The holidays are a fun time, but if you’re a business owner, it’s also likely one of your busiest periods of the year. With families out and about, along with tourists visiting for the festivities, it’s crucial that you get your small business in prime condition to welcome customers.
Whether you’ve just started your business and this is your first holiday season, or you’re simply looking for some new ideas to try, we’re here to help.
1. Take Part in Small Business Saturday
Every year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate the independent businesses around the world and encourage people to shop locally. This is a great opportunity to get some additional foot traffic into your store or restaurant, so don’t forget to advertise in advance that you’re taking part.
This is also a good day to offer special promotions or provide coupons that can be redeemed at a later date to incentivize visitors to return.
2. Spruce Up Your Website
Make sure your website is user friendly so that, whether you sell products online or are using your site as information for prospective customers. If you’re a product-based business, having the option to sell online is a good way to increase your revenue, as not everyone wants to venture out to stores when it’s busy. It’s also ideal for encouraging those not local to you to make purchases.
There are two important areas to check to make sure that your website is working well—your payment and checkout, and your security. Always keep up with the latest updates so that users feel safe providing their payment details online.
3. Invest in Cybersecurity
Not only does your website need to have the best in business cybersecurity, but your entire digital suite needs to have the same standards. Every computer or software system you use should be secure and updated so that you don’t risk any outages during the busy holiday season.
Make sure you have a firewall and antivirus system, along with backing up your data at least weekly. Keep the most important business documents and information away from the public, preferably on an encrypted server for maximum security. Check out these 5 cybersecurity tips to avoid threats.
4. Be Prepared for Various Payment Types
Most point of sale (POS) systems now come with various options for credit and debit cards, along with e-pay and contactless payments. Speak to your commercial banker about cash management services that can help you add this onto your business banking suite.
5. Update Your Insurance
If you already have business insurance look at your current policy to see if the areas it covers are still working for you. Depending on the size of your business, you may want to add additional coverage like employment practice liability or even cybersecurity insurance.
6. Save Time with Online Banking
Avoid the hassle of visiting the bank during the busy holiday season by setting up online banking for your business. Manage your account conveniently from your mobile device and take advantage of additional cash management services, including online bill pay, remote deposit capture, merchant services, positive pay, wire transfers, and ACH support.
Get Your Small Business Ready for the Holidays in Kentucky and Indiana
Meeting your small business banking needs with the urgency and care that you’d expect from your local trusted advisor, our team is on hand to help you find the best solutions for growing your business.
Contact us for questions about business banking, commercial loans, or business insurance products. We’re here to help!
