1.  Is your website responsive?  

Responsive means that your site will look great whether visitors are viewing it from a smartphone, tablet or desktop PC. Sixty-four percent of American adults own a smartphone, and 42% own a tablet (from an October 2014 Pew Internet Project research study).

This most likely means that you’ve got people that will visit your website on one of these devices. If your current website design is not mobile-friendly, your visitors will quickly get frustrated by trying to pinch, stretch or scroll their way through your PC-based website on their mobile phone. If you don’t have a mobile-friendly site, it’s time to start planning for a website redesign.

2. Are you getting enough sales or leads from your website?

One of the key indicators to let you know you need to redesign your site is if your traffic is declining.

Are fewer people visiting your site?  Or, are they getting to your homepage and bouncing–leaving the page almost immediately? These kinds of metrics can show you quantitatively that your website just isn’t working for you anymore. Here are some areas to explore if you are concerned about a high bounce rate:

• Does your website’s design match the brand personality that you want to convey to customers? Customers should see a site that reflects your company’s image.
• Is your main call-to-action obvious to your visitors? Measure the clicks over time to find out.
• Is it clear to your visitors what products or services you offer? Organize your site in a way that visitors can quickly discern who you are, what you offer, and how they can buy it.

3.  How does your website look compared to your competitors?

It’s always a good idea to check out the competition.  Review your direct competitors’ websites on a regular basis. Look at not only the design but also notice their voice and how they position their product or service. Avoid plagiarizing, but you are free to use any inspiration to update your website.

Keep an eye on how they rank on search engines compared to your site. If you own a nail salon in Annapolis, Maryland, type in “nail salon Annapolis” into Google and see where you show up and how you compare to your direct competitors. If they are ranking higher, you need to look at doing a redesign that focuses on incorporating best SEO practices.

4. Does it have all the bells and whistles you need?

Besides the actual design, a website can include lots of extras that make the day-to-day management of business easier. Here are a few examples of the types of tools or apps that can be added to a website to streamline business operations:

• An online appointment scheduler is a much more efficient way for both you and your clients manage appointments.
• An email sign up form is a quick way to collect email addresses from your site visitors. It boosts the size of your email contact list so you can increase your outreach.
• Social media icons make it easier for your site visitors to share and engage with your site via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more.
• A photo or video gallery can help you display imagery or videos in an appealing and enticing way.

These are just a few examples. There are many tools you can use to create a better experience for the visitor and you.

5. Are you just tired of it?

If you feel like your website would win an award for the ‘Ugliest Website of The Year’, then it’s just time to bite the bullet. Your website is the conduit for many people to get a first impression. If it’s not projecting the image you want for your business, then it’s time to invest in a redesign.

If you answered yes to a few of the questions above, you should consider redesigning your website. There are many design services available. Deluxe Websites offers a complete end-to-end solution for website design, getting your website found, making sure it’s mobile-friendly and ensuring it’s SEO-optimized.

Found this helpful? Get more tips and how-tos by subscribing to the weekly VR Buzz newsletter.

The post Five Things to Consider Before Undergoing a Website Redesign appeared first on VerticalResponse.

What do you ultimately want the reader to do? Click a button to buy something? To read an article? To visit your store? Or, book an appointment? These design enhancements let you focus your attention on the call to action and produce a better look and feel for your email.

Let’s use this before and after of a sample email template that has been slightly altered to show some of the email design elements that can make your email more enjoyable to read.

Background Color or Image

Get your entire email to stand out by adding a solid background color or patterned image. With the blue background added in Option 2, the email content pops. However, keep in mind that some email clients like Outlook or Yahoo! Mail won’t display background images. Emails read on those email providers will appear with just a white background.

Text Highlight

Get your readers’ eyes focused on the message you want to highlight. Compare the first paragraphs between Option 1 and Option 2. By adding a colored box around the text, the eye is drawn to that area.  You can also change the background color of that section of the box to highlight it even more.  If you’re offering a promotion or having a seasonal sale, you could design a box with dashed lines to make it look like a traditional percent off coupon.

Call to Action Button

It’s usually the whole point of sending out an email in the first place– the call to action. And using a button to focus your readers on what you want them to do is an easy way to get them to take that action. Plus you make it simple for your mobile readers to get to your site if you give them a button to click. Design your button to get the most attention in the email. First the text needs to be as clear and concise as possible. The options are limitless, but the old standbys include “Buy Now”, “Get Started” or “Donate”. In terms of the button design, take into account the color, shape, size, width and border. The difference between Option 1 and Option 2 is the black border around the button. VerticalResponse offers a free button building tool within the email editor.

Break Up Your Content

If you’re sending out a lengthy email like a newsletter that has a few different articles, consider breaking up the content with some simple lines. Option 2 has a few lines added to break up the content between the articles. It also divides the main call to action “Get Started” from the secondary email content. Readers typically like to skim. Adding a divider line can help them discern different content elements.

One cautionary note, don’t go into email design overload where you inadvertently make the text difficult to read or the email too overwhelming to view. What’s worse than white font against a dark background?  Email eyesores will only get your email noticed in a way that you don’t want. You know, like in “that’s the ugliest email I’ve ever seen” way.  Always err on the side of simplicity with your design choices, and be consistent with your existing brand aesthetic.

The post How to Make Your Emails Pop in the Inbox appeared first on VerticalResponse.

Besides just showing up in an online directory, the goal is to get the right information at the right time into the hands of potential customers. It’s important to consider the type of information shoppers look for when they do a search on a mobile phone versus a desktop. People searching on a smartphone are more likely to be in the midst of shopping. Compare that need for information to someone doing a search on their PC or tablet while at home or the office.

Recent research conducted by Deluxe, shows the type of content shoppers are looking for depending on the device they’re using:

Shoppers conducting a search from their smartphones:

• 54% are looking for business hours
• 53% are looking for directions
• 50% are looking for local store addresses

Shoppers conducting a search from their desktop PC or tablet:

• 45% are looking for product availability
• 42% are looking for business hours
• 38% are looking for local store addresses

In general, the above information should be included in your online business listing. It’s a no-brainer to include your address, hours of operation, product brands you sell, and directions. However, it’s also best to put yourself in the mind of your potential customers and how they would probably search for your particular type of business.

If you owned a restaurant as an example, besides the above information, potential customers typically want to know what type of food you serve, and what’s on your menu. They may also like to find out if you take reservations, and whether you’re a five-star restaurant or casual neighborhood joint.

If you own a retail clothing shop in a busy area of town, consider that parking is top of mind among patrons. Not only would a searcher want to know your store’s specialty (women’s, men’s, children, plus size, athletic, etc.) but also any recommendations on parking.

Think about how your customers are finding you online and the types of information they’re looking for and then include it in your online business listings. If you’re not sure, you may want to take an informal survey of your customers as you interact with them.  Just a simple query like, “Did you find my shop on the internet? Can you tell me what you searched for?” should provide you with the information you need.

If you’d like to check out how your business currently appears across the most popular online directories, you can conduct a free scan. This tool provides an online report almost instantaneously with how your business listing appears on sites like Yahoo!, Bing, Facebook, Yelp and more. This scan is a quick and easy way to see how your business is listed. You can verify your information and discover which directories are missing your listing.

If you find managing numerous directories too time-consuming, there are services that can help you claim, manage and optimize your listings on your behalf. Local SEO services can help ensure your information is not only accurate, but also optimized so your business stands out from competitors on the search results page.

For more marketing tips like these, sign up for the weekly VR Buzz Newsletter.

The post What You Absolutely Need to Include in Your Online Business Listing appeared first on VerticalResponse.

1. Anything that Blinks

We’ve all been to those sites where either a text or image is blinking at us just begging for attention. It can be very annoying and distracting. Just don’t do it. Instead, if you need to illustrate how something works, try using an animated GIF image to show it like we do with our email creation tool in the example below:

2.  Busy Backgrounds

A background holds the entire theme of a website. Try to pick a color or pattern that complements your text and imagery. Avoid distracting backgrounds that make it hard to read your text. In the example below, the background color and pattern is very distracting and you can barely read the text on the page.

3. Too Many Fonts and Colors

You want your site to project an image of professionalism and credibility. Pick fonts and colors that complement your brand. Quantity does not necessarily indicate quality with fonts and colors on a site. Best practice is the have two to three fonts and colors per page, maximum. See this post for some advice on the psychology of color and how it can impact your site. 

4. No Clear Focal Point or Call to Action

Not having one or having too many focal points on your website will confuse your site visitors. A focal point is the most important part of the page or the part of the page that is the most dominant and should focus your visitor on taking an intended action. Whether it’s buying something, downloading content or calling to schedule an appointment, make sure your focal point is tied to a clear call to action on your site.

The page example below is clearly overloaded with too many calls to action. As a site visitor, what action are you supposed to take? By the way, this page also has 4 blinking images on it (then again, it is a UFO site!)

5. Text Annoyances

Text annoyances can include text that’s too small, too large, in all caps, bold, italic, or underlined text that’s not linked. It’s especially bad if all of these styles appear in one paragraph or page together. Balance how you treat text so that it’s easily readable. In this case, less is more.

6. Not Mobile Friendly

Your website should look great on any device your visitor is using, whether it’s a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone. Visitors are less likely to stay on your site if it’s not mobile friendly. It’s important to make your business website mobile friendly not only for visitors, but for search engines as well.

7. Outdated Content

Make sure to update your website on a regular basis. Creating and launching your website for the first time is only the beginning. Not only do search engines like sites that are updated on a regular basis, your visitors will too.  Get rid of that reference to a 2012 promotion. Customers want the latest and greatest information about your products, services and company news.  Need some inspiration, read about 4 quick fixes to reboot your website.

8. Hiding Your Contact Information

Finding your phone number, address and hours of operation should not be a game of hide and seek on your site. It’s one of the primary pieces of information that a visitor will look for. Make sure it’s in a prominent, easy-to-find location.

9. Cluttered Pages

Having white space (where a space is intentionally left blank so there is no text or images) is actually a good thing on a website.  White space can make a page more readable. An overly busy website can be overwhelming to a visitor and will drive them to quickly leave your site. De-cluttering your site and adding white space helps you create an enjoyable experience as well as creating that all-important focal point.

Below is a clear example of how a cluttered website could use a little more white space.

Here’s how white space should be used:

10. Stop the Music

No music should start automatically playing when someone visits your website. If you absolutely want some mood music playing, make sure it’s consistent across every page and give your visitor the option to pause it when they want.

Check your website against this list of the top ten website eyesores. If you’re in violation of anything on the list, take some time to think about how your website can be more appealing to your visitors so they will come back again and again.

For more design tips, visit the design category of our VerticalResponse blog.

What other website eyesores would you add to our list? Please share in the comments section below.

Get more tips and tactics by subscribing to the weekly VerticalResponse email newsletter.

The post Top 10 Website Eyesores to Avoid appeared first on VerticalResponse.

Company A has 1,000 customers and retains 90% of them year over year. Company B also has 1,000 customers, but retains only 80%. Both companies are adding new customers at a rate of 20% annually. Company A will experience a net 10% growth rate while Company B is not growing their customer base at all. If you look at it over several years, the retention growth rate continually compounds year over year. At the end of 9 years, Company A has actually doubled the number of customers while company B only has 700 customers out of their 1,000 starting point.

Returning customers are also known to spend more than first time customers. Ecommerce spending for new customers is on average $24.50, compared to $52.50 for repeat customers according to McKinsey & Company.

Returning customers are crucial to a business’s growth. Let’s take a look at a few ways to surprise and delight your customers so they remain loyal.

1. Say Thank You

It’s an obvious one, but it works. Customers like to feel appreciated especially if they just spent money with you. There’s a variety of ways to say thank you. It’s easy if it’s in person at your location: “Thanks so much for your business. Please visit us again soon.” If you have an online store, you can include a thank you note when you fulfill the product, or send a separate “Thank you” email message, and if you can, include a coupon towards their next purchase. Here are a few more ideas on how to show customer appreciation.

2. Get Customer Feedback

Asking for feedback about a customer’s experience or product quality shows that you’re engaged in your business and looking for ways to improve. Customers do have options to share feedback with review sites like Yelp. You should be responding to comments you receive on those sites. However, you should consider sending a satisfaction survey directly to your customers. Not only will you get valuable feedback to help you make improvements to your business, but it keeps your business top of mind with customers.

3. Consistently Communicate

Reach out to your customers on a regular basis. Whether it’s a newsletter, coupon or an event invitation, customers want to hear from you about new products, services, discounts or events. Here’s a guide with some ideas: 9 Emails Your Business Should be Sending.

4. Highlight a Customer Experience

Showcasing one of your customers in your store, in an email newsletter or a re-tweet can garner great engagement  Everyone likes a little attention paid to them or their cause. If you’ve got a customer raising funds for a charity, offer to put up a flyer in your window, sponsor their cause, tweet about it or mention it in one of your blog posts. Sending birthday or anniversary wishes is another way to let customers know that you care.

By sending regular post purchase communications you send the message that you care about more than just selling. These four tips should help you on that journey.

Have you discovered other ways to delight customers after they’ve purchase from you?  Share your ideas in the comment section.

Stay connected with your customers by emailing through VerticalResponse – It’s free up to 1,000 contacts.

The post 4 ways to retain customers and keep them coming back appeared first on VerticalResponse.

To avoid major email eyesores, here’s a list of flaws or faux pas you should avoid when creating your emails.

1. An email template that isn’t mobile-friendly

Sending an email that doesn’t render properly on a smartphone or tablet can be a waste of time for both the sender, as well as the reader. It’s frustrating for a reader to shift from vertical to horizontal while simultaneously pinching the screen to zoom in. After that experience, an impression of a sender’s business can be less than positive.

Hint: VerticalResponse email templates are fully-responsive so they look great on any device.

We also have more mobile-friendly design tips in this recent post.

2. Typos or grammatical errors

It’s always a turn off to see a perfectly good email marred by a misspelling. If caught, it’s a definite distraction to what you really want to convey in your message. It’s always a good idea to send a test message to yourself as well as someone else. Getting a second pair of eyes on your email can help you catch any of those unwelcome typos.

3. Font style overload

Using several or even a few different font styles within the same email can be overwhelming to a reader. Only use one or maybe two different fonts in your email to keep it looking clean and consistent.

4.  Color explosion

Using a rainbow of color choices in an email can be jarring to the reader. Whether it’s the color for your text or the background color, you should select colors that match your brand’s image.  If you need to use multiple colors, make sure they complement each other. For more info, learn about the psychology of colors.

5. Too much going on syndrome

In order to understand the main message or call to action, overly busy emails cause a reader’s eyes to dart back and forth across the screen. This will not get you the results you are looking for. More does not necessarily mean better.

Look at the example below and count how many calls to action and varying messages there are in this one email. There’s definitely too much going on here.

If you’re sending a promo, stick to one effective call to action, and make it very prominent. If you’re sending an email newsletter, divide content into clear, clean sections. Guide a reader’s eyes down one path, not fifty.

6. A buried call to action button

Most emails (should) have a call to action. Examples include: “Buy Now,” “Learn More,” “Donate Today,” etc. Don’t make your readers hunt for it. Include a call to action button that’s prominent and eye-catching.

In the email example below, the calls to action are hard to find. Why? Because they’re text-only, and they’re written in the same font and color as the rest of the text. The call to action, “Shop June Hitlist” blends in too much with the other copy to even get noticed.

Need help creating buttons? We have a free button tool you can use.

7. Missing pre-header text

Pre-header text serves as a secondary subject line and it grabs a reader’s attention amongst other emails in a crowded inbox. If you’re not using pre-header text, add it to your emails now – It’s typically the first line of text found at the top of your email.

Below is a good example of using pre-header text:

8.  Imagery gone wild

Images are an important component to any email. We all know a picture is worth a thousand words. However, there’s no need to throw in a bunch of irrelevant images into an email. Any images should relate directly to the product, service or information the sender is trying to convey. Reference this article, which outlines the specifics of using images in emails.

9. A subject line that doesn’t align

Trying to trick a reader into opening an email with a subject line that doesn’t match the content of the email is just plain shady. Readers will be more hesitant to open any emails from that sender in the future. And, this kind of trickery is against the CAN-SPAM law, the Canadian CASL law and European laws, so just don’t do it.

P.S. Don’t USE ALL CAPS in a subject line either. It looks like you’re shouting. Highlighting one important word with all caps can be very attention-getting though, so don’t rule this technique out completely.

10. One big block of text

An email does not need to be a dissertation, or even a large paragraph. Enough said.

Email design eyesores can be easily avoided with the right font and color choices, a prominent call to action, the perfect mix of text, images and white space, and it never hurts to get a second opinion. Did we miss anything that gets to you? Let us know in the comments.

For more tips, check out our free email design guide.

The post Top 10 Email Eyesores You Should Avoid appeared first on VerticalResponse.

1. What is it?
2. Why should I care?
3. What’s included?
4. How do I get it?

Tell them what it is:

Get to the point. Let your audience know exactly why you’re emailing them, and the product or service you have available.

For example: “ABC Yoga Studio is happy to announce a new Vinyasa class” or “Our latest collection now available at XYZ Clothing Store.”

Be simple and direct in letting your audience know what is new. Use your brief, short and direct statement as your email headline or even your subject line. Within your email, you should also include an image of the new product or a picture that represents your new service. Yes, it’s really true that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s one thousand less words you need to write to help sell your new product!

Let them know why they should care:

In your email, tell your audience why they should spend time caring about your message. Tell them directly and succinctly what the benefits are to your new product or service that would directly impact them. Make it relatable to a problem they are trying to solve.

In our yoga studio example, you could say something such as, “Our new Vinyasa class is perfect for students looking for more movement and flow between poses. It’s great for strengthening the body and mind.” Clearly articulating the benefits of your new product or service can pique the interest of customers.

Tell them what’s included:

The goal of a product announcement email is to get your readers interested enough to click on your call to action. You don’t need to include a laundry list of every single item that’s included in your new product. However, you should include the main features that would be of interest.

In our clothing store example, you could say something like, “Our latest collection inspired by the early ‘70s includes Jane bags, jumpsuits, suede skirts and more. All of our clothing is made with our promise of quality.”

A simple list of the key features of a new product or service will help keep your email focused. If you’re offering a special discount or promotion to introduce the product, that should also be very prominent in your email. For example: “For a limited time only, save 15% off any item in our new collection.”

Tell them how to get it:

Make it very clear what your email recipient needs to do to get your new product or service. If you’re selling the product or service online, a clear “Shop Now” button works. If you want to drive people to the website to get more details, try “Learn More.” If you want to drive users to call or visit, make your phone number or your physical address stand out in the email.

We have a handy call to action button generator for your emails.

Here’s a great product announcement email from Picjumbo. This email includes all four pieces of information that should be in an announcement email. It has a strong headline telling people what’s new. The sub headline tells the recipient how this new product can benefit them. The body copy provides a little more detail as to what is included in the new plugin and highlights their introductory price. Plus it has a big call to action button that reinforces their offer.

Using these four must-include items in your next product announcement email will give your customers a better understanding of your new product or service, and will hopefully lead them them to click, buy, call or stop in.

Send your next product announcement email for free with VerticalResponse.

The post 4 aspects every outstanding product announcement needs appeared first on VerticalResponse.

Why are review sites are so important to small businesses?

Not surprisingly, online review sites and their impact on consumer decision making continues to rise at an exponential rate. Here are a few recent stats from various consumer surveys:

• 90% of consumers say their buying decisions are influenced by online reviews.
• 85% of consumers use online reviews to find local businesses.
• Restaurants are, by far, more likely to be reviewed online. However, doctors/dentists, hotels/bed & breakfasts and salons are also up there for most reviewed business types.
• 73% of consumers say that positive customer reviews make them trust a business more.

Source: 2013 BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey and 2013 Dimensional Research survey.

Your potential customers are forming an opinion of your business before they ever even enter your store, restaurant, or visit your website. Knowing how to handle the feedback you receive on review sites is also crucial to managing your online reputation. Here are some dos and don’ts you should abide by when it comes to review sites:

The Dos: 

• Do, first and foremost, review your reviews, and often. See what people are saying about your products or services. Do it on a consistent basis so you can respond (when needed) in a timely manner.

• Do actively participate with reviewers. Whether you receive positive, middle of the road, or negative reviews, when appropriate, reach out to those reviewers. Depending upon the review, you can do so by responding publicly on the site if available, send a private message or even pick up the phone.

• Do solicit reviews wisely and carefully. Consumers are more likely trust a review of your business based on a significant number of reviews. The more, the better. If you don’t have many reviews on more popular review sites, you can simply ask customers to do so. However, several review sites warn caution with this tactic. Don’t be overly aggressive, don’t ask for 5 stars, and do not penalize people for negative reviews! Something as simple as, “Thanks have a great day. If you get a chance, I’d love to have you share your thoughts about my store on Yelp,” should suffice.

 The Don’ts:

• Don’t freak out because you get a negative review. You can’t control what someone will write about you online. You can only control your own customer service that you provide. Typically, consumers who use review sites will read an average of 6 or more reviews before making up their mind. One bad apple may not spoil the barrel in this instance.

• Don’t respond to a negative review when you’re angry. The last thing you’ll want to do when you read a negative review is respond back immediately to that reviewer in a defensive (or even offensive) way. Read the review, step away. When you have some perspective, do respond in a respectful tone. Users of review sites will appreciate the fact that you are reading reviews and are engaged in your business. It shows you care about what people are writing about you.

• Don’t write reviews about yourself. It’s tempting, but don’t do it. Writing “fake” reviews and submitting them yourself is really disingenuous to the spirit of review sites an most sites can detect this faux reviews and will take them down.

• Don’t offer bribes for good reviews. Don’t offer discounts, incentives or freebies to solicit 5 star reviews. Instead, show your customers you’re really interested in what they have to say. Identify which review sites have the most impact on your business and display those review sites’ logos in your shop or on your website. This will encourage users to leave reviews, and on the flip side, look you up as well.

Hope these tips help you in managing your online reputation on review sites. Have any other ideas that may help? Leave them in the comments below.

Get more marketing tips and advice in the weekly VR Buzz.

The post The Dos and Don’ts of Review Sites appeared first on VerticalResponse.

With a huge chunk of annual revenue at stake, and the fast-approaching deadline to promote, it’s time to start prepping for your holiday selling season now. Here’s how you should prepare:

Use What You Already Know

Think about what you did last holiday season. What worked? What didn’t? Apply what you learned from that experience to this year’s marketing strategy. You also know what’s worked this year thus far – product types, advertising, social media campaigns. Leverage what’s been working for you and apply it to your holiday marketing activities.

Determine Your Holiday Product Promotions

Which products will be your hot sellers? If you know, consider applying heavier discounts now on your least popular items to make room for those more popular later in the year. Once you zero in on those products, consider the following:

• Make sure you have enough inventory of hot sellers. Forecast what you need based on last year’s holiday season or what the most popular items have been year-to-date.
• Order early so you’re not left scrambling to fill your shelves.
• What discounts or incentives (if any) will you offer for these products? Percentage off, free shipping, buy one, get one XX% off another item?

Plan Out Your Holiday Marketing Activities

Once you know which products you want to focus on, start thinking about how you want to spend your advertising dollars and where you want to expend your marketing efforts. What’s going to create the biggest bang for the buck? Here’s an example of how one retailer can promote their Black Friday sale (the day after Thanksgiving) which is Nov 28th of this year.

What’s effective about all these marketing activities is that each one can be prepped now. You could create your landing page, email and social posts and have them ready to launch in November. This work can be done up front and then edited, if needed, closer to launch date. You can get these marketing steps done in advance so you can focus on all of the other things you need to do to get ready for this heavy buying season.

Other marketing campaigns that may need a special holiday touch include:

• Paid Search – If you’re doing paid search now, like Google AdWords, take a look at your keywords. Do they need to be updated to highlight a specific product, holiday name (e.g., “Black Friday Special”)  or other?
• Marketing Collateral – Make sure you’re stocked up on your marketing collateral – business cards, brochures, flyers, etc.
• Holiday Cards – Whether you send an email or an actual post card, customers always appreciate a note wishing holiday cheer. Send your holiday greetings early to stay top of mind when customers are getting geared up for their gift shopping.
• Gift Suggestions – Help your customers out by offering gift suggestions or a holiday bundle for that hard-to-shop-for relative.
• Coupons – As we learned earlier from Vouchercloud, “66 million digital coupons were redeemed industry-wide” last year – They work, and they’re popular. Drive users to your website or to your physical location on specific days with, “Good on Black Friday only,” or “Valid only Dec 26th through Jan 2nd” offers.

Get Your Website and/or Retail Location in the Holiday Spirit

For those who have retail locations, determine which seasonal touches you’re going to use to amp up the holiday vibe. If you need decorations, make sure you order or purchase them ahead of time. Get shoppers in the mood with some holiday music. Pick a Pandora station, Spotify playlist or a popular CD and pipe in that music to get customers in the holiday frame of mind.

For business owners who rely upon online sales, you can get in the holiday spirit, too. Update your logo to match the season. Check out how this company updated their logo for Thanksgiving:

If you don’t have a graphic designer to help you out with “holiday-izing” your logo, we can help.

One overarching strategy for your e-commerce website that’s especially important during the busy holiday season is to make your website mobile friendly. More and more shoppers are buying via smartphones or tablet devices. According to Nielsen’s Digital Consumer Report, “mobile shopping is gaining momentum among U.S. consumers, as more than four in five (87%) smartphone and tablet owners say they use these devices for shopping activities, up 8 percentage points from 2012.” Don’t miss out on sales because you don’t have a mobile optimized site.

Besides buying online, many mobile users (up to 55%) are using their smartphones  to read reviews and 23% are writing reviews after their purchases.  If you haven’t checked out your online reviews lately (on sites like Yelp), make sure to do so now. Get actively involved in responding to reviews – whether positive or negative. Shoppers will be more likely to visit you if you’re engaged and proactive in your business.

The holidays are a busy time for small business owners, both professionally and personally. By planning your marketing activities now, you’ll have more time to help your business be a success during the holiday season.

When do you prep for the holiday season? Have any other ideas to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Visit our Everything Holiday site for all your holiday email and social media needs.

Get your holiday marketing started now with VerticalResponse.

The post How to Prep Your Business Now for the Holiday Season appeared first on VerticalResponse.