With the holidays just around the corner it is critical to prepare your business for Black Friday and Cyber Monday! This is not just a time to make great returns on sales, but also to create lasting relationships with customers. Check out our ultimate BFCM Checklist to have your business prepared for one of the busiest times of year!
Prepare your e-commerce business
Even though restrictions have loosened this holiday season compared to last, you must still prepare your business for an influx of virtual sales. Online shopping is the new wave and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Make sure to stress test your website in preparation for a huge spike in traffic. There are several tools out there (with free trials) with which you can test your server’s load capacity.
If you find that your capacity won’t be sufficient for the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, take precautions to ensure that you can handle the oncoming shoppers.
If you do not already have a site with e-commerce capabilities now is a great time to start!
Optimize your order fulfillment strategy
The sales process does not end when the customers press “buy now.” After sales services are just as if not more important than getting a sale. With larger order volumes it can be difficult to ensure all orders are being met and arriving to customers in a timely manner. The holidays will arrive before you know it, so make sure to organize inventory early and optimize your work flows to ensure customer satisfaction.
unsure how to plan ahead?
So we are telling you to plan early and be ready for an influx of sales - however, how can you know what to prepare for? Don't worry. A great Holiday weekend full of sales is within reach.
Make use of your analytics. It is extremely important to use this data to know what strategies worked and even more importantly which didn’t. Take your mistakes from last year and turn them into this year’s successes. You can’t tell the future but you can read history. The more you understand your customers, the better you can strategize your next business decision. Make sure to use these analytics in your holiday planning, whether for campaigns, product releases, or new markets to have control over your next steps.
The importance of promotions
The big thing about Black Friday and Cyber Monday is that your customers know there will be incentives out there (promotions, discount codes, etc.). With the increase in competition, be sure to flex your company's competitive edge to stand out.
Offering 10% off a regular priced item is not going to have customers swarming your store and might even have them leaving unhappy. Try something new: a rewards program, extra loyalty points or even a free item - because let's face it - who doesn’t love free stuff. You also want to make sure you aren’t limiting your offers. Having multiple deals within your store is going to increase your average order value. You are going to want to take a look at your customers and the world around them. What is trending right now? What is important to them? Nobody wants a deal on last years line so utilizing these trends will result in increased sales.
Amp up your advertising
Another way to stand out amongst your competitors is with great advertising. Prepare ahead of time with beautiful graphics and consistent reminders. Email marketing is a great way to remind your target audience of the deals you have coming up and display them aesthetically. The most reliable source of BFCM sales will be from people who already have intent so make sure you are alerting your customers about any deals ahead of time.
Black Friday is known to be extremely hectic and a time of chaotic shopping, so if your customers know where they are going they are more likely to visit your site or store first!
Make sure to create a sense of urgency. While customers are already making impulsive decisions, make sure they know this deal will not last and quantities are scarce! Some ways you can create this sense of urgency is through a physical countdown and language that emphasizes a timeline.
In need of additional strategies for your business to make the most out this upcoming Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend? H&C Inc. is here to help. Contact us today!