Table of Contents:

Introduction

Give away freebies

Create Blog Posts with a Creative Holiday Theme

Praise loyal customers

Make a section called "Popular for X"

Make retail discount codes available on social media sites

Concentrate on Long-Tail Keywords

Behaviorally Based Ad Retargeting

Create Attention-Grabbing Emails

Offer Free Gift Packaging

Offer Free Shipping

Conclusion

 

For eCommerce companies, the holiday season is an important time of year. Even so, it can be challenging to know how to take advantage of it, especially as the holiday shopping season draws near and many online shops are gearing up for higher sales.

Online shops must interact with their clients and make an impression on them because it is predicted that U.S. retail eCommerce sales will increase by 16% this year. Many online stores tried other deals to attract customers, but you will need to do more to stay competitive.

 

 

The second quarter of 2022 saw a 2.7% jump in U.S. eCommerce sales from the first quarter of 2022, reaching a total of $257.3 billion. This provides ample opportunity for online stores to increase their sales during the holiday season. However, they will need to employ some effective strategies to do so.

Most businesses don't realize that the holiday season is a six-month-long opportunity. And if you're only using one or two tactics, you're leaving money on the table. So, we've put together a list of 10 proven tactics to help you increase your eCommerce sales this holiday season.

 

           1. Give away freebies

Gaining free things can feel like winning the lottery. It's always wonderful to acquire something for nothing, whether you're getting a free sample at the grocery store or signing up for a free trial membership at a neighboring gym. So it makes sense for your company to think about using this free promotional giveaway technique!

This can be a great way to increase sales while also generating new buzz about your brand. You can do this by launching a referral-based campaign program, where customers who complete a purchase can send a gift to one of their friends via email.

 

 

If you decide to provide a gift to increase sales, you must ensure that the recipient will value it. Unfortunately, too many eCommerce platforms entice people to buy anything by promising a free "present," only to reveal that this "gift" is actually a 10% coupon. Of course, offering coupons as gifts is perfectly OK, but you should at least make them appealing enough to prevent your brand from suffering.

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2. Create Blog Posts with a Creative Holiday Theme

 

 

The data above shows that half of the inquiries on Google are from people looking for something informational, while a quarter are looking for something transactional, navigational, and commercial. What this means is that most people use Google to find information, rather than to purchase something or to get somewhere.

Write blog posts with a fun holiday theme if you want to engage your audience and draw in more visitors. For example, you could write about the history of Christmas, share festive recipes, or give tips on how to make the perfect holiday dinner. Whatever topic you choose, make sure it is relevant to your business and will interest your target audience.

You can produce holiday-themed infographics, podcasts, and videos in addition to blog pieces. Whatever content you create, make sure it is high quality and informative. Your audience will be more inclined to make a purchase from you this Christmas season if you add value to them.

When it comes to their blog material, many business owners struggle, but once you put yourself in your customers' place, it gets a lot simpler. For example, if you are a florist, instead of just writing about the flowers you offer, try to come up with blog post ideas that would be useful or interesting to your customers. A post titled "5 Unique Ways to Use Flowers in Your Holiday Decor" would be much more likely to capture attention and get shared than one that simply listed your holiday bouquet offerings.

 

3. Praise loyal customers

 

 

Remember to take care of your email subscribers and past clients by providing them with unique incentives to make them feel valued. For example, your current clientele is more inclined to repurchase from you because they are already familiar with your brand. Therefore, giving them exclusive holiday discounts can help increase your sales significantly.

Additionally, if your present consumers believe they are receiving a lot of value from your website, they are more likely to spread the word spontaneously. Imagine using your current clientele as a source of recommendations from others!

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4. Make a section called "Popular for X"

 

 

To make this even more effective, consider adding countdown timers next to each product so that people know how limited the stock is. People are prompted to purchase as a result of the sense of urgency it produces.

Let your imagination run wild. Your customers will not only appreciate that these categories are chock-full of highly relevant goods, but they will also have a better impression of your business because you took the time to design some imaginative holiday-specific categories.

 

5. Make retail discount codes available on social media sites

It's time to start planning ways to boost your eCommerce sales once the holiday bells start ringing. A surefire way to increase eCommerce sales during the holidays is to make explicit discount codes available on social media sites and email lists.

First, ensure they're easy to find and use whatever type of code you offer. Then, promote them prominently on your website and social media channels, ensuring quick and seamless checkout. For example, you could create a code that gives customers 10% off their entire purchase or a code that's only valid for certain categories of products. This will encourage customers who may not have considered purchasing, knowing they can save money using the code.

Make sure the retail discount codes are easily accessible and explicitly for holiday shoppers. This will ensure that customers know they are getting a good deal and will be more likely to purchase.

 

 

 

6. Concentrate on Long-Tail Keywords

The most significant mistake that e-commerce businesses make during the holidays is failing to take advantage of long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are more precise keyphrases that are frequently employed later in the purchasing process. So, for example, rather than targeting the keyword "holiday gifts," you would be better off targeting something like "unique holiday gifts for her."

 

 

Not only are long-tail keywords less competitive, but they also tend to convert at a higher rate because they are more specific. Therefore, by targeting these types of keywords, you can improve your chances of driving qualified website traffic and ultimately increase sales.

To find long-tail keywords, you can use various tools, including Google AdWords Keyword Planner and SEMrush. Your website's titles, meta descriptions, product pages, and blog posts may all use the keywords you've chosen once you've created a list of potential ones.

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7. Behaviorally Based Ad Retargeting

You can use several tactics to increase sales during the holidays, but behaviorally based ad retargeting is one of the most effective.

What is behaviorally based ad retargeting?

Behavioral ad retargeting is a form of online advertising that targets ads to users based on their previous online behavior. For example, if someone has visited your eCommerce store but didn't make a purchase, you could target them with ads for your products.

Behavioral ad retargeting, which enables you to target potential customers who are already interested in your products, can be very effective in boosting sales during the holidays.

 

 

How to set up behaviorally based ad retargeting?

If you want to set up behaviorally based ad retargeting, there are a few things you need to do.

1. You need to set up a tracking system so you can track the online behavior of your potential customers. One of the simplest methods to do this is to utilize a pixel tracking code. However, there are other options as well.

 

2. You have your tracking tool in place. Next, you must create a list of potential customers to target with your ads. You can accomplish this by segmenting your consumer information according to their prior online activity.

 

3. You must create your ads and decide where to place them. Behavioral ad retargeting can be extremely effective in increasing sales during the holidays, but it's important to ensure you set it up correctly.

Following the steps above can ensure your successful behavioral ad retargeting campaign.

 

8. Create Attention-Grabbing Emails

This holiday season, ensure your emails stand out in subscribers' inboxes. Use an attention-grabbing subject line and include eye-catching images to grab recipients' attention and encourage them to open your email.

In the email body, clearly state what special offer or promotion you're running. Then, use strong calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage recipients to take advantage of your offer. And include a sense of urgency to prompt recipients to act now.

 

 

For example, you could use a subject line like "Final Chance!" or "24 Hours Only!" to create a sense of urgency. Or, you could offer a discount for recipients who take action within a certain time frame.

In addition, Holiday-related emails generated an open rate of 15.5% when sent out at the correct time, compared to 14.2% for all other emails, according to a study. For instance, emails with a Back to School, Black Friday, or Thanksgiving theme performed better when they were distributed closer to those days.

So, timeliness is key regarding email marketing during the holidays. Plan your email content and schedule your send dates in advance so you can take advantage of timely opportunities as they arise.

 Boost your sales using this easy strategy.

9. Offer Free Gift Packaging

Gift packaging is always a nice touch, but it can also be a great way to increase sales during the holidays. For many online shoppers, gift wrapping means having to find a way to wrap the items they've purchased. When someone is inexperienced with the product, this can be time-consuming and frustrating. Offer free gift packaging, and you'll make it easy for them to add your products to their holiday shopping list.

By offering free gift packaging, you can make their lives easier and increase your chances of making a sale just like the example below.

  

 

 

10. Offer Free Shipping

Free shipping is always a popular offer around the holidays. You can either offer it sitewide or require a minimum purchase amount to qualify. In a survey conducted in 2016 by Walker Sands, 90% of participants stated free delivery would encourage them to shop online more frequently.

 

 

It could be difficult to imagine how purchasers' decisions could be greatly impacted by free shipment. However, this finding may be helpful to businesses that specialize in online sales, particularly when trying to sway clients who are undecided.

If you offer free shipping sitewide, ensure your margins can handle it. You don't want to lose money on every sale. A good way to offset costs is to increase your product prices slightly. This way, you'll still be making a profit on each sale, even after covering shipping costs.

You can also get creative with your shipping offers. For example, offer free 2-day shipping on orders over $100. These offers can entice customers to buy more to reach the free shipping threshold.

Conclusion

With a little preparation and the right mindset, you can make this holiday season your most successful yet. So enjoy it and use your imagination! These tactics should have gotten you going in the right direction. What are your favorite tactics for boosting eCommerce sales during the holidays? If you're looking for help increasing your website's traffic, Winterplay Studios can help!

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