With only a small handful of months left in the year, business owners who have taken to the digital space would do well to start preparing themselves for the holiday rush now. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, customers have long become disillusioned with the inconveniences of brick-and-mortar shopping for presents: no one wants to spend hours in a queue, arguing with other customers, or dealing with slow, apathetic service.
Indeed, most people do their shopping online these days for the unbeatable convenience. It isn’t just that, though. Consumers are doing their shopping early. According to a recent survey from Bankrate, 11% of shoppers began making their holiday purchases as early as the end of August. 14% of those surveyed planned to shop back in September, while 25% intended to do so by October. This means that about a quarter of consumers are already done shopping, and about half of them will follow suit by the last week of this month.
A comprehensive eCommerce and digital marketing plan can help you and your business stay one step ahead of the competition when the holiday season comes around. There’s still time! Here are a few ideas that you can employ now to draw those early-bird customers in.
ECOMMERCE STRATEGIES
Hire an experienced eCommerce digital agency
Increasing sales and driving conversions requires a significant investment of time and no small amount of expertise. You could do it yourself, but getting off the ground isn’t going to be easy. You’ll undoubtedly miss out on the early bird rush while still figuring out how and where to start.
Since time is of the essence, your best bet now is to partner up with a specialized team of professionals that can swiftly address your needs. An eCommerce digital agency would be readily equipped to do so.
Still, it shouldn’t be just any eCommerce digital agency. Here at 1Digital®️, we pride ourselves not only on our ability to provide a full suite of eCommerce & digital marketing solutions; we are innovative, adaptable, and committed to a highly personal level of customer service that you won’t find anywhere else. We’re celebrating our 10th anniversary this year, and our clients can attest that we can bring unmatched value to every aspect of your eCommerce business. Whether it’s SEO, PPC, or anything else related to eCommerce and digital marketing, we can provide you with direct access to the latest tools and methodologies, in addition to creative perspectives, to deliver measurable results. We never overpromise and under-deliver–all you’ll have to do is sit back and watch us do the work.
Purchases need to be smooth–like butter
Customers usually come to your site already prepared to buy. Any obstacles in their way can and will immediately lead to cart abandonment, especially given the fact that there are plenty of other places to shop.
By now, your site should offer multiple ways to pay. In addition to credit and debit cards, integrating support for digital wallets such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, CashApp, and Venmo will be especially helpful, especially in terms of drawing in younger consumers. If possible, offering flexible payment and financing options can also help boost sales.
One of the biggest trends in eCommerce right now is BOPIS: Buy Online, Pickup In-Store. It’s a good thing to offer if your business possesses the capability for it. BOPIS speaks to a niche portion of customers who want to avoid the hassle of physical shopping but still want to have their items on the same day.
Provide options for gifting
Spreading a little festive cheer never hurt anyone, and it is the season. Simplifying the gifting process for your customer is one of the best ways to elevate the experience for them, especially during a stressful time like the holidays.
Gift cards are a great thing for your business to offer year-round, but especially during the holiday season. And while some people enjoy the process of personally wrapping their presents and hand-delivering them to their loved ones, others may appreciate services like gift-wrapping and personalized messaging. Going for holiday-themed packaging during this period can also make customers happy, and is a viable substitute if you cannot offer gift-wrapping services.
Creating a product category for gifts is another way to help customers who may have trouble picking presents out individually. You can showcase products from your inventory according to certain budget tiers, or group products that go well together and then sell them as gift sets. It’s a great way to move inventory.
DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES
Push key date-related campaigns NOW
In eCommerce, having campaigns for key dates like Black Friday and Cyber Monday is vital to success. This year, Black Friday is on November 25, giving you just a little over a month to prepare.
That’s why it’s important to start going on the offensive now. Building up the hype early is an effective Black Friday marketing strategy–people will begin to take note sooner, and they’ll then start adding items to their wish lists or carts. This creates traffic that can convert to sales, even if the products they want aren’t on sale just yet.
The same goes for the Monday after Black Friday. Part of a smart Cyber Monday marketing strategy is generating interest in your business, and the deals that customers can score on that day.
You can further capitalize on your Black Friday marketing and Cyber Monday marketing campaigns by extending the period in which customers can purchase products at discounted prices. This will allow those who may have missed out on those days to still join in on the fun.
Get in on multi-channel marketing
If you aren’t taking advantage of the many ways to reach your customers and let them know about your business, you’re missing out on sales opportunities. Take your marketing to the next level by spreading the message about your business on several platforms that are free and available to you.
Email and social media are good places to start. Having a newsletter that your customers can subscribe to is an excellent way to let them know about any new products you’re carrying for the holidays, promotions, and even exclusive deals. The same goes for posting on your official social media accounts.
Get help from an eCommerce digital agency!
1Digital®️ can help you develop a comprehensive eCommerce and digital marketing strategy that can draw those early-bird customers in. Get in touch with us at 888-982-8269 for more information.
The post Attract Holiday Shoppers Early With These eCommerce & Digital Marketing Strategies appeared first on 1Digital® Agency.
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