What can you do if you're having a slow month? Do you need to increase your sales quickly? It might be time to have a sale! Every customer loves to think they are getting a bargain, so a sale will quickly increase your traffic. It can also help you clear out a discontinued item. It needs to be well planned and I have compiled a few tips that may help.

Here are some things to remember when having a sale:

1.  Make it special - Give your sale a reason to exist, so your customers aren't left wondering why the random discounts. Any special occasion will work. You can use a holiday, your own birthday, the first day of a new season, anything will work. Just make sure that there is a reason for your sale.

2.  It doesn't have to be across the board - It is your sale and your are the one determining what it needs to accomplish. You can discount everything, just a few things, or you can even send out discount codes for your loyal customers. Consider having a "VIP" list to let your customers know about sales.

3.  It won't last forever - Make sure your customers are aware that there is an end date. Decide before you start your sale how long it will last. In most shopping cart programs, you can even set an end date for a discount, so you won't have to remember to reset your pricing.

4.  Try a buy-one-get-one sale - A current trend in marketing is the BOGO sale. Remember, this doesn't have to be a buy-one-get-one free sale. It can also mean that the second item is discounted. Any type of sale will get your customers interested in buying.

5.  Offer free shipping - You can avoid having a sale at all by offering free shipping for a limited time or possible just to your loyal customers. This may inspire your customers to make purchases they had been delaying. Be sure to specify what type of shipping your are offering for free. Overlooking those details could be expensive.

6.  Offer a "friend" sale - You can increase your sales and your customer base simultaneously if you offer a referral sale. Perhaps you can have a sale for your current customers and offer a discount code for them to pass along to a friend with their purchase. It never hurts to combine your efforts in several areas.

If you integrate sales throughout the year, you can control your cash-flow and glide through the periodic slow periods in your business. After you have been in business, you will be able to see trends and can plan sales accordingly. Remember, in order for a sale to work, you will need to make sure everyone knows about it. Send out emails and do some advertising far enough in advance for people to have money available.