Ecommerce is having its best holiday season ever, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Holiday online sales are expected to reach $190.47 billion in 2020.
Last year’s holiday shopping season set records, with internet sales soaring and customer buying habits shifting. Retailers can’t wait to start preparing for the upcoming holiday rush, with more customers shopping online.
The holidays in 2021 are shaping up to be historic, with sales expected to rise by 11.3%. Now is the time to start planning holiday marketing campaigns.
Using the strategies and tricks in this guide, brands and retailers may improve site traffic by more than 110%. Brands that are ready for the holiday shopping season will be well-positioned for success in 2022.
Guide to eCommerce Holiday Season Planning in 2021
We recommend that you begin working ahead of time on the most important calendar days. If you are working with a technical or marketing partner, this piece will undoubtedly come in handy when discussing your eCommerce Christmas holiday plans:
Promotional Holiday Content
A critical aspect of holiday ecommerce operations is the creation of more marketing content. To get as much attention as possible, you want all of this information to be top-notch. Show them why they need to take advantage of your holiday deals by framing your message in the right way.
When you combine this with urgency marketing, you’ll be able to increase prospective purchases even more. Increase your marketing spending as well; for the best outcomes, your ads should be plentiful and of excellent quality. Do all you can to advertise your site, including social media campaigns, email campaigns, and sponsored promotions.
Be Prepared for Large Traffic
A few years ago, holiday shopping meant hordes of people smashing down doors on Black Friday. You don’t have to deal with the masses literally with holiday ecommerce, but the concept is the same. Heavy traffic can put a load on your server, deplete your inventory, and render your third-party integrations unreliable.
As a result, you’ll want your site to be in the best shape it’s ever been in to withstand the holiday rush. Stock up ahead of time to keep your inventory full. Upgrade the performance and security of your server. Test your integrations and make any necessary changes to guarantee they function in high-volume consumer numbers. Performance is essential; don’t let yours lag.
Urgency Marketing
Urgency is one of the most effective holiday ecommerce marketing strategies available. Promote the idea of a limited supply, a flash sale, or anything else that sends the message that customers should buy immediately to receive the greatest value. Part of this could be pre-holiday season purchases as production on such things comes to a halt.
However, you should focus this on your holiday marketing activities, giving special bargains or items to boost sales while demand is high. The sooner you make this a priority, the more opportunities you’ll have. Scarcity marketing techniques are the most effective strategy to generate rapid purchases.
Customers Should Be Treated Like Royalty
This may seem self-evident, but customers prefer online shopping since it is far more convenient than shopping in person. People will shop elsewhere without a second thought if your Holiday Ecommerce site is tough to use. Don’t let it get that far. Optimize the user experience such that there is a clear path to checkout and all options are readily available to customers.
Also, make certain that your loading times are top-notch. If a mobile site does not load within 3 seconds, over half of all visitors will abandon it. Finally, it never hurts to make some cosmetic changes. To help your brand, your website should be clean and appealing.
Gift Guides
Gift guides are a sort of holiday season ecommerce marketing that can assist drive sales by creating the impression of authenticity. Rather than simply promoting your products to customers, you present them in the same way that a friend may recommend possible gifts for their loved ones. People are far more likely to trust content when they do not feel explicitly sold to.
Prioritizing this type of marketing over other types of content can help you change your image to one that is more trustworthy and helpful, and it will bring in more customers than traditional advertisements. Consider reaching out to other businesses and including each other’s products on your gift guides to reach a wider audience.
Fast and Convenient Checking Out
Sites that are dynamic and personalized are extremely popular. Adding a personal touch to your holiday ecommerce site may be just what you need to attract clients. If you include this into your checkout process, you’ll be on your way to success. Customers may easily find new things and check out in a few simple steps. Streamlining the checkout process by reducing it to a single page.
Allow users to checkout as a guest if they don’t have an account to speed up the procedure. Consider providing a variety of payment choices, as mobile ones such as PayPal are becoming more popular.
Improved Shipping and Fulfillment
You may enhance your holiday sales by including products in various locations and offering flexible shipping. Consider the following in addition to selling on your ecommerce website:
- Listing your products on online marketplaces such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay
- Tagging products on social media for in-app purchases
- Providing convenient curbside pickup alternatives for brick-and-mortar locations
Consider free or low shipping prices, as 51% of individuals prefer to shop online because of free delivery. Create a clear return policy and automate online sales to streamline the process. Personalize your packaging to add value to the buyer.
Strategic Promotions
Don’t promote your holiday ecommerce in the same way you do the rest of the year. To take full advantage of the growing market, go bigger. It’s best to get started as soon as possible so you have enough time to create a comprehensive plan. On-site promotional methods can play a large role in this. You’ll stand out among competitors if you use gift cards to upsell at checkout and provide seasonal services like free gift wrapping and delivery.
More importantly, maintain a steady supply of material across all of your primary platforms. Anything you can do to get the word out about your site that is relevant to the holiday season, including blog posts, videos, and articles.
It’s Never Too Soon
The most crucial conclusion from this holiday ecommerce guide is that you should get started as soon as possible. The sooner you begin, the more prepared your site will be for the Christmas rush, and the more strategic holiday content you will be able to deliver. Ensure that the site is as effective as smooth as possible. Optimize your shipment and market like never before. And don’t forget to include a sense of urgency, which is essential given the limited time frame of the holiday season. You want to increase sales right away, not later.