First, when it’s cold outside, customers are less interested in going out to do their shopping. It doesn’t always sound like fun to get all bundled up, leave a warm home and venture out into the rain, sleet, ice or snow. If they decide it’s worth the trouble to brave the weather, they often Google search on the Internet for providers first, and then decide on a destination prior to heading out. This means having a professional website that stands out in your industry is even more important during these challenging months.
- How engaging is your website?
- Is it helping you achieve your short- and long-term goals?
Second, when it’s cold or slippery outside, customers tend to shop locally, and it’s also a good time for you to promote your business with a professionally designed website. You want your future customers to find you easily! With a well-designed website, you are able to capture the attention of more customers.
A Professional online marketing team can focus on creating an informative, yet attractive, website that increases viewer traffic by ranking in the top 10 local businesses on Google.com.
- How easy is it for potential clients to find you online?
- Which words and phrases would they use to find your services or products?
You will want those key words to lead them to your website, quickly and easily. If you need help with this, an accomplished digital marketing firm can help you generate the list and put it into action.
Third, today’s consumers are consistently mobile, which means your website must be mobile-friendly when shoppers call it up on their mobile devices. You want to make sure the experience of going through your site is as easy as possible for the viewers. If not, your competition will be their next stop. No matter how much money you invest in online marketing, if your website is not mobile-friendly, you will not be able to maximize the return on your investment (ROI). The reason? Customers will become frustrated very quickly if your website does not display well on their mobile device, and they will exit and move on — very possibly, to your competitor’s site.
We are an impatient society, and mobile responsiveness has rapidly become the standard. Establishing a mobile-friendly website is one of the key factors necessary in every digital marketing campaign if you expect a successful outcome for your labors.
Fourth, if your business sells products and doesn’t have an e-commerce website, now is a great time to establish an online store to capture additional sales 24/7. During the colder months, it gets dark earlier (I dare say, much too early) and customers will try to get home sooner or at least minimize the number of stops on their way home. With an online store, you make the shopping experience an easy convenience for your customers, and in return you will make more money, even while you sleep.
Since you are busy and need to make the most of your time as well, you will rejoice at sales that are made when you are relaxing, exercising, or vacationing somewhere warm. Even when you are working, perhaps on a new project that requires your full attention, your e-commerce site will serve you well because you have taken the time to plan for and implement a user-friendly site.
Fifth, if your business provides services, you can bundle them into a number of appealing packages that will benefit your customer with a combination of desired services and an excellent price point. You can create service bundles that help your customers prepare for the delights and difficulties of winter and cold temps. Make a list of the combined services your clients would like and the benefits and value they would produce. For example, if your business is auto repair, one of your packages could include an oil change, an all-point inspection, windshield wiper replacement, and tire rotation. Another could cover replacing the timing belt and a check on all other belts, valves and hoses.
When combining these services as a bundle, you can give discounts to entice potential customers to buy a package on your site, call, or stop in. In this case, the bundle of services also saves customers time because they don’t have to get those services separately, and they gain confidence knowing that their vehicle is being maintained properly. How can you help your clients save time and money? Explaining these benefits online and making it easy for them to obtain will help both you and your customers.
Sixth, you can maximize your marketing dollars and extend your marketing arm by creating a piggyback marketing campaign with non-competing businesses that provide products and services that complement yours. These cross-promotional efforts will introduce clients to another great business with the confidence that the services and products are recommended and respected. For example, if your business is auto service, you can piggyback with auto-body shops to cross promote each other’s services. With this type of low-cost marketing, both businesses represent and refer each other which adds mutual value and credibility.
Overall, if you want to capture more sales during our cold season, focusing on these points will help increase your clientele and profits. Once the new clients have found you and become acquainted with your company, you will be rewarded with their loyalty and referrals to their friends, family and colleagues. I hope you find this article helpful. If you do, please share it with others. Thank you!