The holidays are a time when people come together to celebrate, share traditions, and give thanks. It’s also a time when people do a lot of shopping. With the holiday season just around the corner, many people are cutting back on their spending due to tough economic times.
It is estimated that holiday gift spending will drop by $30 billion in the United States as 58% of consumers cut back on non-food items. The most significant cuts are expected to come in clothing and footwear, with 25% of people saying they will spend less in those areas.
So if you’re an eCommerce store owner, how can you ensure that you get your piece of the pie? Let’s look at some key findings from this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday and discuss what eCommerce website owners can do to prepare for this year.
Mobile Traffic:
Black Friday saw a significant increase in mobile traffic, with 74.17% of all online traffic coming from mobile devices. This indicates that retailers must ensure their mobile-friendly websites are optimized for easy shopping on small screens.
What does this mean for eCommerce store owners?
If your website is not mobile-friendly, you could miss out on many potential customers. Make sure your website is designed with mobile users in mind and that it’s easy to navigate and make purchases on a small screen.
Quick wins:
- Use a responsive design so your website adapts to different screen sizes
- Use large, easy-to-tap buttons for mobile users
- Simplify your checkout process
Key takeaway:
If you’re an eCommerce store owner, ensure you’re prepared for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. BlakSheep Creative can help you get ready with responsive design, large buttons for mobile users, and a simplified checkout process. Visit our eCommerce websites page to learn more!
Cart Abandonment:
A staggering 77.74% of customers who added items to their carts on Black Friday ended up abandoning them. This indicates that retailers must reduce cart abandonment rates and make the checkout process as quick and easy as possible.
What does this mean for eCommerce store owners?
You can do several things to reduce cart abandonment. The goal is to get your website’s visitors from the shopping cart to the checkout page as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Quick Wins:
- Make it easy to find the shopping cart
- Make sure the checkout process is simple and quick
- Offer a variety of payment options
- Include customer reviews
- Allow guest checkout
- Display shipping costs early on in the process
- Offer free shipping
Key Takeaway:
If you want to reduce cart abandonment, make it easy to find the shopping cart, have a simple and quick checkout process, and offer free shipping. You can also include customer reviews, offer guest checkout, and display shipping costs early in the process.
If you are concerned about your website’s user interface and its ability to drive sales during the holiday season, consider working with an experienced web design company. BlakSheep Creative can help you create a website that is easy to navigate and designed for conversion. Visit our website design services page today to learn more!
Peak Times:
The peak times for online sales and add-to-cart rates on Black Friday were 10:00 am. Retailers must note these times and ensure their websites are prepared for the influx of traffic.
What does this mean for eCommerce store owners?
Make sure your website can handle the increased traffic during peak times. You could lose potential customers if your website crashes or is slow to load.
Quick Wins:
- Test your website’s speed and performance
- Ensure your website can handle a high volume of traffic
- Monitor your website during peak times
Key Takeaway:
If you want to ensure your website can handle the increased traffic during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, test your website’s speed and performance, ensure it can handle a high traffic volume, and monitor it during peak times. You can also consider working with a web hosting company specializing in eCommerce websites.
Here at BlakSheep Creative, we understand the importance of a fast and reliable website. Our websites are hosted on fast and dedicated servers, and we offer 24/7 monitoring to ensure your website is always up and running. Contact us today to learn more!
Sales Increase:
Online traffic in the retail segment saw a 32.32% increase compared to the previous week, which is a significant jump. This indicates that Black Friday is a major shopping event, and retailers should prepare accordingly.
How can eCommerce store owners prepare for this?
There are a few things you can do to get ready for the influx of traffic and sales:
- Ensure your website can handle a high volume of traffic
- Make sure your inventory is well-stocked
- Monitor your website during peak times
Key Takeaway:
Stock up on inventory and ensure your website can handle a high traffic volume. You should also monitor your website during peak times to ensure everything runs smoothly.
If you need help getting your website ready for the holidays, BlakSheep Creative can help. We offer various services, including website design, development, and hosting.
Sector Differences:
Airline online traffic on Black Friday was over 137% greater than hotel online sessions, indicating that different sectors see different levels of success on Black Friday. Retailers need to analyze their industry and target shoppers accordingly carefully.
What does this mean for eCommerce store owners?
The approach to Black Friday and Cyber Monday is not one-size-fits-all, especially for eCommerce store owners. Depending on the scale and online presence of your business, your strategies should be tailored accordingly.
For Smaller Businesses:
If your eCommerce store is on the smaller side and you’re looking to make a significant impact during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday frenzy, here’s what you can do:
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Consider investing in PPC ads to get your products in front of potential customers. These targeted ads can drive traffic and boost sales during the holiday season.
- Leverage Social Media: Social media platforms are powerful tools for drawing attention to your sales. Craft engaging posts, run promotions, and engage with your audience to create buzz around your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
For Larger Businesses:
Larger eCommerce businesses with a substantial online presence have a different set of priorities:
- Website Optimization: Focus on optimizing your website for speed and user experience. Faster loading times and a seamless shopping journey can significantly impact conversion rates during high-traffic periods.
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Implement CRO techniques to fine-tune your website’s sales funnel. Analyze user behavior, conduct A/B testing, and make data-driven improvements to maximize conversions.
If you’re interested in further enhancing your website’s speed and conversion rates, check out our recent post on Optimizing Your Website for Peak Performance. This comprehensive guide offers valuable insights and strategies that can help larger eCommerce businesses thrive during the holiday shopping season.
In conclusion, the strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday vary depending on the size of your eCommerce store. Tailoring your approach to your business’s unique circumstances is key to making the most of these lucrative shopping events.
Quick Wins:
- Analyze your industry and target shoppers accordingly
- Focus on optimizing your website for speed and conversion
Key Takeaway:
Different verticals see different levels of success on Black Friday. Analyze your industry and target shoppers accordingly.
If you’re a new eCommerce site, you’ll want to increase your visibility by investing in pay-per-click ads and using social media to draw attention to your sales. If you’re an established website, focus on optimizing your website for speed and conversion.
Need help getting traffic to your eCommerce store? BlakSheep Creative can help with that too. We offer various digital marketing services, including SEO, social media marketing, and pay-per-click advertising. Call us at 225.505.3834 today to learn more!
Cyber Monday:
On Cyber Monday, 21:00 was the lowest cart abandonment rate of the day, with 56.2% of online products being sold via a mobile device. This suggests that Cyber Monday is a more relaxed shopping event than Black Friday, with customers taking their time to make purchases.
What does this mean for eCommerce store owners?
Cyber Monday is a better time to reel in those visitors who may be higher up in the sales funnel – those who are just browsing and not yet ready to buy. Utilize this time to offer discounts and deals that entice customers to purchase.
Some ideas for how to do this include:
- Offer free shipping
- Run a contest or giveaway
- Send out a Cyber Monday-specific newsletter
- Avoid cheapening your brand with Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales.
Key Takeaway:
Cyber Monday shoppers are less geared toward purchasing than Black Friday shoppers. Take advantage of this by offering deals and discounts that will entice customers to buy.
If you need help getting your eCommerce store ready for Cyber Monday, BlakSheep Creative can help. We offer various services, including website design, development, and hosting. Email us today at info@blaksheepcreative.com to learn more!
Final Thoughts
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the year’s most significant shopping events. To take advantage of these sales days, eCommerce store owners must tailor their strategies carefully. By considering some key factors – such as sector differences, your website’s hosting, and how to reel in browsers on Cyber Monday – you can set your store up for success this holiday season.
Need help getting your eCommerce store ready for the holidays? BlakSheep Creative can help. We have over 20 years of experience in website design and development.
Contact us today to learn more, or visit our eCommerce website services page to learn about our services.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The best time to run a Black Friday sale depends on your sector and target audience. Some businesses see more success with early morning sales, while others do better later in the day. It’s important to carefully consider your industry and target shoppers before deciding on a time for your sale.
The best time to run a Cyber Monday sale is 21:00, when the cart abandonment rate is at its lowest. This suggests that Cyber Monday shoppers are less likely to make impulse purchases than Black Friday, so it’s important to offer deals and discounts that entice them to buy.
You can do a few things to make your eCommerce store stand out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you’re a new eCommerce site, you’ll want to increase your visibility by investing in pay-per-click ads and using social media to draw attention to your sales.
If you’re an established website, focus on optimizing your website for speed and conversion. You can also try running a contest or giveaway or offering free shipping on orders over a certain amount.
Some common mistakes made during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales include not having enough inventory, not having a plan for dealing with increased traffic, and not offering enough deals and discounts. It’s important to carefully consider your sales strategy and ensure you’re prepared for the influx of traffic and orders.
You can do a few things to prepare your eCommerce store for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. First, make sure your website is up-to-date and running smoothly. Next, invest in pay-per-click ads and social media campaigns to increase your visibility. Finally, focus on conversion rate optimization by testing different elements on your website and offers.
Some tips for running a successful Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale include promoting your sale in advance, offering deals and discounts that will entice customers to buy, and having a plan for dealing with increased traffic and orders. It’s also important to ensure your website is up-to-date and running smoothly before the sales start.
You can do a few things to improve your eCommerce store’s conversion rate.
– First, focus on optimizing your website for speed and usability.
– Second, test different elements on your website, such as your call-to-action buttons and product pages.
– Finally, offer deals and discounts that will entice customers to buy.
Some common issues with eCommerce stores during the holidays include increased traffic and orders, website crashes, and slow load times. It’s important to be prepared for the increased traffic and orders by testing your website in advance and having a plan for dealing with any issues that may arise.
Some tips for dealing with increased traffic and orders include investing in a robust eCommerce platform, using a cloud-based solution, and having a plan for dealing with website crashes. It’s also important to ensure your customer service team is prepared for the increase in inquiries and complaints.
You can do a few things to prevent your website from crashing during the holidays.
– First, ensure your hosting plan can handle the increased traffic.
– Second, make sure your website is optimized for speed.
– Third, use a content delivery network (CDN) to deliver your content faster.
– Fourth, Use caching to reduce the strain on your server.
– Fifth, Minimize the number of plugins you are using.
– Sixth, Be sure to test your website before the holidays.
You can do a few things to improve your eCommerce store’s customer service.
– First, ensure your customer service team is prepared for the holiday rush.
– Second, offer extended hours of operation or 24/7 support.
– Finally, use a cloud-based call center solution to route calls more efficiently.
There are a few things online retailers can do to prepare for Cyber Monday.
– First, promote your sale in advance and offer deals and discounts that will entice customers to buy.
– Second, focus on conversion rate optimization by testing different elements on your website, such as your call-to-action buttons and product pages.
– Finally, ensure your website is up-to-date and running smoothly before the sales start.
Some tips for eCommerce stores during Cyber Monday include promoting your sale in advance, focusing on conversion rate optimization, and ensuring your website is up-to-date and running smoothly. It’s also important to offer deals and discounts that will entice customers to buy.
If you have any questions we didn’t answer here, please feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to help. Happy selling!