According to Entrepreneur, 20 to 40 percent of yearly sales for small and mid-sized retailers take place within the last two months of the year. How will you get the most out of holiday season shopping? The answer lies with savvy marketing. This is the time of year to show customer appreciation with loyalty offers and wow them with your exclusive products and services. Here are four marketing tips to help you get started:

Get into the Spirit. It’s difficult to resist winter wonderlands and visions of stockings hanging by the fire. Consumers spend a good portion of the year anticipating the warm and fuzzy feeling associated with the holiday season. Tap into the spirit with window displays, store props, and seasonal banners that cater to your target market.

Market the Gift-Worthy. According to the National Retail Foundation, self-gifting will decrease this year as the majority of shoppers take advantage of sales and discounts to purchase gifts for others. Frame your marketing in a way that helps them understand how your products make the list. Shoppers search for gifts by categories, such as Gadgets and Games or Novelty Items; by price, such as Gifts under $10; and by recipient, such as Gifts for Mom, or Stocking Stuffers for Kids.

Offer Holiday Promotions. Plan your special promotions and sales ahead of time and take advantage of social media to get the word out. Facebook is a great marketing platform, Pinterest demonstrates potential ways to use your products creatively, and Instagram can reveal the more personal, behind-the-scenes story behind your brand. Got a rewards program? Gift return shoppers with a special discount when they hit your sales targets.

Photos Tell the E-Commerce Story. For your e-commerce store, clear, well-lit photos are essential to showcasing your products online. Macros as well as staging with seasonal props and backgrounds can help customers visualize owning the item for themselves, or sharing it with others.

Does your point of sale system integrate seamlessly with your e-commerce platform? This time of year, when traffic is at its highest, it’s critical to ensure that your shipping and fulfillment processes are up to par. Revel’s open application programming interface means you can customize your brand’s point of sale system for e-commerce and web ordering.

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