Once again, the holidays are rapidly approaching. Because of what’s happening in the world today, many are preparing for the holidays differently. As a result, people choose to spend the season away from their friends and family. Instead, they would send greetings through the internet. What is more, consumers are trying to avoid in-store shopping.
What comes next is not that surprising. The pandemic paves the way for the eCommerce industry to garner tremendous growth. According to statistics, data shows that Christmas spending grew over the past year, almost doubling its previous record before the pandemic.
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eCommerce Holiday Preparations
The eCommerce industry remains a significant player in the market, offering a fierce match against competitors. If you want to become a go-to place for consumers, you must make your platform processes simple, flexible, and full of alternatives that meet their requirements. That said, the best time to get started is right now.
Let’s take a look at everything you’ll need to get your online business ready for the holidays.
Traffic-proofing
Every online store will see a surge in visitors during the holiday season, especially at the peak shopping days. The last thing you want to happen at this time is your site to go down just when you need it. So, it is best to prepare your platform in all the necessary aspects.
Inventory
As the number of customers grows, so does the amount of inventory that will be necessary. Make sure you’re well-supplied, especially for potential gift goods. Maintain close contact with your suppliers to prevent long wait periods. Consumers discovering that their must-have need is out of stock or on backorder can lead to disappointments.
Stability
The keys to preparing for the holidays lie within security and speed. Your website’s design and functionality have a direct impact on your revenue. Your platform infrastructure must be able to accommodate growing demand. You can do so if your site is scalable and stable. Ask your eCommerce provider about your standings so that you know how well-protected you are.
Third-party Integration
Additional or last-minute software additions might disrupt your workflow or cause a performance problem. Don’t add any more until you’ve tested and verified that they can manage the existing load. Specifically, check your third-party integration and make sure that they are up to date.
User Experience
Today’s shoppers desire the utmost ease and comfort while purchasing gifts. This set-up implies that your website must offer alternatives tailored to their unique requirements, as well as a smooth path to checkout. Is your business up to the task?
Landing Pages
Create a unique user experience with your platform by bringing your brand to life. Use tools to alter your site’s appearance and feel by switching to a new theme. Give your clients a personalized shopping experience. When you look at behavioral and contextual consumer data, you’ll be able to find relevant goods that will entice people to buy.
Optimization
When consumers reach the checkout page, they’ve already made up their minds about whether they want to buy anything. The goal of optimization is to keep customers from abandoning their carts before they’ve completed their transactions.
Shipping and Fulfillment Options
You’ll need a well-thought-out strategy for where to sell your items and how to ship and fulfill orders before you can put your strategy into action. You can expect a spike in orders during the holidays. For this reason, you’ll want to plan ahead of time for increased traffic.
Marketing and Promotions
Whether it’s new technology or marketing tactics, retailers have to adjust their businesses to meet several unanticipated developments to sell their items efficiently. So, before the peak of the Christmas shopping season, make sure your store is properly optimized and equipped with marketing and promotional tactics.
There are several methods to adjust your holiday marketing approach. Consider giving seasonal services like free gift-wrapping or generate limited-time deals to increase urgency by utilizing gift cards to promote at checkout.
Customer Service
Be ready to address any concerns or complications that may arise and make information readily available. Have a committed team and be fast to reply to complaints. Even if anything goes wrong, a good customer care experience may turn a potential consumer into a regular buyer. You should prepare a specialized phone, email, and social media assistance, and you should be able to answer all requests within 24–48 hours.
Wrapping Up
Businesses and customers alike are eagerly anticipating the Christmas season this year more than ever. Shoppers will likely shop in-store, online, and on several channels and marketplaces. Creating a memorable shopping experience provides customers with a compelling reason to select your store above the competition.
Take a planned approach to the holiday preparation, and you’ll be well on your way to welcome merry customers in no time.
