| turers of great products are struggling right now due to | | | | easy, do-it-yourself tool to help you with online |
| the potential threat of a recession, a slow down in | | | | advertising. Well written pay per click advertising |
| sales this year and uncertain political and economic | | | | campaigns can rapidly increase your ROI. |
| times. | | | | 3) E-Newsletters. Your happy customers are your |
| The holiday season is the most important time of year | | | | best source of advertising. Strive to build a community |
| for the retail industry. Some 50%+ of revenue is | | | | with your customers. Write to them, send an e-blast, |
| earned during the last 3 months of the year. Many | | | | and keep them connected to your business, products |
| retailers and manufactures had a tough 3rd quarter | | | | and future. |
| and need to recover from the strain. It is critical to | | | | 4) Re-purpose or market your product as a gift or a |
| have a strong 4th quarter to close out the year. To do | | | | utility item. Both are always in need. Mom's and women |
| so, manufactures must engage with their current | | | | are still buying products, especially for the holidays, but |
| customers, seek out new ones in effective and | | | | they are evaluating the value of the product prior to |
| efficient ways and incorporate new strategies to do | | | | spending money. Consumers buy gifts and utility items |
| so. | | | | year round. |
| There are several successful, inexpensive marketing | | | | 5) Give back to your loyal customers. Everyone is |
| and sales tactics worth investigating. These strategies | | | | struggling now. Do what you can to give back. Create |
| are ideal for manufactures in the retail and e-tail | | | | POS materials for your retailers, try to get press in |
| business. Here are 5 doable strategies to increase | | | | markets which will help your retailers, or give small |
| sales: | | | | discounts to your customers. We all appreciate the |
| 1) Grass roots marketing. Pay attention to the bloggers | | | | notion that we "are in this together." |
| out there who write to your target audience. Mommy | | | | These are year round strategies to help increase |
| Communities, beauty blogs or other product specific | | | | sales not just marketing approaches for the 4th |
| Blogs are great resources to get free exposure for | | | | quarter. Implementing basic, predictable and |
| your products. | | | | inexpensive marketing tactics will help you have a |
| 2) Increase online advertising dollars. Margins are higher | | | | successful holiday season and will prepare you for the |
| for manufacturers who e-tail. GoogleAdwords is an | | | | upcoming challenges in the year ahead. |