Optimising your online brand presence this Christmas
For small businesses, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. Everyone’s searching for the perfect gifts, and in the digital world we live in, there are a million and one ways we can use the web and social media to our advantage to build momentum and of course, increase sales. So, we’ve compiled a list of a few things to consider as a small business owner this festive season:
1. Ensure your website is up to date.
Have you included product descriptions? Are the prices correct? Have you turned on the Instagram or Facebook shop feature and connected your website? They might seem obvious, but it’s really important to consider these things before the busy season approaches. Website sales for many businesses increase dramatically in the lead up to Christmas. It’ll be time consuming no doubt, but by ensuring your website is looking schmick and easy for customers to navigate, will make for a much more enjoyable online experience. This is particularly important for those last minute shoppers who love convenience!
2. Optimise your profiles.
You want to ensure your social media profiles allow for quick and easy purchasing and that the information displayed is correct. Is it easy for shoppers to find your products online through your social media accounts? Have you communicated how they should make contact if they’re interested in purchasing or inquiring about a product or service?
Again, we need to keep in mind all types of shoppers and their differing needs. By ensuring your social media accounts are regularly updated, could be the difference between gaining or losing new customers.
Have you checked the following:
Are my business hours up to date?
Is my address correct?
Have I linked my website?
Is my email available?
Is my business phone number linked?
Have I completed the ‘About Us’ section on Facebook?
Is my Instagram bio up to date?
Have I considered altering my Christmas hours and if so, has this been communicated on my social platforms in advance?
Have I enabled Instagram and Facebook shop? (This might not be an option for you and that’s ok - you can do it with most platforms if your website is built in Shopify, WooCommerce or Squarespace)
Is my profile image the same across all platforms to help customers easily locate my business online?
If I want to encourage online sales, can I include a direct link in my posts for customers to shop online?
3. Get creative.
You don’t have to be a graphic designer or content creator to create beautiful and eye-catching posts - our phones can do almost anything these days! Get creative using Christmas GIFs, emojis and graphics. Pinterest is fantastic for inspiration at Christmas time, and a good old flat lay is a gorgeous eye-catching way to include a few Christmas-y themed items in the mix.
4. Post about new products in your feed, don’t just add them to your story.
What’s the main difference between posting to your feed as opposed to posting to your story? When we post to our feed, we’re increasing the potential for new customers, however posting to our story is communicating to those who already follow us. Rick likes to describe it as, “Preaching to the converted.” Christmas is the time of year when new stock is arriving on the daily, and naturally, you want to get the message out to your customers, current and potential. But, what you need to be careful of is over-posting. People tend to unfollow accounts that spam them with a bunch of posts in a day).
Ways to avoid this might be by posting once in the morning and again in the evening or using the carousel feature on Instagram to add multiple images.
So, there you go. A few simple ways you can optimise your social media and website this festive season to ensure happy customers and a smooth shopping experience. Happy posting, and remember to #SupportSmallBusiness where you can this Christmas ⭐️