TL; DR: Is your business ready for the upcoming holiday season? Read on to discover our top planning tips and dive into the tech preparations you need to handle beforehand. Gear up your online store now and thrive during the holiday sales season. 

The holiday season is just around the corner, and along with the celebrations comes the need to have your ecommerce store up and running. To help you prepare for this busy season, we’ve put together a set of strategies to assist ecommerce businesses in making the most out of the upcoming Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas sales.   

Before we dive into preparation and planning, let’s briefly recap last year’s numbers and look at key factors shaping the 2023 US holiday shopping season.  

According to Adobe Analytics, US online retail consumers spent a record $9.12 billion on Black Friday in 2022. Meanwhile, Cyber Monday hit $11.3 billion, still a major shopping day for ecommerce. This year's figures are expected to grow further.  

Though trends may vary, keeping an eye on predictions for 2023 can better equip you for the holiday shopping season. Here are some insights into what to expect:  

  • Factors such as the ongoing presence of inflation and the increasing popularity of buy now, pay later options are set to play pivotal roles in the online retail landscape.   
  • According to Adobe's insights, some product categories, including electronics, toys, and gaming systems, have consistently been top performers among deal-seeking shoppers. All signs indicate that this year will be no exception.  
  • Mobile devices will be in the spotlight, as their role in online shopping has seen rapid growth in recent years, a trend expected to persist during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023. 

Tech-Savvy Preparations for Your Ecommerce Business

As online retail sales are expected to continue their upward trend, you need to be up to the task and ready to seize the opportunities this peak season offers. To do so, there are some tech ecommerce preparations you need to tackle in advance: 

1. Start Your Ecommerce Holiday Prep by Delving into Analytics 

Preparing early is one of the first and most important recommendations for any business that wants to remain competitive during the holiday season. Start by delving into analytics and focusing on data-driven planning.  

  • Analyzing past data and trends will help you gain valuable insights to ensure you shape your strategy effectively.  
  • Use past holiday season sales data to develop services that help you predict demand accurately and manage your inventory properly.  

2. Optimize Your Website to Navigate the Holiday Rush  

Assessing and optimizing your ecommerce tech stack is a crucial part of your holiday preparations. Retailers should expect a surge in website traffic and sales during the holiday season. Make sure your website is ready to handle this influx smoothly by improving its performance and response times.  

  • To avoid slow-loading pages and unresponsive features that can frustrate potential buyers and cost you sales, you can invest in robust hosting, streamline your website's code, and apply caching strategies. 
  • Keep in mind that one of the biggest trends to look for during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 is the increasing number of purchases from mobile devices. This underscores the importance of mobile optimization for staying competitive and providing an enjoyable retail experience for your customers.  

3. Focus on Delivering a Smooth Customer Experience 

A smooth, hassle-free shopping experience is the path to ecommerce success. To prepare for the holiday season:  

  • Optimize your ecommerce platform for a user-friendly experience: verify it's easy to navigate, add clear call-to-action buttons to boost conversions, and make sure you deliver a seamless customer journey. Though addressing these issues takes time and preparation, this approach isn’t just for the busy season; it will improve your sales year-round! 
  • To deliver an efficient checkout experience and reduce cart abandonment rates, include a wide range of payment options. Double-check your payment processing systems to ensure they are efficient and secure.  
  • Consider BNPL (Buy now, pay later) as a conversion tool and offer a variety of options on your site to attract more customers. As an increasing number of buyers rely on these services to spread out their payments, offering BNPL options can give your ecommerce store a competitive edge! 
  • Anticipate an uptick in customer service requests during peak season, and make sure your support team is adequately staffed and well-trained to provide assistance effectively. To enhance your customer care and service, you can rely on a solid help center or FAQ section with helpful answers and useful content.   
shopping cart representing ecommerce success

4. Plan Your Marketing Strategy in Advance 

Don't wait until the last moment to plan your holiday marketing campaigns. Develop a content calendar in advance and engage with your audience throughout the entire season:  

  • Plan and schedule promotions and discounts ahead of time to build anticipation among your audience. Distribute these offers properly through the holiday week's key dates.  
  • A smart strategy is to prepare your campaigns well in advance and have them ready before the shopping season kicks off. By strategically planning and distributing your holiday promotions, you can make the most of the festive season! 

5. Develop a Post-holiday Strategy  

After the holiday rush, shift your focus to what comes next. Take advantage of the momentum built up over the holiday sales period.  

  • You can start by gathering valuable feedback and reviews from your customers to better understand their experiences and identify areas for future improvements. Keep the engagement going by sending out thank-you emails or extending loyalty rewards.  
  • Collect and analyze data on your sales, customer behavior, and trends. This information can offer valuable insights to shape your strategies in the future. It will also allow you to revisit step one of this guide when you begin preparing for next year’s holiday sales season!  

So, is Your Ecommerce Business Ready for The Holiday Season? 

Having solutions in place ahead of time is key to ensuring your ecommerce business has a smooth and successful season.  

If you need assistance getting ready, you can always rely on Nearsure. We provide tailored solutions to streamline your ecommerce operations. From optimizing your website to implementing data-driven strategies, we've got your back. Don’t hesitate to contact us!