Depending on the industry you're in and what product or service you provide, Christmas could either be a really good time for sales for you, or a real dry patch.
For those in the retail sector especially, Christmas is prime time for you to reach optimum online sales potential. However, competition from your peers will be rife, meaning you will need to do everything you can to stand out from the crowd of other businesses just like yours vying for that last minute festive trade.
According to theformationscompany.com, for many brands Christmas shopping accounts for between 40% and 80% of annual sales, so it is vital that you seize this opportunity and get the most out of it.
A fantastic starting point to reel in the big spenders is by sprucing up your web design for the winter months with a Christmas theme running throughout. While promotional discounts and special deals may well be the primary driving force behind your December profit, it is the appearance and the aesthetic of your website that will create the emotional desire to make a purchase.
Seasonal web design is not only visually appealing, it also shows your website to be active, dynamic and fresh. However, there is a fine line that can easily be stepped over by cluttering your website with cliché decorations and over the top festive embellishment.
Logo
Your logo doesn't need a complete overhaul in order to be Christmassy, it just needs a minor revamp. This will enable you and your customers to connect over the mutual festive spirit, creating excitement for all. A festive logo will insinuate that you have promotional offers on also, meaning it is a fantastic (and very effortless) marketing tool to adopt. You will only need to add a few touches such as a Santa hat or some snow to make this idea a success as customers will still need to recognise your brand.
Source: Images
If you do not have the time nor the means or experience to make technical changes to your web design, no need to worry, there are other ways to get around this! Many of you will be in this position I'm sure, as we've already established that Christmas is an incredibly busy time for business owners. One way to spruce up your website for Christmas is by simply adding a few holiday themed images. This is a great way to begin the festivities without having to redesign your entire site.
When adding images to your website, one thing you should try to avoid where possible is stock images. Especially around Christmas it is likely that another company will have the same content as you, and if this is the case, this will decrease your brand value and make it feel less unique.
Colours
Red is the universally recognised colour of Christmas. Also known as the quickest way to add a festive feel to pretty much anything, including your web design. By doing nothing more than changing the font colour on your homepage and maybe the menu drop down to the colour red, your website will instantly encourage the holiday spending. It is bold and attention grabbing, and certainly stands for celebration.
Christmas Section
Many of you will actually have products or a service available especially for the Christmas season and will want to highlight this on your website. Adding a purpose built Christmas section such as a drop down or a banner to your web design will help draw visitor's attention, and will make the navigation around your website a little easier when customers have a lot to get through on their Christmas list!
Source: marksandspencer.com
Hopefully this article has helped give you a few ideas on how to spruce up your web design for Christmas! If you have any queries, please comment below or call us on 01332 343 281 for an informal chat.
