Cyber Monday Strategies for Your Small Business

Cyber Monday Strategies for Your Small Business

The importance of having a website, regardless of the size of your business, cannot be stressed enough in today’s digital world. It’s the perfect place to really showcase your products, give more in-depth information, highlight reviews, and offer online-only discounts. Not only that, but it’s what consumers expect. According to Small Business Trends, “86% of consumers rely on the internet to find a local business.” Big or small, your store needs to be online.

We’re rapidly approaching the kickoff to the holidays, with Black Friday marking the official start of the shopping season. But Cyber Monday is where retailers really get a chance to shine, appealing to the vast swaths of consumers who despise going out the Friday after Thanksgiving. In 2018, digital sales on Cyber Monday hit a record $6 billion in the U.S., 28 percent more than the previous year. Cyber Monday is, without question, the single-most important day your online store will have this year. How can you appeal to all those sale-sleuthing digital consumers this season? Read on.

Manage Traffic

It may sound obvious, but is your website ready to handle the uptick in traffic that will accompany Cyber Monday? Just as you need to ensure your brick-and-mortar location(s) are staffed appropriately for Black Friday, your website has to be able to function with the increase in sales. Big Commerce advises online retailers to run a Google speed test and even a Google mobile compatibility test to learn if your site is mobile-friendly enough for today’s savvy shopper.

Stand out from the Pack

A key tactic to drive more sales in the crowded Cyber Monday field is to really differentiate your brand. Retailers are thinking further and further outside the box. Whether they partner with another brand to release a limited-edition collaboration, or they’re selling a Cyber Monday-specific new product, there’s no shortage of ways to stand out.

Shipping and Returns

Nearly every online retailer is going to offer free shipping on Cyber Monday, so that’s basically a necessity. Keep in mind that online shoppers are prone to making returns as well, and that process should be as seamless as if they purchased something in-store. Allow your digital shoppers to return items online or in-stores and offer free returns and exchanges. Additionally, look at your return policy. Many folks are purchasing gifts for friends and family on Cyber Monday. This means your standard return policy might not fit the bill anymore, especially if it falls within this calendar year. Extend your policy into the new year to make sure gift recipients can exchange their presents for something from your store they love even more.

Organize Your Site

Get your website organized in a way that will make gift-giving simple for consumers. Many an online shopper heads to a website to first buy gifts, then moves on to shop for his or herself. Dedicating a page to a gift guide that’s organized by price point will streamline the process for shoppers and take the headache out of figuring out what to purchase for coworkers or in-laws. Don’t forget the importance of gift cards, either! Gift cards are an ideal solution to help drive future revenue, as most businesses don’t count the purchase of a gift card toward their profits.

Get Social

We’ll close this piece out with possibly the most important advice for any online retailer around the holidays: post your sales all over social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or wherever you regularly engage with your consumer based needs to be boasting all about your Cyber Monday specials. You could even consider promoting an additional discount for social media users, having them use a specific code you’ve posted to social at checkout.

Cyber Monday is the most exciting time of year for online retailers, and with a little prep there is no reason it should be stressful. Follow these simple tips to get your site polished and ready to rock this holiday season! And be sure to check back with ARF Financial every week for more helpful holiday hints for your small business.