As we close in on the biggest and busiest holiday shopping event of the year, it’s crucial to check-in on your website and overall marketing strategy. Is your site ready for the rush? How about the details on your product pages? Have you dialed in your email campaigns?
Our e-commerce experts have narrowed down the top 5 areas your company should focus on to prepare for this year’s Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) event. It is primed to be bigger and better than ever before, so consider this your own personal “BFCM Checklist”. Keep on reading and make sure to check off these boxes as you prepare your online store for the big days!
Email Subject Lines: Gotta Catch ‘Em All!
Be bold and be interesting! When it comes to subject lines in your emails leading up to BFCM, and on the day-of, you want to make sure your emails are not only being received, but being opened. Without eye-catching subject lines, your entire marketing strategy will fall apart and your campaigns will flop.
We understand that potential customers are drawn towards discounts, but they are more likely to open AND click-through emails that are unique, personal, and creative. Think of subject lines that will catch people mid-scroll and make them want to take advantage of your featured product or offer over the countless others that are flooding their email inbox.
Site Speed: Slow Site = Slow Sales
We all know how important site speed is to not only the customer experience, but the success of your customer buying journey. If you have a slow, glitchy, or crashing site leading up to BFCM, or more importantly during, your visitors will notice and your sales will plummet.
According to HubSpot, a whopping 70% of consumers admit that page speed impacts their willingness to buy from an online retailer. Instead of risking the loss of customers and revenue, be sure to check on your site speed to make sure everything is running smoothly!
Product Descriptions: It’s All About the Details
With the amount of retailers available online, you have a limited window to attract the attention of your website visitor and turn them into a paying customer. Once they’ve made it to one of your product pages, this is where the importance of product descriptions comes into play. Take the time to check the descriptions of your products to make sure they are accurate, descriptive, create a sense of urgency, and sell!
If you want some tips on how to write the best product descriptions, take a look at these tips from our partner, BigCommerce.
Discount Codes: What’s my Code Again?
One thing shoppers look forward to during BFCM are the discounts. Whether they’re shopping for themselves, friends, or family, it’s important to make sure your store’s discounts are top of mind. Beyond that, you will want to test your discount codes to confirm they’re working and set up correctly.
Consider getting creative with your discount codes as well! You can offer 25% off, 50% off, or even BOGO deals, but just be sure your offerings are clearly visible on your website, in emails, and on all your social media channels.
Social Media: Influencers, Reels, and Hashtags - Oh My!
Over the last few years, there have been several additions to the traditional social media channels that can help boost your BFCM sales. First of which, influencers! We’ve all heard the term by now, but during this major shopping event, don’t hesitate to utilize your key influencers to help build trust in your brand, promote your must-have products, highlight your amazing discounts, and excellent customer service.
Instagram Reels have quickly become a key part of most retailers' social media strategy as well. Whether you’re trying to showcase new seasonal products, provide how-to’s, or build customer loyalty through testimonials, Reels are a great way to increase your reach online.
Another key component of the social media shopping world is making your posts and stories shoppable! Our partners BigCommerce and Shopify both offer this feature now, which enables potential customers to quickly purchase items they’re interested in. If you provide a smooth and easy social media shopping experience, you are more likely to convert a “window shopper” into a happy paying customer!
Lastly, the oldie but goodie we can’t forget to mention is hashtags! Keep an eye out for trending and popular hashtags around BFCM and your industry. This will allow your posts to get picked up by searching customers and truly be part of the conversation.
Now that you have some of what you need to get ready for BFCM, we encourage you to reach out to our team if you need any help or guidance. Feel free to contact our Solutions Consultant Chase Bowler at chase.bowler@arcticleaf.io with any questions. We hope you have a very successful BFCM and happy selling!