With Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, many ecommerce retailers will be finalising their strategies for a successful promotion. To help you out, we’ve rounded up our top tips for ecommerce success, many of which are relevant not only to these specific dates, but to any time you run a sale or promotion on your website, and to having year round ecommerce success!
We’ll be sharing these tips daily across our social media (Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin) in the run up to Black Friday 2016 (25th November), so follow us on your preferred platform to be the first to get our top tips, or check back here when you can – we’ll update this blog each day too!
18 Tips for Ecommerce Success on Black Friday/Cyber Monday – and all year long!
Of course Tip1 from Boxed-Up, the packaging specialists, has to be:
#1 Make sure you have enough packaging to send out all your orders!
If you’re expecting an uplift in sales, it’s crucial to make sure you’ve enough boxes to get those orders to your customers promptly.
#2 Think outside the box!
(Excuse the pun!) Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals don’t all have to be about knocking huge % off items, or using ‘loss leader’ promotions to bring in visitors. Consider offering bundle deals, free coordinating accessories or free next day delivery
#3 Make sure you can handle increased demand.
Double check with suppliers and couriers that they’ll be able to cope with your projected sales, and ensure staffing levels are adequate. Bringing in lots of sales is all well and good, but if you then can’t fulfil these orders, you can bet those customers won’t be returning again!
#4 Have a retention plan!
How will you convert these Black Friday customers into year round customers? Beyond ensuring these customers recieve excellent service, how do you plan to retain them or market to them in the future?
#5 Consider adding Live Chat to your website
For users new to your website this can make all the difference, as you can instantly answer queries about products, stock, delivery – anything which might otherwise be a roadblock to a sale.
#6 Send out emails ahead of the sale
Studies show the majority of shoppers hear about the best deals on Black Friday via email marketing. Get yours in potential customer’s inboxes early!
#7 Create a sense of urgency by adding a countdown timer to your website.
This works during Black Friday as well as in the run up, to build anticipation! Why not have a countdown to when the sale is starting, which then changes to countdown to when it’s ending?!
#8 Offer a free, easy returns policy.
And make sure it’s promoted/easy to find on your website. Users are much more likely to give in to that impulse buy if they know a return will be hassle free and not leave them out of pocket if they change their mind.
#9 Reward loyal customers.
Black Friday isn’t just about attracting new customers, why not reward the ones you have already by giving them early access to your deals, or exclusive discount codes?
#10 Encourage social sharing
Give customers the option to share their purchase on social media. People love to brag about a bargain & it’s free promo!
#11 Consider including gift cards/vouchers
Did you know 70% of people who receive a gift card spend more than the value on the card? Consider including gift cards in your Black Friday deals! #BlackFridayTips #Ecommerce
#12 Use optimum sized packaging
When slashing prices, protecting your profit margins is more important than ever. Minimise impact on margins by making sure you’re using the right size packaging – this will mean less waste, lower costs, and cheaper postage.
#13 Make sure your site can handle the traffic
Test your website to ensure it can handle the surge in traffic – the last thing you want is for your website to go offline, losing you potential sales!
#14 TRACK, TRACK, TRACK!
Make sure you are tracking all your marketing efforts, all your traffic and sales. Gather as much data as you can – it will be priceless when strategising for future sales!
#15 Double check your inventory
Double (and triple!) check your inventory to make sure you’re well stocked. One of the worst experiences as a consumer is to make a purchase then be told it is actually out of stock!
#16 Collect emails
Turn Black Friday customers into year round customers, by gathering emails and following up with following up with relevant future offers (and a thankyou!)
#17 Make sure service doesn’t suffer.
Great offers might bring in sales, but it’s great customer service that will bring the customers back time and time again!
We’ll be posting new tips here daily in the run up to Black Friday, as well as on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – so check back!
