The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but for eCommerce business owners, this time of the year can become stressful without proper planning. With so much to do in such a short time, it’s difficult to know where to start. Use these tips to thrive during the holidays and help your business succeed.
Get Help From Experienced Professionals
The holiday season is a busy time for eCommerce businesses. One way to reduce stress during the holidays is to enlist help from experienced professionals.
There are many useful holiday services eCommerce business owners can use to make their lives easier. For instance, an eCommerce marketing services agency can provide you with a lot of strategies on how to promote your business and drive holiday sales. Even better, eCommerce SEO services like search engine optimization can benefit business owners beyond the holiday season.
You may also want to work with a financial advisor experienced in helping eCommerce business owners. Together, you can save time on year-end bookkeeping and protect your holiday cash flow.
Make a Plan
One of the most effective ways for eCommerce business owners to manage stress during the holidays is to make a plan. What should your plan include?:
- Decide which holidays you want to target and what promotions you’ll run.
- Create a timeline for when each task needs to be completed.
- Schedule downtime for yourself and your employees, and include reasonable hours of operation.
Creating a plan may seem like an extra step you don’t have time for, but it will save you a lot of stress in the long run. Plus, if you can start holiday planning early, you’ll be ahead of the game and can enjoy the holidays worry-free!
Set Realistic Expectations
During the holidays, it feels like there’s always something to add to your to-do list. Regrettably, trying to do everything at once is unrealistic and can lead to a lot of avoidable stress.
Instead, set realistic expectations. Think about what you can realistically accomplish in the time you have, and include your team in your expectations. It’s also important to identify which tasks are essential and which are non-essential. Doing so lets you focus on the most important tasks and let go of the rest.
Delegate Tasks
Delegate tasks during the holidays to manage anxiety and allow your team to gain more useful skills.
Some tasks to delegate include: customer service, order fulfillment, shipping, and returns. Assigning these tasks to employees with the necessary skills helps you stay organized and focused on the most important aspects of your business.
When delegating tasks:
- Be clear about what needs to be done and by when.
- Consider employees’ strengths, areas of improvement, and interests.
- Provide adequate training and support.
- Check in regularly to ensure tasks are being completed as planned.
Give Employees Useful Information
When you’re away from the office during the holidays, ensure employees have all the information they need to keep business running smoothly. Here are a few things to consider sharing:
- Whom to contact in case of an emergency
- Where to find important documents or information
- Deadlines or goals for the upcoming period
- Changes in the usual routine
Sharing this information can help ease some of the stress of owning a business and help employees feel more confident and capable while you’re away. Post this information in a central location, like on the company intranet or bulletin board, or send it out in an email.
