For a lot of people, the holiday season is the perfect time to spread joy through gift-giving and indulge in shopping sprees. While this comes as good news to e-commerce stores, without the right strategies, you can’t really make the most out of the opportunity. It takes more than just timing to increase online Christmas sales.
Improve Your Online Christmas Sales With These Proven Marketing Strategies
Ecommerce holiday sales are increasing with each passing year. In 2020, online shopping sales accounted for $185.88 billion in the United States alone. That number is projected to rise to $206.88 billion this year, which is unsurprising considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering how much is on the line, it would be foolish not to take action to take a piece of that pie.
There are several tactics you can adopt to give your e-commerce store that extra holiday boost. Some require more time than others, but even a simple freebie or two can make a significant impact. Here are the best marketing strategies you should try to increase online Christmas sales:
1. Use Holiday Themes in Your Email Marketing
To give your email marketing that added flair, make use of holiday themes and elements. This can include pictures, greetings, and colors. Giving your emails a holiday makeover will not only put readers in a festive mood but also let them know your store has something to offer. Don’t forget to mention any special promos you have this holiday season, too.
2. Let Your Landing Page Do the Talking
When people visit your website, the first thing they see is your landing page. Thus, your landing page should evoke that holiday feel and be engaging at the same time. It should be attractive enough to catch and retain your visitors’ attention. Your landing page should also clearly show your sales offers to really boost your Christmas sales online.
3. Make Use of Limited Time Offers or Flash Sales
We let our emotions get the better of us more often than we care to admit. As such, when you present someone with an offer that may soon expire, it can spur them to act at the moment.
Consider placing a countdown timer on your website either at a dedicated location or through a pop-up. This should clearly show that your holiday sale will only last for a limited period of time. The countdown timer should, of course, slowly run out so there is a sense of urgency that will drive customers to buy.
4. Offer Special Discounts or Free Shipping
One of the best online Christmas promotions you can offer is discounts. You can either send a discount code to your email list or provide it through a pop-up on your website itself. You can also use a different approach by offering a second item at a discounted rate if they purchase the first one at full price.
Additionally, free shipping can motivate leads to convert into customers. A lot of shoppers place multiple items in their cart only to abandon them when confronted with a massive shipping fee. Consider waiving your shipping fee altogether if a customer places an order beyond a certain amount this holiday season.
5. Give Limited Gifts
Who doesn’t like free stuff? This holiday season, embody the spirit of gift-giving by offering your customers freebies. You can send a free product to the first X number of customers who buy a specific item to encourage immediate conversions. Alternatively, you can send gifts to the first few customers who complete their first order with you.
Another effective strategy is to send freebies to your long-time customers instead. Show them that you appreciate their loyalty and would like to send them a gift if they order something from your online store.
6. Launch an Engaging Social Media Campaign
If there is a perfect time to take advantage of social media, it is the holiday season. Create social media campaigns that promote your brand and products to increase online holiday sales.
When using social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram, remember to take a visual approach. Encourage your followers to share their experiences with your brand, take a photo with your product, and use your hashtags. In return, you can give the winner/s a discount code or freebies.
7. Don’t Forget to Cross-Sell
The art of cross-selling is more effective during the holidays because people are more in the mood to shop. When customers add products to their cart, your website should recommend other products and services. For example, if you sell skin care products and a customer buys a moisturizer, suggest a bottle of sunscreen to go with it.
Cross-selling shows customers that you know them well enough to recommend products they can buy. At the same time, it gives you an opportunity to improve your online Christmas sales.
8. Extend Your Holiday Promos
People tend to start early when they shop for holiday gifts. To avoid missing out on these leads, offer your holiday promos earlier than other competitors. Instead of starting in December, launch your holiday campaign in early November. You should also consider extending your holiday promos until after New Year’s to take advantage of those who shop late.
While this strategy goes against flash sales and countdowns as they don’t create a sense of urgency, they can still bring in a lot of sales. This online Christmas sale marketing tactic also makes you a top choice among early shoppers as well as customers who are too lazy to shop during the peak season.
9. Invest in Good Content
Content marketing can significantly influence your bottom line. During the holidays, more people are in search of specific content. Thus, it would be smart to tailor your content to match their needs.
Consider writing blog posts that teach readers how to decorate their house or cook the perfect Christmas dinner. A guide to gift-giving is an equally popular topic this time of the year.
Of course, it is important to create content that makes sense for your brand. For instance, if you sell clothes, you can write an article about how to put together the perfect holiday party outfit.
It’s an Ongoing Process
Boosting your online Christmas sales may seem like a tall order to complete, but it is a very possible goal if you use the right strategies. No two businesses are exactly alike, so what may work for one may not necessarily work for another. It is imperative to choose which strategies best suit your company, which will sometimes take some trial and error. And, while all of these tactics can help with sales, you don’t have to use them all at once.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Your Guide To Ecommerce Web Development: The What, How’s, And Why’s
- What Is Branding? Online And Internet Representation
- A Step-By-Step Guide On Creating Your Email Marketing Strategy
