Sales slumps can happen to the best of us. Whether it’s after the major winter holidays or during the hazy summer months, a temporary halt in momentum is a challenge for even the most established of brands. While operating at 110% capacity may not always be feasible, making the most of the eCommerce slow season definitely is.
If you’ve been itching to pick up the pace, you’ve stumbled upon the right blog post. Grab your favorite pair of sneakers and allow us to run you through six suggested courses of action. Ready, set, go!
#1. Make an Offer They Can’t Refuse
Who knew that Vito Corleone could give such great sales advice? Actually, that makes a lot of sense, but we digress. The point is, people like deals, and a tempting offer may just be the gentle push your customers need to brandish their wallets.
Get those credit cards (figuratively) swiping by…
- Running flash sales. Who doesn’t love an opportunistic sale or BOGO promotion?
- Doing giveaways. You can go at it solo, or partner up for a wider reach.
- Setting up a rewards program. Express your gratitude by rewarding your customers for every dollar spent.
In addition to defeating buyer inertia, the above tactics are fabulous for generating buzz. But, before you shine the spotlight on your online business, it doesn’t hurt to cross your t’s and dot your i’s…
#2. Revamp Your Marketing Strategy
Marketing is an ever-changing and ever-growing field. From virtual reality to memes, keeping your finger on the pulse helps you stay hip and survive in a highly competitive market. So, while a little bit of stagnation is to be expected, you should continue to check your marketing efforts, like your web design and SEO, for optimum awesomeness.
#3. Refresh Your Inventory
The science is in: As humans, we love novelty. The fresher, the better. With that in mind, it makes sense to stir up some serious sales action by refreshing your inventory selection, whether that be by adding new products or breathing new life into old ones. If you choose to go with the former, how about launching a limited edition collection for the summertime? Scarcity creates demand, after all!
#4. Expand Your Reach
What’s better than one sales platform? Several! A multichannel eCommerce solution is packed with plenty of advantages you won’t want to miss out on. Aside from risk reduction, which comes in handy if a server happens to crash or go kaput, storing your eggs in many baskets allows for increased brand exposure and greater revenue growth. And, if you’re stuck on choosing where to branch out to, we have just the guide for you!
#5. Gather Social Proof
First, you hunted. Then, you gathered… social proof, that is! This psychological phenomenon describes the “monkey see, monkey do” concept. Basically, it’s in our nature to adapt to the behavior modeled by others under the assumption that their thoughts and actions are correct. For marketing and eCommerce, social proof is a super compelling way to build trust and stimulate conversions.
You can incorporate social proof through:
- Brand ambassadors
- Celebrity and influencer endorsements
- Collaborations with experts in your niche
- User testimonials and customer reviews
Furthermore, gathering social proof is a great way to nurture and connect with your existing network.
#6. Run a Competitive Analysis
Hey, there’s no shame in taking a furtive glance at the other guys. As long as there’s no outright copying (we know you would never do that!), getting an overview of your market’s current landscape is extremely beneficial. Not only will you have the chance to flex your detective chops, but you’ll also become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, which ultimately translates to actionable data for tangible results.
With a little creativity, and a little more elbow grease, combatting the eCommerce slow season becomes a more-than-doable undertaking. Feel free to mix and match our tips as you see fit — you’re the captain of your own ship!
Queries? Comments? Let us know! Hearing from you is always a treat.
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