{"id":5181,"date":"2020-11-09T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T15:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/?p=5181"},"modified":"2024-01-30T12:22:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T19:22:52","slug":"what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches\/","title":{"rendered":"What e-commerce preparations should you take advantage of before the holiday season approaches?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/speed-optimization-service.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/speed-optimization-service.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/speed-optimization-service.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/speed-optimization-service-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the holiday season may be right around the corner for consumers, e-commerce business owners are in the midst of their busiest time of year. As if regular preparations weren\u2019t enough, online sales have taken a huge jump since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and if your website isn\u2019t ready for an increase in traffic, it&#8217;s less appealing to shoppers, which decreases your overall conversions. At <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numinix Web Development Inc.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we recommend that you take a close look at your website to see if any of the following elements are worth investing in before the holiday shopping season is in full swing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches\/#Optimize_content_for_mobile_traffic\" >Optimize content for mobile traffic&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches\/#How_do_you_optimize_your_site_for_mobile\" >How do you optimize your site for mobile?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches\/#Ensure_that_your_website_loads_and_transitions_quickly\" >Ensure that your website loads and transitions quickly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches\/#What_determines_page_speed_and_how_do_you_optimize_it\" >What determines page speed and how do you optimize it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/what-ecommerce-preparations-should-you-take-advantage-of-before-the-holiday-season-approaches\/#Hire_a_designer_to_create_holiday-themed_graphics\" >Hire a designer to create holiday-themed graphics&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Optimize_content_for_mobile_traffic\"><\/span><b>Optimize content for mobile traffic&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile shopping has redefined retail with upwards of 79% of smartphone users making at least one purchase every 6 months. In fact, \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2019\/aug\/21\/cellphone-screen-time-average-habits?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations#:~:text=According%20to%20research%20from%20RescueTime,four%20and%20a%20half%20hours.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to research from RescueTime, one of several apps for iOS and Android created to monitor phone use, people generally spend an average of three hours and 15 minutes on their phones every day, with the top 20% of smartphone users spending upwards of four and a half hours<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d, which means that if you aren\u2019t investing in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=mobile%20optimization&amp;utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mobile optimization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, your business is missing out on loads of potential customers and conversions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=mobile%20optimization&amp;utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile optimization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the process of adjusting your website\u2019s content to ensure that visitors accessing your site can effectively navigate and make purchases, regardless of the type of device they\u2019re using. This will ensure that every customer is given an equal experience that\u2019s customized to their device of choice. So, when users are on-the-go, either busing or commuting, sitting in a coffee shop or even browsing in a brick-and-mortar store, your website\u2019s content will seamlessly fit onto their smartphone screen, adjusting the font and images as needed to ensure convenience for mobile users.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the things about investing in mobile optimization is that it will allow you to reach a wider audience, as responsive websites make online shopping easier and allow web visitors to share your content with friends and family on their social platforms. Another added benefit of mobile optimization is that your automatically rank better on search engines, which can be combined with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/trek.marketing\/what-we-do\/ecommerce-search-engine-optimization-services\/?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">search engine optimization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> efforts that will help you to outrank your competitors.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_optimize_your_site_for_mobile\"><\/span><b>How do you optimize your site for mobile?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you invest in the creation of a strong user experience, you\u2019re paving way for a ton of business possibilities, including brand loyalty.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to expect with mobile optimization?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Videos on your pages need to be optimized to be compatible with smart devices.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Content will need to be scrollable, rather than forcing mobile users to click through multiple pages.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Images will need to be high-quality and closely cropped to maximize details, otherwise they won\u2019t look good on a smaller screen.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All website buttons will also need to be operable for mobile users.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shorten paragraphs on certain pages to keep mobile customers interested and motivated to make purchases.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set up more clickable elements, such as \u201cemail us\u201d, \u201ccontact us\u201d, and \u201cfind us\u201d to allow these to pop open tabs to better appeal to smartphones.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ensure_that_your_website_loads_and_transitions_quickly\"><\/span><b>Ensure that your website loads and transitions quickly<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It goes without saying that you want your website to load as fast as possible! However, the ideal load time for e-commerce websites should be between one to two seconds. Statistically speaking, \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobo-web.co.uk\/your-website-design-should-load-in-4-seconds\/?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20your%20website%20should,rates%20of%20up%20to%2087%25.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">53% of site visits are abandoned if a page takes longer than three seconds to load, and a two-second delay in load time will result in abandonment rates of up to 87%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d. So, in preparation for the chaos of the busiest time of the year for online shopping, you will definitely want to decrease your page load time through <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/website_speed_optimization.html?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">website speed optimization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed optimization is a tactic that\u2019s used to improve how fast your website loads and transition between pages. Since website speed affects everything from user experience and site traffic, to search rankings and the overall search engine optimization strategy, optimization is a critical component to convert visitors into returning customers! Users demand fast-loading websites and the slower yours takes to load, the higher the probability of abandonment. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkwithgoogle.com\/marketing-strategies\/app-and-mobile\/mobile-page-speed-new-industry-benchmarks\/?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Google<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the rate of bouncing goes up by:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">32% if the site load time is 1-3 seconds<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90% if the site load time is 1-5 seconds<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">106% if the site load time is 1-6 seconds<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">123% if the site load time is 1-10 seconds&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since site speed is one of the most crucial aspects of your website, many e-commerce business owners invest in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/website_speed_optimization.html?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">speed optimization services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which involve testing your site load speeds. A technical SEO audit provides you with a report that includes a list of directions and website performance techniques, including identifying the slowest loading URL and how you can prioritize individual pages that require immediate website speed optimization. Then the developers would get to work fixing these off-page and on-page issues to bring you a faster overall website.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you interested in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/website_speed_optimization.html?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numinix\u2019s speed optimization service<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give your users the gift of great website experiences this holiday season by improving your website\u2019s speed now. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us today by filling out the form at the bottom of our speed optimization service page.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_determines_page_speed_and_how_do_you_optimize_it\"><\/span><b>What determines page speed and how do you optimize it?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Page speed, otherwise known as page load time, is the time that it takes to fully display the content on a specific page or the time it takes for your browser to receive the first byte of information from the web server.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since longer load times negatively affect conversions, here are some ways that you can increase your page speed:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enable compression<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce redirects&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remove render-blocking JavaScript&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leverage browser caching<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve server response time<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a content distribution network<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/zen-cart-plugins-template-modifications-c-179_250_373_162\/automatic-image-optimization-dl-1171?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optimize images<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hire_a_designer_to_create_holiday-themed_graphics\"><\/span><b>Hire a designer to create holiday-themed graphics&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re planning to host some holiday promotions or sales, or you simply want to make your e-commerce business webpage cheery and festive, graphics are one of the most popular in-your-face methods for showing your customers that you\u2019re getting into the spirit of the season.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We decorate our homes and workplaces for the holidays. Why shouldn\u2019t you do the same for your website? While it may seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of things, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-graphic-design-c-320_395\/promotional-design-marketing-package-with-existing-email-template-sv-1203?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">holiday-themed websites<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> get people excited about spending time shopping there and will likely help to increase your conversions, showing your customers that you\u2019re in touch with their jovial needs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are some projects that businesses owners undertake to beautify their websites for the season:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Consider inclusivity with your images\/design: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A festive design could include images of children playing in snow or presents nestled in pretty lights, but only targeting Christmas may not be the best idea for your target audience. December is almost the month for holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, so be sure you know who makes up your customer base and have graphics designed that appeal to their likes and interests.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Tweak your logo: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some businesses choose to add a little Santa hat or some snowy background to their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-graphic-design-c-320_395\/logo-design-sv-780?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">logos for the holiday season<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Change up the fonts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are so many typeface variations that are available and fit with the charm of the season. Ask your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-c-320?utm_source=Blog_November2020_HolidayPreparations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">graphic designer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> what they recommend for a timeless and nostalgic look.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Tweak your website&#8217;s colours: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you think of the holiday season, visions of greens, reds, silvers, and golds dance in your head. Consider asking for these elements in your graphic design.&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop a countdown timer: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re counting down the days until the holidays begin or you\u2019re choosing to highlight a shipping countdown to encourage customers to get their orders in, a countdown timer is an essential element for any e-commerce business.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Which of the above services will you be outsourcing for the holiday season? Drop a comment below to compare with other readers.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the holiday season may be right around the corner for consumers, e-commerce business owners are in the midst of their busiest time of year. As if regular preparations weren\u2019t enough, online sales have taken a huge jump since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and if your website isn\u2019t ready for an increase in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":269,"featured_media":5182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[558,10,877,29,5,6,586],"tags":[875,954,371,379,898,949,1138,9,589],"class_list":["post-5181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobile-responsive","category-conversion-rates","category-e-commerce-business","category-search-engine-optimization","category-usability","category-visual-design","category-web-development","tag-e-commerce-business","tag-graphic-design","tag-holiday-season","tag-holiday-shopping","tag-mobile-optimization","tag-speed-optimization","tag-speed-optimization-service","tag-web-design","tag-web-development-2"],"modified_by":"Nurul Afsar","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/speed-optimization-service.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/269"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5181\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}