3 Critical Things To Do To Prepare for the Holidays
As we roll into our ninth month of a global pandemic and what feels like the 1000th day of working from home, the holidays are on our minds.
This season is going to be… unique.
We need to look at how to adapt to where our customers are now: At home!
There are three things to consider and optimize for your quarantined customers:
Is your content mobile-friendly? We know we say this all the time, but you should be ready if your customer is not getting up from her couch to grab her laptop.
Is your buying experience the best it can be? If you want someone to give you money, it is crucial to make sure that it’s a seamless, trustworthy process.
Will you be planning your social ahead of time? Holidays are busy! Plan early, be ready.
Mobile-Ready Content
Mobile eCommerce sales are predicted to be $511.8 billion this year, up from $431.4 billion in 2022. That’s a whole lot, y’all! This increase is directly because of quarantine and the increasing popularity of purchasing products straight from apps like Instagram and Facebook.
To stay ahead of the pack, it’s time to actually prioritize your mobile experience.
In 2020, most website templates and builders include mobile responsiveness as part of the design package, but it is vital to check on this yourself and make sure your website looks as nice as it can on every device. This includes:
Your site load time
Most people expect your website to load instantaneously. Studies show that if it takes more than 3 seconds for a webpage to load, users will leave - which means you just lost a sale. Depending on your website builder, there are a variety of ways you can decrease your load time and keep things moving.
Remove pop-ups for mobile devices
While pop-ups are great for desktop users since their algorithm update in 2017, Google has penalized businesses that use pop-ups on mobile websites because it disrupts the user experience. So don’t do it!
Simple and easy to use design
Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and consider how they will use your site on their phones. Make necessary adjustments now to create the best experience possible, and invest in help if you have to.
While you’re optimizing your site for mobile, it is the perfect time to take a look at your buying experience as a whole.
The Buying Process
Many consumers are looking to online shopping for a serotonin hit, especially for the holiday season. Google’s recent survey found that 66% of consumers plan to shop at more small businesses to show their support. This means small businesses need to be ready to provide a great digital shopping experience!
For site builders like WordPress or Squarespace, improving your site’s buying process could be as simple as adding a plugin or upgrading your plan. If you’re already using an eCommerce site like Shopify, make sure to review your shop and create the best possible experience.
Small Business Saturday is coming up soon (11/28); this is the year to invest in promoting your offers and encouraging people to connect with you.
If you need support to optimize your site, give us a shout! We know some great website developers who are happy to help.
Plan Your Social and Email Marketing
Facebook dropped their holiday guide earlier this month to help business owners create their strongest social media campaigns this year. They did the research and provided some incredibly helpful insights into the minds of consumers.
The biggest takeaway?
Be authentic and get creative.
We know, we know… this isn’t new. Unsurprisingly, the thing consumers care about the most this year is how authentic a brand is and whether a brand aligns with their personal values.
So as you plan out your social media and email marketing campaigns for the holidays, take some extra time to review your content. Ask yourself these questions:
Does this imply something about our values as a brand? If so, what?
Does this content recognize that the world is different, and we have adapted to it? Does it show empathy?
Does this content give something of value to the audience? Does it make them laugh or think?
Start planning your content now so that you have time to review and edit before showtime. This year is not like any other, and, for many, it will be the first holiday season without loved ones close by, and with anxiety about the future. Consider your audience and be prepared to make adjustments. Lead with empathy and understanding. Show your heart!
There have been many changes this year, and this holiday season will be very different, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep seizing opportunities to grow your business and start 2021 off right.
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