Cyber Monday 2011

Are you ready for Cyber Monday 2011?

This is the day many online retailers kick off their holiday season by offering special incentives to their shoppers. And it's just around the corner; this year it falls on Monday, November 28.

Over 1 billion in 2010

Last year, comScore reported that consumers spent approximately $1.03 billion online on Cyber Monday alone. This was the highest spending day of 2010 and the first-ever $1 billion online shopping day.

Have you prepared your site to take advantage of this marketing initiative?

Free Shipping

Can you offer Free Shipping? According to a report by Forrester Research, 55% of consumers expect free shipping for online purchases.

Highlight products that make great gifts, and offer special discounts if possible. Limit the discounts to Cyber Monday only, or extend them through the holiday. Historically, the middle of December also sees a spike in online purchases. If you can extend your specials, there's a substantial amount of shoppers who choose December to do their buying.

Announce

Be sure to send an email announcement to your customers. Forrester Research reported that 51% of the Cyber Monday online shoppers learned about sales and offers from an email broadcast. Don't delay. Now is the time to send out your holiday shopping announcement. Remind your customers about your product offerings and give them an incentive to shop with you.

Online Advertising

Don't forget to make adjustments to your AdWords campaign. According to Google Trends, "Cyber Monday" is a Top 20 search phrase. Be sure to take full advantage of this trend by including "Cyber Monday" in your ad copy and your destination website page. But don't get caught up in trying to bid for "Cyber Monday" alone.

For example, if your niche is leather widgets, then consider such AdWords phrases as "cyber monday leather widgets," or "cyber monday sale leather widgets." Serious shoppers will focus on their searches. Aim to be at the top of those final searches and you'll convert more sales at less cost.

Success for the Holidays

We wish you a successful holiday season.