Google has been offering small retailers the opportunity to come up higher when consumers are doing product searches online by placing their products in a "shopping results" display on the search page. Even with just a basic website in place, you'll still benefit from taking advantage of Google's free product search. Last year a study reported that approximately 60% of holiday shoppers did research online before making holiday purchases—make sure your store is represented when customers do their homework online.

Here's an overview of the Product Search and how it will help you:

1. Google's Free Product Search will help you increase traffic and sales. Online shoppers will find you by searching in Google products and you may even be displayed on the first page of results depending on the relevance of your item.
2. The service is completely free.
3. You'll be reaching qualified customers who are searching for your products.

If you still don't have a website for your store, this is yet another reason why you need to get one going as soon as possible.

In yesterday's Wrap Up, we published an optimistic forecast for the holiday season.

Retail store giants (such as TJX) are projecting a greater increase in Q4 sales than originally planned. And Pier 1 saw a 9% rise in sales in October versus same store sales last year. According to retail analyst Ken Perkins, "there is a pent up demand out there… The chance in an upside surprise in holiday sales are very good." Another analyst was quoted as saying, "frugal fatigue is setting in."

Here are a few suggestions for increasing your sales this holiday season:

1. Introduce your Christmas inventory early (no later than November 1st). In a small survey I conducted last year, retailers who introduced holiday inventory earlier than the year before sold more. A few customers may complain it's too early, but you'll sell more as a result.

2. Plan an early store promotion to foster the holiday spirit.

3. Put out a holiday email sign-up sheet for customers to learn more about your store's Christmas products (be sure to reward them with something they want for divulging their email address). Make sure you tell every customer about the list and what the reward is—don't rely on a piece of a paper to do the work for you.

4. Plan your holiday marketing campaign now. In today's competitive marketing environment, plan on reaching your customers across multiple marketing platforms (direct mail, email marketing, your website, social marketing, etc.).

5. Emphasis your value proposition (why customers should visit your store) in every marketing outreach you make. I believe that one of the biggest reasons that consumers shop in independently owned stores is because the products are unique, the service is fantastic and the value is great. Don't be shy about communicating that message.

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has created new rules that bloggers need to follow or they risk fines up to $11,000. A blogger who receives free samples and then writes reviews will have an obligation to disclose any compensation.

I thought it would be helpful for you to know about this new law that could potentially impact you if you endorse products that you sell in your store and you receive some sort of compensation for it from the manufacturer. There are grey areas in the new law, but the best practice would be to tell your readers the truth and to let them make a decision about your credibility.

The FTC did not pay me to write this blog post…