Cyber Monday is a mere two weeks away! On Monday, November 30th, e-commerce retailers all over North America will be enjoying their biggest sales day of the year. At least, that’s what they hope. The annual occasion is the online version of Black Friday, which takes place on Friday, November 27th this year. Lesser known as Blue Monday, Cyber Monday generally features significantly discounted prices on items found exclusively in online stores.
What steps are you taking to ensure your online store has a successful Cyber Monday this year? Here are three smart ways to prepare your online store for the big day:
1. Offer numerous shipping choices.
Undoubtedly, online holiday shoppers will be looking for the best discounts they can find on Cyber Monday. However, time is of the essence. With less than a month to go before the holidays get underway, shoppers will be searching for shipping options that ensure they receive their items quickly.
Are you able to offer same-day shipping? Can you get packages out to your customers the next day? Many customers will be willing to pay for expedited shipping. Be sure to make it available.
“Since more people are shopping online instead of in-store, you might want to provide overnight or two-day delivery so they can still get their items quickly,” Kathryn Marr of WooCommerce, “Free or low-cost shipping that takes a bit longer will help those with budgetary concerns.”
2. Prepare for your best-case and worst-case scenarios.
Your best case scenario, of course, is that you sell loads of all of your most popular items. Of course, to prepare for that, you’ll have to ensure that your shelves are fully stocked. Disappointing customers with “out of stock” notifications will likely send them to your competitor’s websites – never to come back.
Logically, you’ll also want to prepare for your worst-case scenario. “Create solid contingency plans for anything that can prevent your business from hitting your goals,” advises Ellen Coule of BossBabe, “This includes inventory levels, shipping timelines, technology failure, etc.”
3. Provide a curbside pickup option.
The majority of today’s consumers are mindful of the limitations brought on by the current pandemic. This is one of the reasons online shopping is expected to skyrocket this holiday season. This doesn’t mean, however, that all online shoppers will need to have their packages delivered directly to their homes. If your customer is local and willing to pick up his/her purchase in-person, it would be wise to allow him/her to do so. Offering curbside pickup is practically a COVID-19 necessity.
“Curbside pickup at retail stores has surged by 208% during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Marr informs us, “This helps local customers who want to avoid shipping costs but are concerned about shopping in a physical location.”
Is your company website all set up with an effective online shop? To ensure a successful Cyber Monday, please don’t hesitate to contact Unity Payments to learn about our safe and secure e-commerce solution! Call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email us at info@unitypayments.ca.
