{"id":941,"date":"2011-10-24T10:01:15","date_gmt":"2011-10-24T18:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/?p=941"},"modified":"2019-05-30T12:29:51","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T19:29:51","slug":"10-tips-to-take-advantage-of-the-holiday-ecommerce-rush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/10-tips-to-take-advantage-of-the-holiday-ecommerce-rush\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips to Take Advantage of the Holiday Ecommerce Rush"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Long lines, pushy people, checkout line frenzy\u2014According to the 2011 TOTSY Moms Shopping Trends Report, 72% of mothers are planning to leave the car in the garage and shop online this holiday season to avoid the unnecessary stress.<\/p>\n

As Ecommerce store owners, it\u2019s important to prepare your store for increased holiday traffic and capitalize on it for the New Year.<\/p>\n

Here are some strategies you can start thinking about for this upcoming season:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Flexible Return Policies<\/strong> \u2013 A typical 30 day return policy will scare gift-givers away. Just for this season, extend your return policy to either 60 days or a date after the New Year. Make sure your customers are aware of your new policy as well.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Shipping Times<\/strong> \u2013 This is undoubtedly one of the most important improvements you can make to your store. Shoppers will leave your store if they are not certain they will receive the gift in time for the holidays.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Thematic Elements<\/strong> \u2013 Enhance your website and email newsletters with some holiday-themed graphics and images. Include special recipes, gift-giving tips and warm, inviting images of families enjoying the season.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Double-check<\/strong> \u2013 Perform a thorough check of your website. Will your domain name expire? Is your website going down too often? What about your credit card expiration dates? SSL Certificate? Is your server able to handle the increased traffic load? You may not be as \u201cbig\u201d as Macys but even the corporate giants don\u2019t plan enough for the holiday rush. Here is what one customer saw when trying to access Macy\u2019s website a few years ago:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Make Suggestions<\/strong> \u2013 Help your customers by grouping products by price or gift recipient. Try offering special holiday bundles to save your customers money. Make their gift-giving experience easier.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 After-Holiday Discounts<\/strong> \u2013 Capitalize on the season by offering an incentive for customers to return in January. Consider including coupons with packages or sending discount codes via email to those who order.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 Seasonal Keywords<\/strong> \u2013 Optimize your website and PPC campaigns with seasonal keywords.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0 Social Media<\/strong> \u2013 Add a little holiday cheer to your Facebook and Twitter pages. If you run Facebook ads, test themed images with your ads and offer gift-giving discounts only for fans and followers.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0 Gift Cards <\/strong>\u2013 Appease the lazy shopper or the customers who cannot figure out what to buy. Display the gift card option prominently so overwhelmed customers know they can always purchase one if needed.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 Holiday Countdown <\/strong>\u2013 Countdown timers work well to enforce the \u201cimmediacy\u201d of purchasing and can force impulse shoppers to \u201cpull the trigger\u201d. Increased conversions are often a byproduct.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let this holiday season pass you by. Capitalize on the gift-giving potential and try some of these techniques.<\/p>\n

Do you have any other strategies that worked well for you? Please share.<\/p>\n

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