The holiday commercials are already starting to appear.
Toyland is open and the kids are circling the things they want most for Christmas this year.
For businesses the holidays are a time of opportunity. Businesses that operate in the retail world know that the fourth quarter is important. People will be spending more money now than at any point all year. It is the gift giving time of year and as the money flows businesses are competing.
But what about the businesses that don’t depend on fourth quarter sales?
There are still opportunities to increase sales during the holidays and it starts with a few updates to your website. That’s right. Your site that’s looked the same the entire year could use a refresh going into the new year.
Here are three ways you can freshen up your website to attract more attention to your business during the holidays. Once that attention is had you can turn it into sales and have an even better holiday season than you were planning.
Holiday Photography, Backgrounds and Imagery
This is last year’s version of Visit Maine. They have a great new site this year and I’m excited to see what they create for the holidays this year.
But last year the site created this holiday theme. The photos on the homepage were all about getting people in the mood for Christmas. Also changed was the background. It was all about bringing the emotion of the holidays out.
Now, not many people are looking for vacation during the holidays unless they’re visiting family, but there are people that do and there are even more that might consider it if they knew where to go.
Visit Maine has the right idea with their freshened site. They want to let people know that Maine is a great place to visit during the holidays. There may be snow on the ground and it might be a little cold, but that’s what Christmas is all about.
Feature Holiday Items
Sylvia’s is a restaurant in New York. Currently, their site has a special feature showcasing what they’re have on the menu for Thanksgiving. Restaurants probably have a little rush during the holidays, but I would guess that most people stay home to make their own meals.
But why should a restaurant give up?
Sylvia’s freshened up their website to provide information about holiday items. The restaurant featured holiday items to get people in the mood for the holidays. Now, when people visit the site they’ll have the idea that they can just take the family out for a great dinner instead of staying at home the entire time.
Sometimes you just need to put the idea in someone’s head to get them to make a buying decision. Update your site to feature holiday-related items and you might just see your sales increase this year.
Help Those Less Fortunate
I don’t have an image for this one, but the idea just came to me.
I’m not saying any business is obligated to do this to their site over the holidays, but it might make for a neat idea.
The holidays are really about giving back to those less fortunate. Many of us have the fortune to spend time with our families and friends over the holidays. We travel to see the ones we love the most. We laugh, tell stories and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Elsewhere there are those less fortunate that can’t have the same experiences.
Your website could be a great way to help those who may need it this year. You could even use the technology already on your website to provide assistance.
For example, many real estate websites have map functions built in. As they add new properties they are easily able to provide an interactive map directing people to the location.
For the holidays the website could be updated to provide directions to the local hospitals and soup kitchens. This way when people visit the site they will not only remember that they can provide help, but also have an easy way to find a location where they can go.
Conclusion
The holidays are a special time of year. Many businesses are trying to find ways to earn an extra dollar during this time. Even if your business isn’t focused on the fourth quarter there is still much you can do with your website to add interest and get more attention.
Try the three design ideas above to freshen up your site for the holidays. You could bring in a little more money and even give back to those less fortunate. It’s a truly successful way to make the holidays a great time for your company.
