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Category: My Marketing Advice (Page 8 of 26)

Top Reasons Customers Don’t Buy Online

April 13, 2021 /

reasons customers don't buy onlineWant to know the top reasons customers don’t buy online?

Do you ever wonder why visitors to your site don’t buy? According to a 2021 survey by Bizreel, the top factors in making a purchase from a website are:

  • Price (89%)
  • Brand (57%)
  • Delivery Method (49%)
  • Return Policy (49%)
  • Shop Reviews (47%)
  • Refund Policy (44%)
  • Business Age (11%)
  • Other (3%)
If Price is the Reason

If you think price might be the reason you are not selling, then you need to take a look at your top competitors and compare prices. Then, before you lower your prices, try a sale that brings your price down to what your competitors are charging, if your profit margins allow for this. Then you will be able to tell for sure, and decide if you need to make changes in order to be able to afford charging the lower price.

If Brand is the Reason

If you think that customers are not confident in your brand, then include your brand story in every listing description. Indicate how long you have been in business, how much you have sold, good customers reviews and so forth. I can write an effective Brand Story for you.

If Delivery is the Reason

A lot of customers expect next day delivery, due to Amazon offering this. However, if you cannot deliver faster, simply be honest with customers so that there are no wrong expectations.

If Return Policy is the Reason

If you do not allow returns, just indicate why. Customers will be understanding. But if you do not indicate why, and just say “No Returns”, it seems harsh and suspicious.

If Shop Reviews is the Reason

If your reviews are not good, you have to do something to fix them going forward. So listen to what customers complained about, make the changes, and indicate you have done so. If you have great reviews, move them to the forefront of your website and mention in your listings.

If Shop Refund Policy is the Reason

If you have no refund policy, that is definitely a game breaker with customers. So always mention what yours is, even if you do not offer refunds, but state why.

If Business Age is the Reason

Again, that can be spun into an effective Brand Story. I can write an effective Brand Story for you.

Be Sure to Also Check Out
About Me

A 20+ year marketing professional, small business consultant, ebook author & blogger, my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012. It really does help to talk to someone who is objective to get a new, but professional, perspective. I have also written publicity pitches for clients that resulted in them being featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

Also Read

 

 

 

© 2021 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Reasons Customers Don’t Buy Online

Two Proven Marketing Pricing Strategies To Try

February 24, 2021 /

marketing pricing strategiesToday I am giving two proven marketing pricing strategies to try. A lot of people still do not understand how the law of supply and demand impacts their business, and how it can also affect your pricing strategies. So here are two proven pricing strategies to try based on when times are busy and times are slow.

When Demand is High

For example, if your business is crazy busy right now and you have more sales than you can handle, do not turn any business away (because these customers might never come back). Instead raise your prices, if only temporary, and especially if your supply or resources is limited.

Another good time to raise your prices is close to the last days of any major buying time for your business. For example, people who wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts or Mother’s Day gifts, will pay a premium for their procrastination, likely due to diminished supply.

Remember, people will spend more when supply is scarce and when the need is urgent. That is why toilet paper and hand sanitizer shot up in price during the initial stages of COVID-19. I am not saying to gouge people, that’s wrong, but a reasonable increase in price of 10 to 25%.

When Demand is Low

Now, what about when demand for your products is low? This happens when a product is nearing the end of its life cycle or the market is saturated with competitors. This is when you should have a sale, especially if your supply is high, and a significant sale to get rid of inventory so you are not stuck with it.

For example, winter fashions featuring a trend that might not be around next winter, are best to get rid of at deep discounts of 40 to 70% in February and March. Better to make some money then to get stuck with the inventory. Plus, these new customers might turn into return/repeat customers.

Get More Success Tips

 

 

 

© 2021 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Proven Marketing Pricing Strategies To Try.

Why an Advent Calendar is an Amazing Marketing Tool

November 2, 2020 /

Advent Calendar IdeasNeed some creative advent calendar ideas, as it is a brilliant marketing idea.

Did you know that searches for advent calendars increased 2,000% over the year before? This is because more and more brands have realized what an amazing promotional tool it can be, and it can be beneficial for your small business as well.

Why You Should Offer an Advent Calendar
  1. It is a great way for a customer to sample your products and potentially turn into a repeat buyer.
  2. You can take advantage of enormous press opportunities, as over 50 major blogs have written about 2020 Advent Calendars in the last two weeks.
  3. You get those pre-Black Friday and pre-Christmas sales, because searches for advent calendars start in late September and peak November 9th (advent starts December 1st, so the customer needs it before then).

Most Popular Advent Calendar Ideas
  • Wine
  • Makeup / beauty
  • Chocolate
  • Beer
Other Ideas for Advent Calendars
  • Soap
  • Nail polish
  • Earrings
  • Cufflinks
  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Spices
  • Stickers
  • Ornaments
  • Socks
  • Toys
  • Candles
  • Slime
  • Underwear
  • Art supplies
  • Cookies
  • Pet treats
  • Baby onesies
  • Scrunchies / hair bows
  • Face masks (why not?)

Now, I realize this doesn’t work for every type of business or product, but maybe for next year, think of a smaller scale product that is still in your wheelhouse, to add into your shop to take advantage of this annual sales opportunity. In fact, don’t be surprised if brands find a way to carry this tradition over to Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and more.

UPDATE FOR 2021: Etsy says there’s been a 4,708% increase in searches for crystal advent calendars in the last 3 months (compared to the same time the previous year), a 282% increase in searches for wax melt advent calendars, a 137% increase in searches for pet advent calendars and a 96% increase in searches for alcohol themed advent calendars.

Want More Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Online Store?

 

 

 

© 2020 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Advent Calendar Ideas.

Popular Gift Keywords You May Not Know About

October 16, 2020 /

In need of some popular gift keywords?

If you want to up your SEO game for gift searches this holiday season (not to mention all of the other gifting times of the year), then you need to understand how people search.

Below are some very popular keywords that people use when searching for gifts. They use adjectives you may not have thought of. Therefore, try one of these search phrases below and see if it makes a difference!

  • Engraved gifts
  • Cozy gifts

    Popular Gift Keywords

    Popular Gift Keywords

  • Feel good gifts
  • Feel better gifts
  • Trendy gifts
  • International gifts
  • Just because gifts
  • Long distance relationship gifts
  • Quirky gifts
  • Relaxation gifts
  • After surgery gifts
  • Gifts everyone wants
What to Find More Popular Gift Keywords?

It’s easy. Just go to Google and try into the search box the following phrases and see what fills down. You can also do this on Amazon and Etsy:

  • Gifts in …
  • Gifts that …
  • Gifts with…
  • Gifts made of …
  • Gifts for …
  • Gifts from …

You might also see a lot of searches right now for boss gifts, which is today (October 16th), and Sweetest Day gifts, which is tomorrow.

Also read: 5 Key Holiday Sales Tips.

Be sure to visit my store for downloads and planners.

 

 

 

© 2020 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. 

Best Tips for Doing an Instagram Giveaway

September 30, 2020 /
Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules

Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules

Here are some Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules to know. A giveaway is a great way to get the attention of your potential customers and increase your social media following.

Instagram Giveaway Tips: Be Clear What They Will Win

Use caps and emojis so your offer stands out, but be clear about exactly what they will receive if they win. For example:

CHANCE TO WIN! We’re giving you the chance to ⚡️WIN⚡️ a  jewelry set worth US$75! Includes a pair of gold star studs and a gold crescent moon necklace.

It can only be products that you giveaway. You CANNOT giveaway money. That is against Instagram’s rules.

Instagram Giveaway Rules: State How to Enter

You want to list, step by step, what they need to do to enter the giveaway. For example:

TO ENTER, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING

  1. Follow @{your Instagram account}
  2. Like this post
  3. TAG a friend in the comments 

The reason you want people to like the post, is because then when people on Instagram search “giveaway”, posts with the most likes appear at the top of results.

Instagram Giveaway Tips: More Ways to Enter the Giveaway

Now, there are more things you can ask people to do to enter, but beware, many people find that if there are too many steps, they’ll take a pass. For example:

  1. Like and share this post to your IG Story for an extra entry. If your page is set to private, DM a screenshot so we know.
  2. Comment with hashtag #YourStoreNameGiveaway.
  3. Tag at least 10 friends (More Friends Tagged = More Entries).
  4. Repost the image on your own feed with hashtag #YourStoreNameGiveaway.
  5. Follow these 10 accounts as well (you give the Instagram names of your sponsors, for example, known as a “loop”). 
x
Instagram Giveaway Rules: Indicate When the Instagram Giveaway Ends

For example:

Ends at 11:59pm PST on 10/2/21.

When the giveaway is over, update the post to say “CONTEST CLOSED”. 

Instagram Giveaway Rules: Indicate Other Restrictions

For example:

No purchase necessary. US residents only. Official rules here: (include a link to the rules on your blog or website).

Instagram Giveaway Tips: Use Giveaway Hashtags

Consider launching your giveaway on a Friday to take advantage of #freebiefriday. Other hashtags to include (so your post shows up in searches): #giveaway #giveaways #giveawaycontest #giveawaytime #contest #free #win #freestuff #freebies #freebie

Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules

Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules

Instagram Giveaway Tips: Have an Eye-Catching Graphic

Make sure, at very least, the graphic says “Giveaway” and has your brand identity. You can have a photo showing what they will actually win, and even list the requirements to enter right on the graphic itself.

Instagram Giveaway Rules: Indicate When the Winner Will Be Announced

For example:

Winner will be contacted by DM and announced here on December 5, 2021. 

Instagram Giveaway Rules: Include a Disclaimer for the Instagram Giveaway

You have to make sure to let people know this has nothing to do with Instagram. For example:

Disclaimer: This giveaway promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram.

Be sure to read Instagram’s full rules for a giveaway. 

Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules

Instagram Giveaway Tips Rules

Get Creative Instagram Posting Ideas!

Be sure to check out my best selling 365 Social Media Posting Ideas Calendar. It will make posting so much easier and time-saving!

You might also like 35 Free Business Card Templates.

 

 

 

© 2021 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Best Tips for Doing an Instagram Giveaway

 

How to Get Corporate Holiday Gift Orders

September 9, 2020 /

Want to know how to get Corporate Holiday Gift orders? You need to start approaching local companies now about what their plans are for both Christmas gifts for employees and for their clients.

Obviously, for a lot of businesses this has been a difficult year, and this might be something they decide to forgo. However, it is a great opportunity to do volume sales, and with the push to support and buy local right now, you do have this in your favor.

Action Plan for Corporate Gift Orders
  • Research 10 to 20 local companies that are doing well, have not laid off employees, and have at least 50+ employees. Just Google “list of local companies with 50 or more employees”.
  • Pitch to HR Managers for employee gifts and to Sales Managers for client gifts.
  • Approach the HR or Sales Manager of each company by sending a short email pitch. If you need names, find them by doing a search on LinkedIn. You can also message them on LinkedIn as opposed to sending an email.
  • In the email headline put, Do you need Client & Employee Holiday Gift Ideas from Local Businesses?
  • If you have a business LinkedIn page, post an article about Corporate Gift Ideas for 2023 with links to your business and it might get found in searches by HR and Sales Managers.
  • If you can drop off a sample to a HR or Sales Manager, even better.
  • If you can offer any corporate branding or personalization as part of the product offering, this would give you an advantage i.e. mugs with the company logo.
  • Be sure to mention that you can ship directly to recipients, in the case of gifts for the business’ clients.
  • Mention at the end of the email how you appreciate their support of local businesses.
  • Go to the business writer at your local newspaper and pitch this as a possible story idea, with you giving a quote as to how your business will be fulfilling corporate gift orders. Sample pitch “How Local Companies Can Help Support Small Businesses this Holiday Season”. 
Most Popular Corporate Gifts
  • Gift cards (44%)
  • Apparel (39%)
  • Food/beverages (25%)
  • Drinkware (18%)
  • Desk accessories (18%)
  • Calendars (16%)
  • Writing instruments (14%)
  • Electronics (12%)
  • Bags/luggage (12%)
  • Sporting goods (12%)
  • Jewelry/watches (6%)

So don’t wait. Start sending out emails in late August. If you sell on Etsy and haven’t gotten my best-selling Etsy Shop Holiday Planner you are missing out on key opportunities.

 

 

 

© 2020 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. How to Get Corporate Holiday Gift Orders

5 Tips to Get Your Products in 2020 Holiday Gift Guides

August 8, 2020 /

by Gail Oliver, Online Marketing Consultant

August is upon us, and if you are looking to get your products featured in holiday gift guides, for print magazines, you need to be pitching NOW and to blogs by mid September.

My 2020 Etsy Holiday Sales Planner has a list of more than 85 of the top gift guides, as well as other tips for success.

Here are just a couple of the tips to find success pitching your products this year:

1. Desire to Support Local

Whether it is your city, your state or your country, the movement to support local businesses due to COVID-19 is greater this year than ever before. Therefore, make sure you indicate this when pitching i.e. “If you were planning any holiday gift guides to support Portland small businesses / Oregon small businesses / American small businesses” (pick one) and so forth. At very least, you are putting the idea in their head and they might do a separate category just for this.

2. Desire to Support Minorities

If you are a black-owned business, this is your time (not to mention the fact that August is National Black Business Month). In the last two months, every major publication and blog has had some sort of editorial with a list of black owned businesses to support (Google it), so this will carry into the holiday season as well.

3. Comfort Gifts

The quarantine situation has definitely caused stress for many, so you will find that gift guides this year will want to feature products for isolating, comfort gifts, self-care gifts, mental health gifts, and stress relief gifts.

4. Small Gifts

Small gifts and inexpensive gifts will have a good editorial opportunity this year as most people will be on a tighter budget, plus the top holiday gift searches always include White Elephant gifts, Secret Santa gifts, gift basket fillers, advent calendar fillers and stocking stuffers.

5. What Else the Media Likes

For your best success, magazines and blogs tend to like to feature products that are:

  • Best sellers
  • Inexpensive luxury finds
  • Personalized & monogrammed
  • Gift sets, boxes & kits
  • Monthly subscriptions
  • Plush
  • Latest tech
  • Zodiac-related
  • Funny / whimsical / quirky

My 28-Page Etsy Holiday Sales Planner has 86 of the top holiday gift guides to submit to (complete with email addresses, saving you a ton of time), not to mention other advice, over 200 of the top holiday search phrases, and various planner pages.

Other Things To Know This Week

 

“Revealing” Ideas for Face Masks

July 14, 2020 /

by Gail Oliver, Marketing Consultant

Has your online business jumped on the face mask band wagon?

The marketing potential for face masks has not been reached yet, especially since many cities are now making them mandatory.

From the seasonal to holidays to stylish to quirky, here are some of my product ideas that you may want to consider for your face mask line:

Face Mask Ideas

  • Everything is personalized these days, and since you likely don’t want family members mixing up whose face mask is whose, why not create masks with first names, monograms and family names on them.
  • Businesses are slowly reopening, so they may want to gift their employees with masks for work that feature their logo or branding.
  • Even if you don’t sell face masks, have you thought about putting your own business branding on a face mask, for free advertising everywhere you go?
  • Quirky always sells, so how about face masks that feature celebrity mouths or the mouth of a favorite dog breed (great gift for dog lovers) or a mask with a beard or moustache?
  • Fall fashion trends will influence the face mask market, as some people will see it as an accessory, so you may want to have fall colors and themes available.
  • If you are finally allowed to have a wedding, how about matching face masks for all of your guests in your wedding theme and colors, so photos look coordinated (doubles as a wedding favor).
  • Doing a gender reveal? Maybe a pink mask that says “It’s a Girl” or a blue mask that says “It’s a Boy” as a way to announce.
  • Halloween should be an explosive time for face masks, because it just goes with the season. Masks with glow in the dark skeleton grins, toothless Jack O’Lantern grins, or the mouth from the “Scream” mask will all be popular.
  • For Thanksgiving, how about a mask with a protruding turkey beak or one that says, “Stuff My Pie Hole”.
  • In early December, Pantone will announce their color of the year, so be sure to have a mask in that shade to capitalize on the press.
  • Now, we have to talk Christmas. Every year we are flooded with photos of people in their matching family pajamas, so how about matching family Christmas masks for the photo this year?
  • Get even more creative with a holiday mask that a protruding red “Rudolph” nose or a snowman carrot nose or lights up with tacky colorful LED lights.
  • And of course, you need an ugly sweater Christmas face mask.
  • Then let’s all be glad when this year is over, with glittery face masks for New Year’s Eve, especially ones that say “Good Riddance 2020!”

Other Things to Know This Week:

  • Did you know that August is the top selling birthday month? This is because August has had the most births each year from 1990 to 2006 (except for 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004 when it was edged out by July) according to National Center for Health Statistics.
  • Do you have a product that would work as a virtual background for Zoom meetings and workshops? It is one of the hottest trends right now.
  • Remember to follow my blog to get the best ideas, before anyone else!

Peak Product Search Times

July 9, 2020 /

by Gail Oliver, Online Marketing Consultant

Are things slow in your online shop right now? Use this time to prepare for some key upcoming sales opportunities to get a jump on the competition, as well as tweak your SEO (because people start searching sooner than you think).

Upcoming Sales Opportunities

  • Searches for dorm décor start July 5 and peak August 18.
  • Searches for back to school start July 14 and peak August 17.
  • Searches for fall decor start July 21 and peak September 1.
  • Searches for fall fashion start July 21 and peak October 13.
  • Searches for winter clothing start July 21 and peak November 10.
  • Searches for Halloween costumes start July 28 and peak October 27.
  • Searches for Thanksgiving décor start August 12 and peak November 24.
  • Searches for Halloween decorations start August 25 and peak October 6.
  • Searches for winter décor start August 25 and peak December 29.
  • Searches for Christmas gifts start September 1 and peak December 21.
  • Searches for Christmas décor start September 15 and peak December 1.
  • Searches for toys (for Christmas) start October 6 and peak December 14.
  • Searches for Black Friday sales start November 3rd and will peak on November 26.

Other Things to Know This Week

Up Your SEO Game With Most Searched Gift Ideas

June 12, 2020 /

Most Searched Gift IdeasWant to know the most searched gift ideas currently?

The COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine has led to a rise in the following types of gift searches:

  • Comforting / comfort gifts
  • Self-care gifts
  • Cheer up gifts
  • Pick me up gifts
  • Wellness gifts
  • Quarantine gift baskets
  • Lockdown gifts

Not only does this give you new (and possibly less competitive) search phrases to take advantage of, but are there any new products that you can quickly bring to market to address this demand?

I also thought I would point out some rising Father’s Day Gift searches, since it’s just 10 days away:

  • Black Father’s Day Gifts
  • Bonus Dad Gifts
  • Father’s Day Gift Baskets

With people only being able to shop online, there is a need to be able to send gifts to friends and family far away. These gift ideas would also be viable as monthly subscription box services as well.

Not making sales? My 12-Month Marketing Plans give you a detailed action plan for each month of the year. Easy,  cost effective and little known ways for you to drive more traffic and sales.

You might want to also read Hot Sales Opportunity: Retirement Gifts

Please check out my Shopify store to see the marketing products and services I offer.

Have a great week!

 

 

 

© 2020 Gail Oliver. All Rights Reserved. Most searched gift ideas. 

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