Christmas is just around the corner and now is the perfect time to ensure your website is ready for the Christmas and New Year period. If you are a service-based small business owner in the UK, your website is often the first point of contact for potential customers, even during the festive break. Follow these important tips to make sure your website is ready for the Christmas break.
1. Test Your Website’s Functionality
This might sound basic, but it’s absolutely crucial. Spend some time going through your website to ensure everything works as it should, especially the elements that help potential clients get in touch with you. Here’s a quick checklist:
Test your contact forms. Send a test message to confirm they’re working properly.
Check interactive features such as live chat
Check appointment booking systems. Have you altered the dates?
Test shopping carts
If any of these features fail, you could lose valuable leads. Remember, if a client can’t reach you and you’re closed for a week or more, they may move on to a competitor by the time you’re back.
2. Highlight Festive Deals on Your Homepage
Many businesses use the festive period to promote special offers like "Last chance to lock in 2024 prices before they rise in January." If you’re running a promotion, make it impossible to miss. Your homepage is your shopfront so use it to grab attention!
Surprisingly, a significant number of people use the downtime between Christmas and New Year to research services and make plans. Don’t miss out on these potential customers by failing to advertise your deals prominently.
3. Update Your Opening Hours
If your business hours are changing over the festive period, make sure your website reflects this. Display your holiday hours clearly on your homepage, contact page, and any other relevant sections of your site. This helps manage customer expectations and avoids frustration for people trying to reach you.
4. Plan to Remove Festive Elements Post-Christmas
If you’ve added festive touches to your website such as sparkling snowflakes, dancing elves, or seasonal offers, make a note in your diary to remove these once the Christmas is over. Nobody wants to see a reindeer bouncing across your homepage in February!
Wrapping Up
The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, but a little preparation means you’ll be able to relax over Christmas knowing that everything on your website is working for you while you're putting your feet up!