What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is an annual shopping extravaganza that falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It officially kicks off the holiday shopping season, and online retailers go all out to offer discounts and deals to lure shoppers into their stores.
The tradition of Black Friday dates back to the 1960s, when the term was first coined to describe the heavy traffic and chaos that accompanied the start of the holiday shopping season.
In recent years, online sales have become a major part of Black Friday, with retailers offering even bigger discounts and promotions to customers who shop via their websites or mobile apps. This has led to a surge in the popularity of Cyber Monday, which takes place on the Monday after Black Friday and offers additional online deals.
One of the main Black Friday trends in recent years is the increasing importance of online sales. In fact, Black Friday online sales have been growing year-on-year, with a record-breaking $9.12 billion spent online in 2022.
Of course, with eCommerce, waiting in long lines outside of stores is often no longer necessary – online shopping makes it possible to get the best deals and for marketers to significantly boost their sales.
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How To Prepare Your eCommerce Store For Black Friday
First and foremost, it’s important to start preparing your eCommerce store well in advance. This means updating your website, optimizing your checkout process, and ensuring that your inventory is up to date. In fact, the most successful eCommerce stores start preparing for Black Friday as early as the spring or summer.
1. Optimize Site Loading Speed
One of the most important steps you can take is to optimize your website’s loading speed. According to statistics, a one-second delay in your website loading time can result in a 7% decrease in conversions.
In addition, make sure your site is mobile-friendly, as more and more people are choosing to shop online via their mobile devices – about 45% of all web traffic comes from mobile.
2. Build or Expand Your Email List
Did you know that 27% of consumers are likely to make a purchase based on a brand’s newsletter? That’s a pretty significant number, and you don’t want to miss out on that potential revenue.
So start collecting those email addresses and send out some killer newsletters leading up to Black Friday.
3. Market Your Promotions
When it comes to marketing your Black Friday sales, there are several strategies you can use. One effective method is to send out email newsletters to your customer base, promoting your deals and discounts. You can also use social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, to showcase your Black Friday offers.
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4. Drive Traffic With Onsite Notifications
Another effective tactic is to use onsite notifications to drive traffic to your store. These notifications can be used to highlight promotions, sales, or new product releases. You can even offer special discounts to customers who sign up for your email list through an onsite notification.
5. Use Data and Analytics to Track Your Audience
Ultimately, the best way to prepare for Black Friday is to understand your audience and their shopping habits. Use data and analytics to track which products are the most popular, what types of deals and discounts are most effective, and how your customers prefer to shop.
Black Friday Marketing Strategies to Try
With online sales skyrocketing in recent years, it’s more important than ever to have a solid marketing strategy in place. Here are some tried and true tactics to help you stand out from the competition and capitalize on the biggest shopping day of the year:
- Use social media to your advantage,
- Offer exclusive deals,
- Use a Black Friday spin wheel,
- Use a countdown timer, and
- Add new products before Black Friday.
1. Use Social Media to Your Advantage
With almost 4.95 billion social media users worldwide, social media platforms are the perfect place to promote your Black Friday deals.
Prior to the big day, create hype by posting teaser content to your social media channels. Use relevant hashtags to increase your reach and encourage your followers to share your posts.
2. Offer Exclusive Deals
People want to feel special, and nothing makes them feel more special than exclusive deals. Offer unique discounts to your loyal customers, or run a targeted ad campaign to reach out to potential new customers.
3. Use a Black Friday Spin Wheel
This interactive tool allows shoppers the chance to spin the wheel and be eligible for special promotions or discounts. The excitement and anticipation of spinning the wheel can help increase customer engagement and drive more traffic to your website or store.
4. Use a Countdown Timer
By displaying a timer on your website or social media platforms, you can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to act quickly before time runs out on your Black Friday deals. This not only encourages customers to make purchases faster, but also helps keep your business top-of-mind during the Black Friday shopping frenzy.
5. Add New Products Before Black Friday
Adding new products before Black Friday can be a powerful way to entice customers to your business. By introducing new and exciting products before the big day, customers will have a reason to check out your store or website early, and may even increase the chances of repeat purchases after Black Friday.
Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days in the United States. Both days are notorious for their insane deals and discounts that shoppers scramble to take advantage of.
Following are the differences between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
| Black Friday | Cyber Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | The day after Thanksgiving | The Monday following Thanksgiving |
| Shopping Mode | In-person with some online | Online |
| Advertising | More heavily advertised in stores, through flyers, billboards, and television ads | More heavily advertised online, through social media and email campaigns |
| Popular Categories | Electronics, appliances, clothing, toys, home goods | Electronics, appliances, clothing |
| Pros | Great deals on big-ticket items such as TVs, laptops, and appliances, plus the excitement of in-person shopping and the atmosphere of crowded stores | No crowds, no lines, and the convenience of shopping from home or work, plenty of online-exclusive deals |
| Cons | Long lines, crowded stores, and potential for violence or chaos | Shipping and handling fees, potential shipping delays, and limited availability of certain items |
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Key Takeaways
On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s more important than ever to have a solid marketing strategy in place. By following these tips, you can guarantee that your business stands out from the crowd and reaches as many potential customers as possible. Happy selling.
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