Birmingham, MI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/14/2006 --As a small business owner, it's time to take advantage of the holiday shopping frenzy and increase sales. To maximize holiday transactions, startup experts Jeff and Rich Sloan of StartupNation, www.startupnation.com, the online entrepreneurial community and content company, offer their key strategies.

"Many retailers earn as much as 75 percent of their profits during the holidays," states Rich Sloan, StartupNation.com co-founder. "By catering to customers' specific needs and solving their 'pain points,' you can easily convert shoppers into buyers before 2007 begins."

1. Make Your Items Easy to Get

Now may be the perfect time to drop your shipping fees to a low flat-rate.

And if possible, offer last-minute shoppers the opportunity to order online and then pick-up purchases at your store. Of the customers who picked up online orders at Best Buy, close to 60 percent made more purchases while there.

2. Ensure Your Website is Simple to Navigate Analyze how shoppers interact with your Web site, then look for clues as to what's compelling them to buy and what isn't. Make it easy to search and buy. Retain customer information so buyers can enjoy one-click shopping but also give them the choice to opt-out.

3. Surprise Customers with a Holiday Discount Customers won't expect to find products and services at their lowest price when demand is high. This holiday season, offer customers true discounts that get their attention, reduce stress and give them something to remember.

For more free tips on increasing sales this holiday season for your startup, visit:
http://www.startupnation.com/pages/articles/customer-holiday-pain-points.asp

To meet other entrepreneurs, get free startup advice and voice your opinion:

Join the StartupNation community at http://www.startupnation.com/pages/community/index.asp

Listen live to StartupNation Radio on Saturdays (7pm-8pm EST/4pm-5pm PST) or log into the StartupNation Radio podcast at www.startupnation.com/pages/radio at your convenience.

Be on the air and get expert advice for your startup!
You can also visit http://www.startupnation.com/pages/radio/index.asp or call-in 866-557-8278 (7pm-8pm EST/4pm-5pm PST) to ask the Sloan brothers your questions live on the air. If chosen, you'll have the opportunity to promote your new business to a nationwide audience and get valuable startup advice!

About StartupNationR and the Sloan Brothers Founded by lifelong entrepreneurs Jeff and Rich Sloan, StartupNation provides entrepreneurial advice via a nationally-syndicated radio program and online content for entrepreneurs who want to start and grow a business.
Through www.startupnation.com, entrepreneurs can access articles, podcasts and seminars, and network with peers and mentors through StartupNation's online community. The Sloan brothers are also authors of StartupNation: Open for Business (Doubleday, 2005). They've been featured in numerous national publications and frequently appear on national television.

Media Contact: Melanie Rembrandt, melanie@startupnation.com, 248-540-9660 ext. 333