In this post, I'm walking you through 5 steps you can take to increase sales this holiday season. A.k.a this is an eCommerce Holiday Prep Checklist and I recommend getting started right away!

Step 1: Increase Sales with Branding

I'll keep this one brief because many of you who read this will have already checked this one off your to-do list ... I hope. But, in case you haven't (and there's no shame in that), here's your reminder that branding comes first.

Branding is the foundation on which the rest of your business rests. It's not only how your business looks, but also how your business interacts with your customers. For example, if you're selling luxury beauty products, your branding should be high-end and trustworthy so that your customers feel secure when investing larger amounts of money with a new brand. If you're selling cute, novelty clay earrings, you're branding should be playful and genuine. That way your customers feel comfortable around your brand and the freedom to be their authentic selves. See where I'm going here? 

Your branding goes much deeper than the surface. So, in order to look your best this holiday season and attract the type of people who are going to be obsessed with your unique products, make sure you look the part!

And, I even have a fast, affordable way for you to do this before the holidays!

To help you prep for your best holiday season yet, I'm giving you 50% off any of the Brand Kits on my shop. Here's how it works: 

1. You choose a brand kit

2. We work together to customize the logos, color palette, and pattern for your unique business

3. Within 2 weeks you have a new look that you feel confident in!

You can take a look at the brand kits here:

50% off New Branding!

Step 2: Increase Sales with Festive Copywriting

Once you've tackled your branding, you're ready to move onto "festive copywriting"!

During your branding process, you probably gave some thought to your brand's personality and how your want customers to feel when they interact with your brand. Use this information to write (or have someone else write) some holiday-themed copywriting.

This copywriting will be the words you use on your social media, packaging, and website. Here's what I mean:

1. You attract customers through your social media using your holiday copywriting to communicate the holiday deals and promotions you're running this season.

2. Feeling enticed and excited by these deals, your customers will then go to your website where they'll read more details. The holiday copy helps them envision the special moment they'll have when receiving or gifting your products this holiday season.

3. The customer orders products from your website. When the products arrive, they are greeted with holiday packaging (we'll get that one next) and a fun holiday phrase that makes them laugh. They walk away feeling more connected to your brand and thankful for a warm and fuzzy unboxing experience.

Your copywriting should follow your customers throughout their buyer's journey to make the most impact.

Step 3: Increase Sales with Holiday Packaging

Now, onto packaging as promised! This part should be straightforward once you have your branding and copywriting. The goal for your packaging during the holiday season is to have it represent your brand and brand personality while also feeling special. You want your packaging to add to your customers' holiday experience and stand out in their minds after they've wrapped or unwrapped various products from various brands.

Your packaging needs to have some holiday flair even if small. For example:

1. Add some holiday-themed stickers or packaging tape to your normal unboxing experience.

2. Add in some custom, holiday tissue paper so the inside of your product box feels festive.

3. Add a holiday thank you card with every order and a discount code for a purchase in the new year!

The possibilities are endless here and you get to choose whether you go all-out or keep it simple. The important part is that you do something!

Step 4: Increase Sales with Enticing Holiday Product Photos

Once you have your holiday packaging sorted, it's time to take some new product photos. These photos will help wow your customers on your website. You can hire someone to take a few photos or simply grab your iPhone and set up a shoot in your home!

Either way, think about holiday props that make sense for your brand and product. Maybe it's red ribbons, pine cones, evergreen branches, or holly. Maybe you don't want to go the traditional Christmas color route and instead opt for gold and silver accents! Chances are, you probably already have suitable props lying around the house as part of your own holiday decor. Grab a few ornaments, some wrapping paper, or plaid blankets ... I'm just spill-balling here, but you get the idea!

Then take a look at Pinterest for some ideas and make sure you're in a location with good, natural lighting such as next to a window. If you're looking for more tips, check out this video.

Just keep in mind that these photos will be used on your social media and website. Make sure you get both vertical and horizontal shots of everything so you have the photos you need when it comes time to use them.

Pro Tip: Buy a holiday preset for your photos to make them all look more professional and cohesive. You can buy presets on Esty for as low as $3.

Step 5: Increase Sales with a "I need this now!" Website

Finally, we've got step number five, the website. As an eCommerce business, you know that your website is your store front and where most customers make their purchases. So, this storefront needs to look amazing!

Just think of all the effort brick-and-mortar businesses put into decorating their stores for the holidays. Bath and Body Works instantly comes to mind for me. They do this because they want to capture the attention of people walking by and inspire them with a hefty dose of Christmas spirit. When you walk into their store, they want you to feel swept up in the emotion of the season and make an impulse decision to purchase.

Apply these same goals and principles to your online store. Use the festive copywriting from Step 2 and the product photos of your festive packaging from steps 3 and 4 to decorate your website. Together, they'll turn your store into a winter wonderland that inspires more sales this holiday season!

Conclusion: Increasing Sales this Holiday Season

In order to increase sales this holiday season, you need to put your best foot forward. Invest in making your business festive and full of holiday cheer so that you can better relate to and inspire your customers during the holidays. Invite your audience to take part in the holiday season with you and your brand. Give them an unboxing experience they'll cherish and remember. Perhaps they'll love it so much they'll gift another one of your products to someone else!

In fact, that would be a great holiday promotion! Buy one get one 50% off so you can gift to a friend! Again, just spitballing here. No matter what you decide to do, make sure you're doing something and not nothing.

Looking for less DIY and more Done-for-you? WildHive can help! Let's discuss the best plan forward.