Despite the hassle, it’s possible to put one’s holiday shopping off until the last minute. But for those whose businesses depend upon the holiday season to end the year on a high note, waiting too long to prepare for the holiday shopping season can be disastrous. Websites have become increasingly important for taking advantage of this time of year, not just for online retailers, but for offline retailers as well, since many shoppers find information online before making a purchase at a bricks-and-mortar retail store. This practice is so common, in fact, we even have an acronym for it–ROPO (research online, purchase offline). Smart retailers are already preparing their websites and online marketing campaigns for the holiday shopping season. If your company hasn’t started you may have a few weeks to get things in order before it’s too late. Here are 9 steps to help you get on your way.