Christmas is getting closer, and many people have already spent time searching for gifts online. The number of users who choose to buy online has grown, and we need to consider how this rise in potential online shoppers will affect this year’s Christmas season.
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To set the scene: according to the Showroomprive Christmas 2015 Annual Consumer Study, at least 16% of Spanish consumers will shop online to avoid lines and get the products they want more easily and at a better price. Compared with last year, when the study showed 12%, this reveals a clear increase in users’ intention to buy online.
There’s no ignoring the clear upward trend in online shopping, and this Christmas season will be key for eCommerce, especially for online stores selling fashion, fragrances, cosmetics, technology and electronics, followed by jewelry and home décor.
Shall we get to work in November?
By now, every brand should already be working on its Christmas campaign: getting the online store ready and deciding which online marketing strategy to follow and which actions, such as deals or discounts, will appeal to and sway consumers.
In our field, digital marketing, this preparation should start right about now. It’s essential to optimize your online store with appealing, Christmas-relevant keywords to make the most of this special season, attract more traffic and generate more sales. Keep in mind that Christmas spending accounts for a very high share of the year’s purchases. It’s our chance to raise awareness of our online store at a special time, build rapport and, most importantly, ensure that users who trusted us with their Christmas shopping keep coming back throughout the year.
How to sell more at Christmas?
The key to selling more is to stand out as much as possible from your competitors’ strategies. Sounds easy, but it isn’t, because there are a few factors to consider. Here are 4 ideas to boost your sales:
– Create special offers: create attractive offers and share them across all your social networks. Try to reach as many users as possible; special newsletters showcasing your Christmas products can help.
– Review your prices: many users compare across sites before deciding where to buy their Christmas gifts. Who wins? Easy: whoever has made the effort to be more attractive to potential customers through deals, price cuts or added value.
– Free shipping: use this kind of promotion to set yourself apart from competitors and appeal to potential customers. Reduce or waive shipping costs for a limited time to try to spark a sales peak during the season.
– Redesign: what does that mean? Christmas nostalgia has been used endlessly in the media and especially in advertising (who can forget the nougat ads that follow us around from November?). We need to add the festive touch audiences expect at this time of year by redesigning our social media profiles and online store. These small details that get people thinking about Christmas can be key to getting users to seriously consider shopping online.
The key role of social media this Christmas
We’ve gone from wishing for health, wealth and love to wanting a good smartphone in our hands. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but there’s no ignoring the key role social media and m-commerce will play this Christmas.
A prime place to promote deals, sales and discounts and to stay in direct contact with followers and potential buyers. Your social media sales strategy must be clearly linked to your online store’s, as the two need to be consistent. Social media can also be used to “reward” customers and followers through contests or prizes.
To conclude, it’s important to stand apart from traditional shopping, from those endless afternoons when every physical store is packed with people waiting to pay for and wrap their gifts. We have the chance to make things easier for consumers, and eCommerce is in a privileged position. Are you ready for the Christmas season?
