Courier Driver Tips - How To Get More Business This Holiday Season

With the holiday season just around the corner, there are more opportunities than ever for the courier driver. The holidays mean stores, both online and bricks-and-mortar, need more items delivered to their clients; more people who need packages delivered to their loved ones; more businesses rushing documents to finish off the year properly - and countless other examples.

For the savvy courier driver, there is no better time to build business. Below are a few ways to seek out opportunities during this busy time.

Push the Advertising

There’s a reason the amount of advertisements triple during the holiday season: they works. Perhaps it’s the nip in the air, perhaps people’s adrenalin levels are extra high from all the Christmas candy, or perhaps the festive music makes consumers more susceptible to suggestion; whatever the reason, the holiday season is the perfect time for the courier driver to promote their business beyond the usual, boring, everyday means. It's the perfect excuse for advertising methods that are loud, garish, and even corny! Give away calendars bearing the name of your business, dress up in a Santa costume, or even announce your deliveries with holiday jingles - this is your time to make a splash and be remembered. However, do make very sure these ‘gimmicks’ don’t get in the way of your delivery schedule and professionalism. You can also appeal to your potential clients’ more practical side by offering special discounts or bulk rates, or perhaps by offering discount coupons for services over the coming year.

Widen Your Network

A good businessperson knows that the more clients he or she has, the better. However, in the delivery industry, the kind of client and kind of delivery should also be considered. Over the holidays, speed and efficiency are key, so it is the perfect time to ask for referrals - not only for similar businesses, but also up and down the product chain. After all, clients who receive deliveries must also need to send others on. For example, a store receiving a bulk order for toys may very well need to have individual units delivered to specific addresses. In the same vein, the warehouse from which these toys originated may also require additional deliveries over the holidays.

Not allowing yourself to be limited and recognising non-traditional opportunities is also key to widening your client base. Joining an online network is another great way for a courier driver to find more clients. Being part of such a network has other advantages, too, including being available to a larger market, having access to logistical, financial, and emergency support, and maximising efficiency while lowering costs.

Do A Good Job

In the delivery business, reputation is everything. All it takes is one lost package or one missed deadline for a courier driver to lose a client - which not only means lost earnings from that client, but also from potential referred clients. Because of the increased need for deliveries over the holiday season, you’ll no doubt have the opportunity to serve many first-time clients. This is the perfect opportunity to turn those one-time deliveries into regular and repeat jobs.