Sure the holiday shopping season doesn’t officially kick off for another month, but that doesn’t mean that your online store and your marketing plan can’t be ready now. While the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic are still being felt we now have to contend with the issues and shortages within the supply chain. What does that mean for your online store this holiday season? It means now is the time to get ready!
While the majority of the holiday online shopping purchases occur from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, that doesn’t mean your marketing should end their. You need a comprehensive plan that incorporates email marketing, social media as well as paid advertising. Your sales message and accompanying creatives need to be worked on now so that when Thanksgiving Day comes around you have more time with friends and family instead of trying to figure out what you’re going to do for Black Friday.
It’s also important to map out when the last day to ship out purchases to arrive in time for the holidays will be. With all the supply chain disruptions and slow downs at the Post Office you’re dates may need to be moved up to ensure everything arrives on time or you and your online store will be put on your customer’s naughty list for next year.
Email Campaigns
Utilizing your email lists by sending out emails letting people know to stay tuned in the coming weeks for the latest on your holiday sales and pricing. As the holidays draw closer their inboxes will be flooded with everyone sending out their sale pitches and holiday guides. By starting now you have a leg up as you’re building the momentum now instead of trying to join the influx of other businesses all trying to vie for the attention of your customer.
Catchy Email Subject Lines to Capture Their Attention
When you’re writing your subject lines don’t forget to use words that capture the reader’s attention such as “Free Shipping” or “Today Only.” Your customer’s inboxes are going to be flooded from competitors and other businesses so you need to be catchy with your subject line. You have 5 seconds to grab their attention and make them want to open your email. Here are some catchy subject lines to help you grab their attention.
- Sleigh Your Holiday Shopping With These Deals
- It’s Cold Outside but Our Deals are Red Hot
- Let Rudolph Guide You to Our Best Deals
- These Prices Will Even Make The Grinch Happy
- Yule Love This Deal!
- Want to Feel Merry This Season? Try 50% off!
- Jingle All the Way to the Bank with 30% off
- Exclusive Black Friday Sales! One Day Only
Social Media
While social media is one of the fastest ways to get your holiday messaging to your customers. like email, you need to be clever in grabbing the attention of your customer. It is also a great idea to purchase ads to ensure that you get some visibility with your posts. It’s no secret that when it comes to social media that if your want to play you have to pay.
Don’t be afraid to use the same messaging from your emails subject lines in your social media posts. They work just as well on Instagram as they do sitting in your customer’s inbox. Just don’t forget to make sure all your products are tagged in posts and that people have a viable way to get to your store. During the holidays and in the rush of shopping whether online or not, people aren’t going to go out of their way to look for a link to your store.
Is Your Online Store Ready for the Increased Traffic?
There is nothing more embarrassing then getting so much traffic to your website that it crashes and you lose all those potential sales. If you use Shopify or WordPress to host your online store, make sure all your themes and plugins are up to date. Also check with your webhost to ensure that you have enough bandwidth to accommodate an influx of traffic on Black Friday and beyond this holiday season.
Aside from the technical aspects of your website, you have to make sure all your products are up to date. Make sure that the right pictures is depicted as well as the product description and pricing. You also want to make sure that the sale messaging can be easily viewed across your website.
When it comes to generating holiday sales and everything that entails, I think Eminem can sum it up best with his opening lines to “Lose Yourself” :
If you had
One shot
Or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you capture it
Or just let it slip?
Don’t let that one chance slip by to make a sale and make a life long customer!