culled from:ceo.com
With the holiday season around the corner, businesses are busy sprucing up their merchandise. In fact, most of the retailers channel their energies into the holiday season.
For this year, it’s estimated that e-commerce sales will be about 20 percent higher than last year, the fourth consecutive year showing double-digit growth rates.
A few smart pointers can help you achieve a stellar online selling season:
1. Get your site holiday-ready
Design and customer service are among the two most important things to focus on during the holiday season. With the use of custom graphics and images, give your site a holiday-friendly makeover. This helps kick in the holiday spirit and also attracts customers, enticing them to shop more.
After you have spruced up your page, be sure to implement the necessary changes to make your site ready for the onslaught of shoppers. Make sure to test the production environment at least 10 to 15 days before the rush begins. Test aggressively to see how much volume your site can handle before it crashes. Have your 24/7 tech support ready regardless of your test results, since this is crucial for customer retention.
Due to the high volumes of sales, one must ensure that service is automated and tracked either through in-house CRM systems or third-party integrations. There needs to be a well-trained staff to handle the calls. Another way of approaching the issue is to have a ticket-based system, where each concern has a ticket number and is addressed personally.
2. Provide shipping discounts and accurate arrival dates
Who doesn’t love free shipping? Recent findings state that not providing free shipping is the second most common reason why U.S. online buyers abandon purchases and go to another retailer. While you might have to temporarily eat that cost, this will naturally translate into increased sales and better traction during Cyber Monday and afterward.
Moreover, during the holiday season, it is imperative that shipping timelines are maintained. With the heavy stress on shopping and gifting, the customer wants to know exactly when they can expect their shipment. Be sure to provide accurate dates and send follow-up emails on package tracking updates. This will help maintain a reliable reputation and ensure customer satisfaction. Use social media to update general shipping timelines.
3. Make sure your site is mobile responsive
Did you know 30 percent of shoppers are expected to shop online and more than half will make their shopping purchases via mobile? This number is said to be in the billions. People expect to be able to make purchases anywhere and everywhere. Most customers today use their cell phones not only to purchase but also to locate stores, download coupons and look for deals.
It is vital to make sure your site renders correctly across all platforms, don’t risk having an outdated website that is difficult to navigate. Having a mobile-responsive site needs to be among your top priorities during this busy season.
Don’t let the holiday season go to waste. Prioritize these tips to help reach your maximum potential during this lucrative time of the year.
