The holiday season is a busy time of year, but once the holiday chaos ends, what comes next? For e-commerce businesses, it’s all about taking a step back, assessing what worked, and preparing for what’s ahead. There are 3 things the experts at DSM think you should do after the holiday rush to keep that momentum going.
Review Your Holiday Performance
Before starting your next campaign, review how everything went during the holiday season. Sales might show success, but digging deeper into the details can help you determine where you can improve next time.
Did Your Marketing Hit The Mark?
Some of your email or social ads might not have performed as well as expected, making this the perfect time to analyze what went wrong. Perhaps the audience targeting was off, or the creative content could have been more engaging. Taking the time to review these areas will help you craft a stronger strategy moving forward.
Are You Missing Any Tools Or Processes?
Feeling overwhelmed might indicate that your business could benefit from some upgrades. Whether it’s more advanced analytics software, increased automation, or a better CRM system, there are plenty of options to help streamline operations and run a more efficient business next year.
Spot Opportunities For Growth
Consider areas where you can elevate your business. Improving the checkout process or enhancing customer service could make a significant difference. Identify products that performed exceptionally well and use your holiday performance as a roadmap to pinpoint where adjustments and improvements can be made.
Re-Engage Your Customers with SMS and Email
Even though the holiday shopping season has ended, it’s important to continue engaging with your customers. This is the perfect opportunity to maintain communication and turn those one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers.
Follow Up With Cart Abandoners
Many shoppers likely added items to their carts but didn’t complete the purchase. Now is an ideal time to send them a reminder through SMS or email, possibly sweetening the offer with a small discount to encourage them to finalize the sale.
Keep Building Brand Awareness
There’s no need to go silent after the holidays. Keep your brand front and center with fresh content and ads. This is where DSM can step in to help you maintain your momentum during the quieter months and keep your audience engaged.
Grow Your Email and SMS List
The holiday season likely attracted a lot of new customers, and you don’t want to let them slip away! Now is the time to create lead-generation campaigns that expand your email and SMS subscriber lists. These efforts present valuable opportunities to keep customers informed with exclusive deals and updates.
Get Ready for What’s Next
When the holiday rush subsides, it’s the perfect time to start planning your next big moves. Avoid waiting until the last minute to determine how to stay ahead of the competition.
Prep For New Product Launches
If you have new products on the horizon, now is the ideal time to begin your planning. Whether you’re looking to generate excitement with a pre-launch campaign or refine your go-to-market strategy, being proactive will help ensure a seamless rollout.
Leverage User-Generated Content
Throughout the holiday season, you likely gathered a lot of user-generated content, including customer reviews and social media shoutouts. Don’t let this valuable content go to waste! Highlight it in your marketing campaigns to enhance trust and credibility with potential new customers.
Look Ahead To Big Marketing Initiatives
Whether you’re launching a new campaign, diving into influencer marketing, or exploring paid ads, now is the time to strategize. If you’re unsure where to begin, a marketing agency like DSM can assist you in outlining your next steps and ensure you’re primed for success in the upcoming months.
Talk With The Experts
The post-holiday season is a vital period for e-commerce businesses to reflect, re-engage, and strategize. By analyzing your performance, maintaining communication with customers, and preparing for your next big initiatives, you can sustain strong momentum as the new year begins.
If you need assistance in planning your next steps, DSM is ready to support you. Connect with our VP of Strategy, Dan Enrico, to discover how we can help your business thrive beyond the holiday season.
