Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in many cases the biggest shopping days of the year. Consumers use this week as the best time to save money on their gifts. And if you're a business owner, this week can also be THE shopping week of the year for your business.
If you're new, don't overlook this week as the real kick off for your earnings this season. This article is about how you can reap several benefits by a few simple steps.
Selling Someone Else's Products
If you're a direct salesperson, affiliate marketer, print on demand partner or other business owner who sells other people's products, you won't be able to modify pricing for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. However you can advertise the deals offered by the partners you are working with.
For example, if you are working with Scentsy, you can advertise a few of the deals offered by Scentsy for the upcoming week in your eCommerce shop, on your blog, website, landing page or in your videos. The same would apply to any affiliate or print on demand partnerships you've formed.
It's not necessary to try and sell the entire shop, you can pick 1-3 products and promote them to your audience. Pick out a few items that you think will be especially useful to your audience and promote them using the strategies mentioned in this article.
If you are selling other people's products... you can start by (1) gathering the deals offered by your partners and place links to them in a spreadsheet with keywords and hashtags. Next (2) organize your links so that all you'll need to do it copy and paste them into your posts and product pages, (3) then create a blog post, product category/store or landing page that shows all your products in one place.
Selling Your Own Products
If you're selling digital products like courses, eBooks, workbooks, cards and handmade products, you can modify your pricing for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. You can create bundles, BOGO deals, discounts and flash sales to advertise the deals you're offering.
When selling digital products you don't have to worry about shipping costs, tracking or whether the customer received their products. If you're making physical products by hand there are only so many products you can make in any given time.
You might consider taking pre-orders and have a cut off date for Christmas delivery. You may also consider taking pre-orders after the holidays that will be shipping after the holidays as part of your Black Friday Cyber Monday deals. Be sure to manage customer expectations and use clear communications so that customer will know what they are getting and when.
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Promoting BFCM When You Don't Have a Shop or Website
All is not lost if you don't have a blog or shop to promote deals. You can set up a landing page using a number of free resources. Some of these are also resouces you might have access to (like Mailchimp, Canva) if you are a user of the platform.
These sites can be used to set up a page that you can use to promote your deals during the holiday season. You can use our landing page tutorial to learn how to set up your page. We use Thrive Suite, but you can use whatever tool works best for you.
A landing page might be a better option for directing users to a single deal or product category. Once you have the framework built you might also consider adding a lead generation form to collect leads.
You can also use a free site like Koji to promote your deals on social media.
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Important Dates
Here are the days you should take note of and most importantly, not let pass without offering “something”. Even offering one product your ideal customers have on their list can help you earn this season:
- Black Friday – Friday, November 24, 2023
- Small Business Saturday – Saturday, November 25, 2023
- Cyber Monday – Monday, November 27, 2023
Even if you have a promotion that flops, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t. That is VALUABLE information that will help you move into 2024 with a strategy that will move you forward.
By testing and implementing more of what works and doing less of what doesn’t work will help you continuously improve your ability to earn. Be sure to read tip #8 post event analysis for more information.
The Benefits You’ll Receive
By showcasing deals for your customers and follow through with an active promotion campaign, you’ll reap the following benefits:
- Increased Sales: These shopping events attract a large number of customers looking for deals. By offering promotions and discounts, entrepreneurs can significantly boost their sales during this period.
- Customer Acquisition: The heightened awareness and increased online traffic during these events provide an excellent opportunity to attract new customers. Entrepreneurs can leverage this influx to expand their customer base.
- Clear Out Inventory: If you have excess inventory, these events are an ideal time to clear it out. Offering special deals can help you move products and make room for new inventory.
- Increase Customer Loyalty: By offering exclusive deals to existing customers, entrepreneurs can strengthen relationships and build loyalty. Loyalty programs or special offers for repeat customers can encourage them to return.
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Getting Ready
Here are a few steps you can take to get your blog or online store ready for the upcoming week.
- Create Special Offers: Plan attractive promotions, discounts, or bundles specifically for these events to entice customers. Consider time-limited deals to create a sense of urgency.
- Build Hype through Social Marketing: Utilize social media, email marketing, and other channels to build anticipation for your Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday deals.
- Enhance Customer Support: Prepare your customer support team for increased inquiries. Provide clear communication about promotions, shipping times, and any other relevant information.
- Stock Management: Ensure you have sufficient inventory to meet the expected demand. Monitor popular products and restock as necessary.
- Mobile Optimization: As many shoppers use mobile devices, ensure that your website and purchasing process are optimized for mobile users.
- Secure Payment Options: Make sure your payment gateway is secure and can handle increased transactions. Security is crucial during high-traffic periods.
- Create a Gift Guide: Help customers find the perfect gifts by creating a gift guide. Highlight popular products and provide suggestions for different preferences.
- Post-Event Analysis: After the events, analyze the performance using data from Google Analytics, social media analytics and sales data) that provides feedback on your promotions, products, and overall strategy. Use the insights gained to improve future holiday campaigns.
To summarize, when you strategically prepare for these shopping events your business can benefit can experience increased sales, customer acquisition, and brand visibility, ultimately contributing to the overall growth and success of their online businesses.
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