5 Tips to Stay Connected to Your Online Customers During the Holiday Season

If you’re managing an online business, one of the greatest challenges is staying connected to your customers. It’s one of the main drawback of these business models – you lose some of those face-to-face marketing opportunities that brick and mortar businesses have available. However, there are a few things you can do to strengthen that connection – even from a remote location.

#1: Hold a Contest

Who doesn’t love a good contest? The holidays are a great time to build your email lists and social media following using a drawing or giveaway. Choose something that is desirable, but within budget. Remember to consider both the cost of the item and the cost to promote the contest in your break-even analysis. If your goal is to build a mailing list and following, you likely won’t see immediate revenue from this process. However, it will help you start the new year with a more engaged customer base.

Just remember to pair this strategy with an email marketing and social media campaign to keep those customers engaged!

#2: Send Cards

If you are short on budget, a little holiday card from a service-based business goes a long way to letting customers know that you value their business. These are effective because they offer a personal touch to an otherwise distant business transaction. Be sure these are handwritten notes (or have someone with good handwriting write them for you!). If you can, include a small gift card to a coffee shop or something that your customers would enjoy.

Your purpose is to show appreciation, not to sell. Keep that focus, and your client will appreciate the effort.

#3: Partner with a Non-profit

Cause marketing is perfect for year-round, but it can be especially effective for the holiday season. For online businesses, this is a great time to add a human element to a distant business environment. Choose a non-profit that fits your business mission and core values. Offer a matching donation if your clients donate to this cause. You can also volunteer or offer pro-bono services to a non-profit and promote their cause.

Short on budget? Try programs like Charity Miles or Giving Tuesday for opportunities to promote donations.

#4: Hold a Loyal Customer Sale

As an online business, you likely have customers all over the country (or the world). Hosting a party doesn’t make much sense in this case. Instead, reward your customers with a “loyal customer sale.” If you’re a product-based business, this may be a one-time discount on a certain product, or a gift with purchase. For a service-based business, this may be a temporary discount on a specific service.

#5: Introduce a Referral Program

The holidays are a great time to show your appreciation to your customers by offering a referral program. For service-based businesses, this may consist of a discount, gift cards, or air miles in exchange for a referral. For product-based businesses, a coupon with each referral is a great option!

Referral programs can be a very cost-effective way to boost your sales in the new year. Do your research, and find what works for you.

If you’re struggling with staying connected to your customers through your online business, schedule a free consultation with Heeren Content & Strategy. Veteran and military-spouse owned businesses receive a 15% discount on all services.

Contributor: Erika Heeren is the founder of Heeren Content & Strategy. With 14 years of experience marketing and public relations, she has a professional focus on integrated media spanning 16 different industries.

Heeren works with small businesses and non-profit organizations to provide affordable, professional-quality content development, marketing, and public relations services. Her clients include local small business owners, marketing agencies, public universities, media outlets, Huffington Post-published authors, IT firms, and non-profit organizations.

A military spouse herself, Erika is an outspoken advocate for veteran and military spouse education, employment, and entrepreneurship. As a volunteer eMentor for the Military Entrepreneur Program, she works one-on-one with aspiring military-affiliated entrepreneurs to help them grow their business. She also volunteers as a digital marketing instructor with Treasure Valley SCORE.

Heeren is an award-winning writer and has been featured on NextGen Military Spouse, Veteran on the Move, Wright Stuff Radio, and Social Media Week.