Back in the 1980s, the term Black Friday emerged, marking the day post-Thanksgiving as the unofficial beginning of the festive shopping spree. For traditional retailers, it kickstarts the most lucrative phase of their year. A staggering $9 billion in sales was made last year on Black Friday, but here's the real gem: Cyber Monday, the subsequent Monday, surged past with over $11 billion in eCommerce transactions.
While eCommerce sales still trail those in physical stores, the eCommerce growth is no surprise. Online shopping offers unrivaled convenience, sidestepping traffic and crowds with a simple tap on your smartphone. The pandemic propelled this trend further, morphing online shopping into the default mode for many and it continues to surge.
To soar above the rest on November 27, e-tailers must fortify their strategies along six pivotal areas:
Develop your cyber monday game plan Crafting your Cyber Monday strategy demands meticulous planning, aligning your marketing tactics for this peak eCommerce day. Tailor your email campaigns, ads, and social media endeavors specifically to maximize impact. Now is prime time for a meticulous website review: ensure every link functions, beef up your system to handle heavier traffic, and fine-tune that checkout process for speed and reliability.
Dominate search rankings While some customers directly navigate to your site, many rely on search engines. Hence, your website must rank high for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday-related keywords. The jackpot lies in securing a prime spot in search results.
Enhance responsiveness Given that users shop across diverse devices, a seamless omnichannel experience is your golden ticket to turning browsers into buyers. Guarantee a unified user experience across platforms and devices. Thorough testing and optimization, especially for mobile performance, is paramount.
Synchronize inventory management Forecast volumes and prevent stockouts. Losing a sale due to inventory depletion is troublesome enough, but disgruntled customers could mean losing future sales and negatively impacting your customer relationship. Besides, they might take to social media to vent their disappointment.
Craft irresistible incentives In a fiercely competitive landscape, setting yourself apart demands tangible customer benefits. For eCommerce, think free shipping (a growing necessity), hassle-free returns, or flexible shipping options like online purchase and physical store pick-up. The challenge lies not just in execution but in integrating these perks seamlessly into your shopping and brand experience for customers. This is how you establish enduring customer relationships.
Harness social media on cyber monday and beyond The influence of social media has surged, emerging as a powerful tool for eCommerce companies to create awareness and spur sales. Platforms like Instagram require a novel approach, focusing on engaging content rather than blatant advertising. Think attraction, not aggressive product marketing. A well-crafted social media strategy can be a sales driver.
While these strategies hold relevance throughout the year, they're critical in the Cyber Monday lead-up. Although technology is crucial for implementation, undoubtedly, the most effective solutions integrate seamlessly, enhancing both your brand and customer experiences. At Kara5, we specialize in leveraging technology to amplify your growth.
