Long before the winter holiday sales, retailers across the country were trying to attract shoppers with new and unique strategies. This is also your cue to leverage years of expensive research already done by major retailers and apply innovative “packaging” to your business to drive more results your way.

It doesn’t matter if your company offers a product or a service; The goal is to gift-wrap your products or services in a way that becomes a valuable gift for your customers. And who doesn’t like valuable gifts? The goal is to hone successful strategies to fit your unique business.

5 quick ways to attract more business and keep customers coming all year long

1. Think of gift certificates.

Gift certificates are a quick and inexpensive way to turn your business into a gift, whether it’s a two-week workshop, a free consultation, a definite discount on your products or services, whatever! The National Retail Federation’s 2007 Holiday Consumer Survey reported that 54 percent of consumers wanted to receive a gift card as a holiday gift. Why not offer gift cards for other holidays, on your company anniversary, or once a month?

2. Think of add-ons.

Offer a valuable complement to your products or services. Offer a content-rich CD as a free gift with your consultation, workshop, or product. Add a free subscription to your paid newsletter. Add one free week of services for every five paid weeks of services. Add a free add-on product with every product sold. For more immediate results, add a “limited time only” availability of your add-ons. To attract customers and clients to your business throughout the year, create a calendar of “special” offers with add-ons. Once twice a year? One every month? Please visit my website at http://www.ruthklein.com to learn how I complement the services within my business with add-ons such as a content-rich CD, a personal consultation, a mini-course, and other packaged services. as a free gift for sponsors or participants in my workshops, seminars and other services.

3. Think of associations.

To make your product or service unique, consider partnering with a complementary (non-competitive) company to truly differentiate yourself from similar companies in your field. Airlines Partner with Vacation Destinations Resort hotels partner with cooking schools. Banks partner with community events or popular charities. Associate your product with a service. Associate your service with a nearby restaurant, hotel, spa, printing service, local charity or ancillary service.

4. Think luxury.

If a gift is a luxury, then think of “luxury” as your calling card to attract customers to your business. Mobile spas are asked to provide an extra on-site or off-site to service and product providers. Incentives such as hotel stays offered to company employees can also be offered to clients. Offer a gourmet coffee gift at your workplace and add an additional gift from a gourmet coffee package that customers can take with them.

5. Think long term.

To keep attracting customers to your business throughout the year, think about marketing strategies that result in customer loyalty. Don’t just think about Christmas. Think of seasonal merchandise add-ons and association packs as an ongoing “giveaway” strategy that will tie into your campaign writing and fall, winter, spring, and summer bundle of what you offer.