Last-minute checklist for local businesses for Christmas shopping
Christmas is around the corner, and that means one thing…. it's Christmas shopping season. Thousands of people hunting for gifts, so it pays to be ready.
Do you have a physical store? Here's a last-minute checklist to consult to make sure your shopping season is a success.
1. Make sure your Google local listings are fully up to date:
- Make sure your address, category and phone number are correct
- Add your special holiday hours in advance
- Select the relevant attributes
- Update your store description
- Publish Google Posts about your active promotions, using relevant keywords in the title and text
- Highlight gift ideas by uploading more products to your listing
- Upload updated photos of your store and window display
- List the services you offer, such as home delivery or in-store pickup
- Do you have reviews of your business? Always give a relevant reply, thank customers for their time, and invite them back to the store.
2. Do you have a website?
- Use the product page as a Drive to Store tool by geolocating the user and showing information on the nearest store.
- Create a dedicated Christmas category with gift ideas
- If you sell online, specify the last date by which you guarantee delivery before Christmas. No one wants to be left without a gift on Christmas day.
- Set up a dedicated customer care service to clear up any doubts during checkout
3. Do you have a Store Locator?
- Make sure each store has a dedicated page with a customized URL to help the pages rank for local searches.
- Add special hours and active promotions to each page, and maybe even special Christmas products
4. Do you have a customer database?
- Send them a message or an email inviting them to come to the store to discover the active promotions and available gift ideas.
- During the Christmas period keep asking your customers for their contact details, so you can always keep them updated on the latest news in store.
5. Do you have a local Facebook/Instagram page?
- Make sure information such as address, phone number and hours is up to date.
- Post to communicate your holiday hours
- Use photos and videos to show the gift ideas available in store.
- Use positive reviews as social proof and create dedicated posts
- Don't forget to always ask your customers for a post-purchase review. They help boost your search engine ranking and online visibility.
6. Last but not least. Always be available.
The Christmas period can sometimes be a bit hectic. People want to return to their trusted store and shop. A warm welcome is the first step toward a successful shopping experience.
We hope this guide was useful, and we wish you happy shopping!