It’s that time of the year again!
Black Friday – the most popular shopping day of the year – is upon us; and just about every site will be offering incredible deals and rock-bottom prices.
But how do you make the most of this online shopping madness? Is there any way you can optimize your site so it stands out and makes you more money?
Well, the answer, as it turns out, is yes on both counts.
Get The Word Out. Today.
While you may think there’s still a lot of time, it’s really never too early to start getting the word out about the amazing deals you’ll be offering this Black Friday.
Leverage your social media accounts to create awareness and announce upcoming deals. And don’t forget to link to your website or to the specific products you want to push most.
Send your email subscribers personal messages announcing deals on products they might be interested in. If you want to make them feel that little extra special, you can also offer exclusive deals and discounts.
Put Your Black Friday Deals Center Stage
Black Friday is synonymous with amazing bargains, so you should make your best offers instantly clear and give them pride of place on your site.
Some great ways to display your offers include banners on the top right hand side and, of course, the tried and tested classic – a prominent hero image at the top of your page.
Whichever way you go, don’t forget to make sure your offer is immediately and abundantly clear. This will create an instant reaction in your customers, making them far more likely to click on your offer and complete a purchase.
Add A Countdown Timer
There’s a reason why many sites add countdown timers on Black Friday: they work.
By displaying the increasingly limited time left to snag a bargain, countdown timers tap into the fear of missing out and create a sense of urgency. This motivates your customers to take action sooner rather than later.
But that’s not all.
Countdown timers are also a great way to build hype in the run up to Black Friday. Bonus points if you incorporate an email signup form into your timer widget, as this will leave you with a list of warm leads before your Black Friday promotions even start.
Add Abandoned Cart Support
Customers abandon their online shopping carts for countless reasons. Perhaps they love your offer, but they’re having second thoughts. Or maybe they’re researching other websites to see if they can find a cheaper deal.
Luckily, there’s a way you can give your customers that little extra push – sending an abandoned cart email.
According to Hubspot, 50% of customers who receive an abandoned cart email will complete the purchase within the hour.
Given that they cost practically nothing and are easy to set up, this makes it really a no brainer.
Right?
Test Your Site’s Performance. Now.
You could have the greatest offers in the world, but it simply won’t matter unless your site can actually handle the added influx of traffic Black Friday brings. Set yourself up for success by testing your website’s performance ahead of time, as this will allow you to to iron out any issues before it’s too late.
Here’s what you can do:
- Test your site’s servers to see how they do under pressure (use a free service like Load Impact); and talk to your web hosting provider if you’re unhappy with the results.
- Maximize your site’s loading speed by compressing files and images and, if possible, using a caching plugin.
- Make a few test orders using different payment methods to make sure everything is working smoothly.
All set?
Great!
Now let’s make some money on Black Friday.