If you have items for sale on your website, you’ve probably already learned that sales can ebb and flow. Here are some tactics to reduce the ebb and keep your sales flowing!

1. Sell Gift Certificates

If you don’t already have these in place, why not offer gift certificates for sale? These can be packaged in a number of ways. You could sell certificates for an hour of consulting or coaching time or a bundled package of hours. Conduct a special promotion to get attention for these offerings, especially around holidays.

2. Upsell on Your Thank You Page

Studies have shown that a high percentage of additional sales happen after an initial sale is made. On your “Thank You” page, add a note that says, “People who bought XYZ also enjoyed ABC.” You could also offer a special discount for the additional sale.

3. Create Product Bundles

You can combine books, audio recordings, videos, consulting time, event tickets, and even other people’s books to create irresistible packages. Why not bundle some of your offerings together and then offer them at a discount?

4. Rewrite Your Sales Pages

If sales are slow, take a close look at your sales pages. Do they convey benefits? Are they easy to read? Though long sales pages are often advocated, they aren’t the only way to capture sales. Sometimes short and sweet can get the job done. Try new sales copy to see if that makes a difference.

5. Add Testimonials

Social proof helps turn prospects into customers. Gather testimonials for your products and services (real ones from real users) and sprinkle them through your sales pages.

6. Evaluate Site Navigation

Is your product store easy to find? If it’s buried or not too obvious, change your navigation so that it’s easy to locate.

7. Write Related Articles

One of my favorite strategies is to write an interesting blog post or article and then at the end, promote a related product or service. You could simply say: “Like this post? You’ll find even more tips in my special report…”

8. Leverage Email

If you send out an email newsletter, always feature a product or service. It’s that simple, and these can be rotated with each new edition.

9. Feature Products on a Sidebar

Assign some prime real estate on your site, such as sidebar that is seen across all pages, and feature a product or service. Rotate often.

10. Announce to a Group or Forum

If you’re active in any online groups or forums, find a way to mention your product or service without turning people off! There is an art to this. But if you answer someone’s question thoughtfully, end with a brief mention of your product and include a link to purchase, you can expect results.

11. Enlist Friends and Peers

Ask the people in your networks to help spread the word. You could offer them an affiliate link via your ecommerce shopping cart solution or simply ask them to mention it to their networks.

12. Take Advantage of Social Media

With Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the other social networks, it’s important to balance out sales messages with great content. I recommend the 90/10 rule, which means sharing 90% interesting content and 10% (or less) sales messages. When you engage your audience with great content, they will be interested when you occasionally offer something for sale.

13. Conduct Special Sales

There’s a reason that retailers hold special sales—they work. Offer your products and services at a discount for a specific period of time. You can simply add a note to your sales page to “Use coupon code XYZ to save 50%.” Also promote sales in your e-newsletter and social networks.

14. Add Bonuses

If you want to move more product, make the offer more enticing by adding bonuses. Those can include a downloadable workbook, ebook, special report, recordings from a past event, or any other kind of information. Help buyers feel like they are getting a deal and it will be easier for them to make a purchase.

15. Ask for the Sale

Every website needs a call to action. That simply means that you are asking visitors to do something. A call to action can include asking visitors to fill out a web form, call for a free consultation, or make a purchase. Believe it or not, sometimes all you have to do is ask!