Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses?

JToneyUK · 18th Nov 2011, 04:26 AM

So we are very much on the run in towards christmas and for a while now I have been seeing more and more adverts in the paper and flyers coming through the door. Businesses clearly up their advertising around the festive season, especially restaurants advertising christmas special offers and to book soon.

Anyhoo, I was just wondering what people's opinions and experiences are at this period with trying to make sales, selling mobile sites or SMS or other services?

Given the fact that businesses will have upped their spending, is it less likely that they would agree to pay for a mobile site or other services? Yes some may see this as a good investment on their marketing efforts, but I personally feel (or assume), that many would rather stick to their more traditional festive marketing methods and would not want to spend even more money on top of their already increased outgoings at this time.

Of course, some people may be more up-beat and in the festive spirit, and so may be willing to listen to and invest in your offer. Or they may see the benefits in these "outside the box" methods and want in to get ahead of their competition.

All thoughts on this are welcome

Mark_Austin · 18th Nov 2011, 04:42 AM

Hi, we have already noticed the "great, I will do it after christmas" objection coming through but it also offers a great opportunity to sell them on your services.

If they are saying this is the busiest time for them and they have lots of marketing taking place, flyers, newspaper ads etc there is even more reason for them to add a mobile website for example to their business. If this is the month they expect to be getting increased visitors to their website don't they need to ensure that their customers can view it on a mobile?

And if there is more foot traffic coming into their store then now is the time to capture their potential customers details and build a list. This can be achieved with QR codes, coupon marketing or Facebook.

So, as with every objection - you can always turn it to your advantage. If you make the benefits clear to a business and show them how youu services can increase their profits it doesn't matter what time of year it is. Business owners ALWAYS want to hear about that!

WillR · 18th Nov 2011, 05:56 PM

No doubt I think the last part of the year in the lead-up to Christmas can be a little harder in terms of selling offline services since a lot of businesses are winding down for the year. BUT the new year is one of the best times to sell these services. Almost every small business owner would have a new years resolution that involved getting more customers and making more money. You need to be ready to pounce on these small businesses in the early year when they are fired up and open to making changes.

PatchesDM · 18th Nov 2011, 06:05 PM

Good time to sell holiday-based businesses.(;

dancer9 · 19th Nov 2011, 01:10 AM

Good time to make money.

Stephanie Henry · 19th Nov 2011, 01:31 AM

IMO, if you are selling SMS and they object *right* now, then they are just yanking your chain and trying to nicely let you down... or are clueless

There's no better time all year than now for local stores to take advantage of SMS. Black Friday & the overall Christmas surge of shopping is bringing out new customers to these businesses. Now it's up to them to keep the customers coming back.

JToneyUK · 19th Nov 2011, 05:21 AM

Thanks for your responses guys. That's a very good point about the surge in traffic into the doors of local businesses and indeed, is ideal to try to build up a list of SMS subscribers!

webass · 22nd Nov 2011, 08:28 AM

Yes, bring to them the list of SMS-subscribers!!
If they have no time, they should delegate it to anybody making decisions in their company.
This might be very, very important for them to stand out from the crowd AND earn some money on top, that they didn't earn last christmas.
I think exactly because it is before christmas, they shouldn't wit until it is after christmas!!

Cheers.
Andre

midasman09 · 23rd Nov 2011, 06:58 PM

Holy camoly! NOW...is the BEST TIME ever...to hit businesses! Why? Cause the New Year is coming up.

Gee whizzikers....the prospects who tell you, "Hey! Your deal sounds great BUT, I spent my Ad Budget for da year!...are the SAME prospects who will tell you b4 April 15 "Hey! Tax day is near and I gotta save for dat)

Or....b4 their wedding anniversary or b4 their youngest kids b'day...that their "Ad Budget is shot"!

YOU as a "serious" marketing person should...when you hear these excuses...stop what you're doing...thank them for their time and...GET THE HECK OUTA THERE!

You did NOT give them a GOOD Reason for buying your program and....this is THEIR way of ....."Nicing You Out The Door!

Don Alm....you DON't have TIME to try and persuade prospects! Give your BEST presentation and...if they toss you ANY kind of excuse for not buying....get outa there! Go see another prospect!

katarina1 · 23rd Nov 2011, 11:05 PM

People will start buying again

ElenaEn · 24th Nov 2011, 01:42 AM

It may be too late to get them on a structured Holiday offer, unless you package up something purely fun, like QR codes or SMS opt-in linking to a video with a founder wishing Happy holidays, or a restaurant chef cooking a special Xmas dinner. (And you bring the video shoot as part of the package).

I came across this the other day (for inspiration, if nothing else) - check out this QR code campaign by JCPenny, where you can record a personal holiday greeting and attach it to the gift via the QR code:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/jcpen...nta-gift-tags/

Techono · 24th Nov 2011, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by WillR

No doubt I think the last part of the year in the lead-up to Christmas can be a little harder in terms of selling offline services since a lot of businesses are winding down for the year. BUT the new year is one of the best times to sell these services. Almost every small business owner would have a new years resolution that involved getting more customers and making more money. You need to be ready to pounce on these small businesses in the early year when they are fired up and open to making changes.

I agree with WillR. The after Christmas/New Year sales start "coming out of the woodwork", so, Mobile sites/advertising would be a great boost to you and the customer.
The January sales start off HOT and then slow to crawl early to mid February, then pick up again in March, then Easter is not far away.
This is known throughout the retail area, and if you can get customers through shop doors in Feb especially, you will make sales.
Get in early/mid December/January, mention the above, get the sale. (set a "special" for February/March, or perceived special, then resume normal sales prices/methods).

Most stores have a "slow" or "Lull" time in the early afternoon between 2pm to 4 pm,
daily, (soon after Lunch), even after the first week or so of January, where you could Cold Call/make appointment/present, during this time.
However, mid morning is also a good time.
(If you find that the shop owner/manager has to suddenly look for the stock room or chase staff, then amend your presentation to entice them.)

Here is an example of gaining confidence and sales presentation.
Practice your sales presentation on everyday people.
This is what I have done: Find a local coffee shop (slightly upmarket), or similar, Introduce yourself to persons (shop customers) there, and ask if you can practice your presentation/sales spiel on them and receive their feedback.
(if you wish, print some Q & A feedback forms for the "prospects" to complete)
Offer to buy them a coffee/cake, (watch your budget!!!) to "pay" for their time, and have one for yourself. (This will keep the shop managers happy too).
Be selective. It is no good doing a presentation to 2 women with 5 kids with them.
Choose couples of various age brackets, that look like business people.
But, BE Professional. this is a MUST, or you will lose credibility very quickly.

Do this a couple of times a week, and you will soon be a confident sales person.
Obviously, there is more that can be done, but this is the 5 cents worth version, hope it has helped you.

Make many sales
Regards

Jay Rhome · 25th Nov 2011, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by smhenrietta

There's no better time all year than now for local stores to take advantage of SMS. Black Friday & the overall Christmas surge of shopping is bringing out new customers to these businesses. Now it's up to them to keep the customers coming back.

I soooo much agree with this! It might be tough to offer other kinds of services, but for SMS it's the perfect time for them - and for us.

It allows 2 major things:
#1 Get customers to come to you instead of your competitors (by adding SMS/mobile elements to existing ads and/or using mobile ads)

AND #2, the big one, take advantage of all that traffic to build a phone number database of customers to market to directly. That's huge. Keep in contact with them and have them come back during the slow times after the Holidays.

ttrfanatic · 29th Nov 2011, 10:32 PM

If a business is telling you no know then it's probably time to cut the strings to that company and move on to the next. Those are the companies that will give you some other excuse after the first of the year anyway. There are plenty of companies out there to sell your services to.

YellowGreenMedia · 29th Nov 2011, 11:46 PM

If your selling to restaurants and such you will find that you can have a great month... especially two weeks before xmas

dms321 · 7th Dec 2011, 02:41 PM

Even if you do not sell now it would a great start for a New Year campaign.

In the beginning of the next year everything starts over again: new budgets, new investments. So this time of year is great even if businesses are busy with their end-of-year things.

Smiling1 · 9th Dec 2011, 06:40 AM

If you focus on retail, they should have the most to gain from Christmas shopping activity...

John Ruddy · 13th Dec 2011, 11:10 AM

Completely agree, on the celebration of Christmas the sales may be on its high.
services should be offered with "Christmas Greetings."

hotlinkz · 13th Dec 2011, 11:28 AM

I usually double my efforts during holiday seasons. A lot of marketers slack off thinking it's not a good time. In fact, the opposite is usually true. Businesses generally receive fewer solicitations - so the persistent worm gets the business.

rotten72 · 17th Dec 2011, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by JToneyUK

trying to make sales, selling mobile sites or SMS or other services?

It's never a good time to MAKE SALES! It's always a good time to educate and try to help people. You will make a lot more sales when that's what you focus on.

Mobileico · 18th Dec 2011, 01:17 AM

everyday is a great day

HypeText · 22nd Dec 2011, 11:33 PM

I love this time of year! The bulk of our business is SMS Marketing. When one of my reps pitches a business and the owner says "After the First" I just have the Rep set them up a Demo Account. When the 1st passes and they go back and find out they already have over 100 opt ins its either buy or lose the data...CHA CHING!

nickhumph · 24th Dec 2011, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by ElenaEn

It may be too late to get them on a structured Holiday offer, unless you package up something purely fun, like QR codes or SMS opt-in linking to a video with a founder wishing Happy holidays, or a restaurant chef cooking a special Xmas dinner. (And you bring the video shoot as part of the package).

I came across this the other day (for inspiration, if nothing else) - check out this QR code campaign by JCPenny, where you can record a personal holiday greeting and attach it to the gift via the QR code:
JCPenney: Voice Message QR Code Gift Tags*|*Digital Buzz Blog

That's creative! I think QR codes have along way to go their maximum potential and can't wait to see the uses for it. Going to take inspiration from this jcpenny one. Thanks!

nickhumph · 24th Dec 2011, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by nickhumph

That's creative! I think QR codes have along way to go their maximum potential and can't wait to see the uses for it. Going to take inspiration from this jcpenny one. Thanks!

This ones good aswell by Diesel! Diesel’s Real Life “Likes” via QR Codes*|*Digital Buzz Blog

Quentin · 24th Dec 2011, 10:38 PM

I like to have my holidays off and so do not do much marketing over the break after all this is why I run my own business. I like spending the time with family however after saying this I have been talking to a lot of the places we visit and stay resulting in some new clients.

I will however get back into it in the new year as I find this a great time to approach businesses.

Quentin

jodi22 · 28th Dec 2011, 10:24 AM

Yeah this is the best time to make money ....

staffelseo · 29th Jan 2012, 04:00 AM

Hello,

Christmas is the best season to sell products. People come to malls and searching for the right things to buy. The very nice thing you should keep in mind is the product should be presentable and should be correlated to Christmas season too. So it can be attractive in the eyes of the buyers.

Mini Christmas cards are also nice to have as a mini Christmas present

18th Nov 2011, 04:42 AM	#2
Mark_Austin Coach War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 229 Thanks: 73 Thanked 128 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Hi, we have already noticed the "great, I will do it after christmas" objection coming through but it also offers a great opportunity to sell them on your services. If they are saying this is the busiest time for them and they have lots of marketing taking place, flyers, newspaper ads etc there is even more reason for them to add a mobile website for example to their business. If this is the month they expect to be getting increased visitors to their website don't they need to ensure that their customers can view it on a mobile? And if there is more foot traffic coming into their store then now is the time to capture their potential customers details and build a list. This can be achieved with QR codes, coupon marketing or Facebook. So, as with every objection - you can always turn it to your advantage. If you make the benefits clear to a business and show them how youu services can increase their profits it doesn't matter what time of year it is. Business owners ALWAYS want to hear about that!
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18th Nov 2011, 05:56 PM	#3
WillR Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 12,475 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: No doubt I think the last part of the year in the lead-up to Christmas can be a little harder in terms of selling offline services since a lot of businesses are winding down for the year. BUT the new year is one of the best times to sell these services. Almost every small business owner would have a new years resolution that involved getting more customers and making more money. You need to be ready to pounce on these small businesses in the early year when they are fired up and open to making changes.
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18th Nov 2011, 06:05 PM	#4
PatchesDM WGTKAK.COM Join Date: 2011 Location: Harvey's Lake, Pennsylvania Posts: 70 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Good time to sell holiday-based businesses.(;
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19th Nov 2011, 01:10 AM	#5
dancer9 Warrior Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Hillsborough New Jersey Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Good time to make money.

19th Nov 2011, 01:31 AM	#6
Stephanie Henry Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH... now Tampa, FL Posts: 19 Thanks: 128 Thanked 66 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: IMO, if you are selling SMS and they object right now, then they are just yanking your chain and trying to nicely let you down... or are clueless There's no better time all year than now for local stores to take advantage of SMS. Black Friday & the overall Christmas surge of shopping is bringing out new customers to these businesses. Now it's up to them to keep the customers coming back.

18th Nov 2011, 04:26 AM	#1
JToneyUK HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: North West, England Posts: 267 Thanks: 97 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: So we are very much on the run in towards christmas and for a while now I have been seeing more and more adverts in the paper and flyers coming through the door. Businesses clearly up their advertising around the festive season, especially restaurants advertising christmas special offers and to book soon. Anyhoo, I was just wondering what people's opinions and experiences are at this period with trying to make sales, selling mobile sites or SMS or other services? Given the fact that businesses will have upped their spending, is it less likely that they would agree to pay for a mobile site or other services? Yes some may see this as a good investment on their marketing efforts, but I personally feel (or assume), that many would rather stick to their more traditional festive marketing methods and would not want to spend even more money on top of their already increased outgoings at this time. Of course, some people may be more up-beat and in the festive spirit, and so may be willing to listen to and invest in your offer. Or they may see the benefits in these "outside the box" methods and want in to get ahead of their competition. All thoughts on this are welcome

19th Nov 2011, 05:21 AM	#7
JToneyUK HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: North West, England Posts: 267 Thanks: 97 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Thanks for your responses guys. That's a very good point about the surge in traffic into the doors of local businesses and indeed, is ideal to try to build up a list of SMS subscribers!

22nd Nov 2011, 08:28 AM	#8
webass Local Marketing Torero War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Ubuntu Posts: 57 Thanks: 22 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Yes, bring to them the list of SMS-subscribers!! If they have no time, they should delegate it to anybody making decisions in their company. This might be very, very important for them to stand out from the crowd AND earn some money on top, that they didn't earn last christmas. I think exactly because it is before christmas, they shouldn't wit until it is after christmas!! Cheers. Andre
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23rd Nov 2011, 06:58 PM	#9
midasman09 Banned Join Date: 2009 Posts: 1,279 Thanks: 7 Thanked 1,525 Times in 531 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Holy camoly! NOW...is the BEST TIME ever...to hit businesses! Why? Cause the New Year is coming up. Gee whizzikers....the prospects who tell you, "Hey! Your deal sounds great BUT, I spent my Ad Budget for da year!...are the SAME prospects who will tell you b4 April 15 "Hey! Tax day is near and I gotta save for dat) Or....b4 their wedding anniversary or b4 their youngest kids b'day...that their "Ad Budget is shot"! YOU as a "serious" marketing person should...when you hear these excuses...stop what you're doing...thank them for their time and...GET THE HECK OUTA THERE! You did NOT give them a GOOD Reason for buying your program and....this is THEIR way of ....."Nicing You Out The Door! Don Alm....you DON't have TIME to try and persuade prospects! Give your BEST presentation and...if they toss you ANY kind of excuse for not buying....get outa there! Go see another prospect!

23rd Nov 2011, 11:05 PM	#10
katarina1 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2006 Location: Croatia,EU Posts: 199 Thanks: 49 Thanked 65 Times in 46 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: People will start buying again

24th Nov 2011, 01:42 AM	#11
ElenaEn Active Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 28 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: It may be too late to get them on a structured Holiday offer, unless you package up something purely fun, like QR codes or SMS opt-in linking to a video with a founder wishing Happy holidays, or a restaurant chef cooking a special Xmas dinner. (And you bring the video shoot as part of the package). I came across this the other day (for inspiration, if nothing else) - check out this QR code campaign by JCPenny, where you can record a personal holiday greeting and attach it to the gift via the QR code: http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/jcpen...nta-gift-tags/

29th Nov 2011, 10:32 PM	#14
ttrfanatic Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 61 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: If a business is telling you no know then it's probably time to cut the strings to that company and move on to the next. Those are the companies that will give you some other excuse after the first of the year anyway. There are plenty of companies out there to sell your services to.

29th Nov 2011, 11:46 PM	#15
YellowGreenMedia Dave Zegers War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: The Hague Posts: 559 Thanks: 229 Thanked 207 Times in 118 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: If your selling to restaurants and such you will find that you can have a great month... especially two weeks before xmas

7th Dec 2011, 02:41 PM	#16
dms321 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 136 Thanks: 100 Thanked 33 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Even if you do not sell now it would a great start for a New Year campaign. In the beginning of the next year everything starts over again: new budgets, new investments. So this time of year is great even if businesses are busy with their end-of-year things.
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9th Dec 2011, 06:40 AM	#17
Smiling1 Smiling1 Join Date: 2011 Location: Dallas Posts: 47 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: If you focus on retail, they should have the most to gain from Christmas shopping activity...

13th Dec 2011, 11:10 AM	#18
John Ruddy Warrior Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Completely agree, on the celebration of Christmas the sales may be on its high. services should be offered with "Christmas Greetings."

13th Dec 2011, 11:28 AM	#19
hotlinkz Old Internet Relic War Room Member Join Date: 2004 Posts: 803 Thanks: 40 Thanked 224 Times in 130 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: I usually double my efforts during holiday seasons. A lot of marketers slack off thinking it's not a good time. In fact, the opposite is usually true. Businesses generally receive fewer solicitations - so the persistent worm gets the business.
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18th Dec 2011, 01:17 AM	#21
Mobileico Mobile design and creator Join Date: 2011 Location: Greeneville, Tennessee. Posts: 135 Thanks: 9 Thanked 48 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: everyday is a great day
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22nd Dec 2011, 11:33 PM	#22
HypeText Ultimate Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 734 Thanks: 28 Thanked 181 Times in 131 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: I love this time of year! The bulk of our business is SMS Marketing. When one of my reps pitches a business and the owner says "After the First" I just have the Rep set them up a Demo Account. When the 1st passes and they go back and find out they already have over 100 opt ins its either buy or lose the data...CHA CHING!

24th Dec 2011, 10:38 PM	#25
Quentin Web Marketing For Profit War Room Member Join Date: 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 2,895 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1,162 Times in 528 Posts Blog Entries: 10	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: I like to have my holidays off and so do not do much marketing over the break after all this is why I run my own business. I like spending the time with family however after saying this I have been talking to a lot of the places we visit and stay resulting in some new clients. I will however get back into it in the new year as I find this a great time to approach businesses. Quentin
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28th Dec 2011, 10:24 AM	#26
jodi22 Banned Join Date: 2011 Location: USA Posts: 33 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Yeah this is the best time to make money ....

29th Jan 2012, 04:00 AM	#27
staffelseo Pacific ocean treasurer!! War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Posts: 141 Thanks: 66 Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Christmas - Good time for selling to businesses? Share on: Hello, Christmas is the best season to sell products. People come to malls and searching for the right things to buy. The very nice thing you should keep in mind is the product should be presentable and should be correlated to Christmas season too. So it can be attractive in the eyes of the buyers. Mini Christmas cards are also nice to have as a mini Christmas present