• Conduct focus groups and A/B testing of your ad creative.
• Try freshening existing copy, changing headlines and text. Then test.
• Try using short sentences and more keywords, and test again.

2. Track offline conversions
The first quarter is a perfect time to re-examine offline sales promotions with an online connection, developing meaningful metrics that can lead to greater integration and better overall sales and conversions.

• Collect online-generated sales data from call centers and brick-and-mortar locations.
• Offer extra incentives for buyers who come from the Web, and measure the results.

3. Add social media
In a few short months, social media marketing has gone from a viral curiosity to a competitive necessity. The first quarter is a good time to develop or upgrade your social media marketing strategy. Try these tactics:

• Add compelling video content to your Web site.
• Test podcasting. Or consider sponsoring an existing podcast.
• Look for vertical or micro social communities reaching untapped markets.

4. Review usability
The holidays are over, so your Web site probably has just experienced its greatest traffic of the year. You undoubtedly have identified a long list of complaints about how your site failed to work as intended or as consumers wanted. This might be just the tip of the iceberg. It's time to re-examine usability.

• Test your checkout processes.
• Look at the complaints and suggestions you received during the holidays.
• Consider an independent site usability check-up.

5. Examine local search
Local search engines are helping marketers eliminate waste and pinpoint their audience geographically. Initiate the following:

• Optimize your Web site for your town and/or region.
• Search relevant regional keywords to see if local or outside competitors show up.
• Check popular online directories to see if and/or how you're listed.

6. Assess your keywords
Look at your top-converting keywords for the fourth quarter and consider the following:

• Support low-traffic, high-converting keywords with more natural optimization and paid search.
• Analyze relevant landing pages to see if they need improvement.

7. Look at search engine results pages
Take a current look at where your company name and your products are positioning on search engine results pages. Specifically:

• Gauge your competition.
• See who is on the first results page for variations of your company name.
• Look for natural links to negative publicity.
• Look for competitors bidding on paid search space and possible trademark infringement.

8. Review return customer data
This is vital, particularly for business-to-consumer sites, because loyal customers are much easier to reach than new ones. A few things that are worth examining right now:

• Determine how much of your business is being generated by return customers.
• Build customer loyalty with non-purchase conversions.
• Offer returning customers an incentive to give feedback on your site/products.

9. Ramp up pay-per-click spending
For business-to-business marketers, the first quarter is a great time to ramp up paid online advertising. In the case of seasonal marketers particularly, rates are generally less expensive. It's time to experiment.

• Try different search engines, including new vertical ones.
• Compare different promotions and messages.

10. Initiate intelligent integration
Finally, the first quarter is an excellent time to assure that all your marketing activities work together -- online and offline. Look at the following:

• Make sure you're using similar language across various media.
• Try converting existing offline elements to online content.
• Make an effort to leverage all your online and offline marketing initiatives to create a solid, cohesive message that will reach a larger audience.

---Source: Reprinted from eMarketingandCommerce Jan. 24, 2008 issue (www.emarketingandcommerce.com). Lisa Wehr is CEO and founder of Oneupweb. Reach her at info@oneupweb.com.