This time of the year....

[ubure]

Hi there,

of course I know that at this time of the year sales slow down, but what do you do to increase them again? Or don't you experience such a slowing down at all?

Almost no sales at the moment....

[Node11]

For my day job I try to utilize low cost advertising during slower sales periods and shy away from more expensive advertising options like pay-per-click and shopping engines that tend to have poor ROI during non-peak sales periods.

Put your customer list to work. Direct, targeted email marketing to your customers is a great way to communicate. Email content based on past purchase history for repeat customers or general advertising content for new prospects is pretty economical and effective. Liquidate some old stock to create cash flow or feature new offerings to generate profits. Do you have any regional holidays, events or customs you can work with? It's tax time here in the US. A lot of people receive tax refunds over the next couple months and a lot of retail marketing will revolve around that in some shape or form.

Poking around online for additional resources that may be relevant turned up some ideas for advertising, marketing, networking and business growth:

• Create or update your website and invite your customers to check it out
  
• Set up a Facebook page. Check out Woobox. It is great for creating Facebook sweepstakes and giveaways to attract more prospects.
  
• Create a video and post it on YouTube and invite people/customers to view it
  
• Send out promotions or features with your invoices to generate future sales
  
• Create a newsletter (and a mailing list) if you don't yet have one
  
• Look into local community charitable events and see how your business may be able to fit in and help out
  
• Build your professional network online with sources like Linkedin
  
• Join professional and/or business organizations like the NCA or IGCA
  
• Ask retail customers for referrals
  
• Advertise your business on your vehicle
  
• Create a brochure and prospect local shops for wholesale accounts
  
• Update eBay listings
  
• Set up online accounts on local business directories like Yelp
  
• Donate a prize to local or college radio stations for giveaways or contests
  
• Include links to your social media in your online and print communications
  
• Handwritten thank you notes to your customers make a nice impact
  
• Put relevant QR codes on your advertising to promote quick and mobile access to specific or additional information
  

I'm still working on getting my personal business up off the ground (very soon!) and these seem like some pretty good options to consider. Some cost money and some cost time and effort.

Marketing to your customers is a lot like learning and perfecting your craft. Research, testing and logging results so you don't repeat mistakes or continue to achieve poor results is paramount. Everyone's customer base is as unique as their business. Hopefully some of these suggestions will spawn more ideas that will suit your needs

[ubure]

Thanks, that's a lot of good advice!

You see, I always have one or two things in mind which I'd like to do in order to do some more marketing but then I get so occupied with my everyday schedule I never have time creating something for my business. Adwords is killing me (it was good from october to december, but now? But I don't dare trying without....)

I do have a facebook page but as I'm not such a big fan of social media (even though I know it is important) and so I seldom post something. Most of my customers don't want a newsletter and I can understand why: we all get suffocated with this stuff so people try to reduce their mails.

I have to make up my mind what to chose and then just do it (if I ever find time....aaaaagggghhhhh!)