ad copy tweaked, and you’ve planned your up-sells, back-end sales, and impulse buys, what are economical ways of gaining market share? There are many ways to get creative here. Do you live in an area where there is a local college? Colleges are known for their information boards. You’ll find them around eating areas, campus office areas, and in many dorm areas. This is a no cost way to promote and market your company to younger crowd looking for gifts on this holiday of gift giving. If you can find ways to convey value your goods or services can offer to their friends and loved ones and happiness those friends or loved ones would feel from receiving your products or services as a gift, then you will reap increased sales from that market. You’ll find gargantuan competition fairly limited in this advertisement medium. It’s a chance for you to target your sales without competing with deep pockets and over-flowing coffers gargantuan has.

Grocery Store and Other Community Boards.

What about your local grocery store? EVERYONE has to eat don’t they? Most of them have community boards where they allow you to post index card sized ads. Prepare a few attention getting index cards before you make your normal store run. On your way out of your grocery store, take a few moments to post your ad. If you have more than one grocery store chain in your area, then you might consider spending some additional time visiting others too. You could justify time spent by shopping around and doing some price comparisons between other chains and your favorite store. Not only could you gain increased holiday sales, but you might also find a more economical grocery store for your grocery needs. Be creative, honest, and sincere, and you will enjoy increased sales through your marketing efforts.

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