For those of you out there with online stores, the holiday season can be a real boone to your bottom line. More and more shoppers are choosing to avoid the crowds at the mall in favor of browsing the virtual shelves on their laptop, wrapped in a cozy blanket by the fire with their favorite glass of wine. Okay, more likely they’re rushing to buy a quick gift for Aunt Louise during their lunch break. Either way, here are five ways to encourage them to buy from you.

1) Free shipping - One of the biggest gripes people have with shopping online is that they have to pay for shipping. Why not take that gripe away? 33% of offline sales are influenced by online research. Offering free shipping is a great way to turn that online research into online sales.

2) Free gift with purchase - Let’s face it, most people feel obligated to buy gifts for certain people in their lives. They typically don’t have a great idea about what the other person would like, and often they don’t particularly care. As long as they show up with a gift, their social obligation is fulfilled. If they can receive a gift for themselves in the process of fulfilling this social obligation, then that is a great motivation to buy from you.

3) Free gift wrapping - People who are shopping online are more often strapped for time than those who shop in more traditional locations. If the gift they order for Grandma Betty is already wrapped when it arrives, all the better.

4) Buy one, get one free. Who can resist BOGO, especially when they have to purchase gifts for multiple people? It’s like killing two birds with one stone. They can spend twice as much on each gift, because the second one is free! Cha ching.

5) Discount on a future purchase with order - This is especially potent for you regular customers. If they can get a discount on their own future purchase, who cares if the gift’s recipient likes your goods? The gift giver will buy from you because they feel obligated to purchase a gift for a friend or family member and this way there’s a benefit for them.

I know the above suggestions make me a holiday commercializer. I do love the true spirit of the holidays, but at the end of the day, your bottom line is at stake, so you may as well cater to the societal tendancies of the average American and cash in. The increased sales will help you enjoy the true holiday spirit with your own family and friends.