Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days of the year, and therefore present e-commerce businesses with a significant opportunity to boost sales. However, to capitalize on this opportunity, it is important to plan ahead.  

Here are some tips from Maropost on how to prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday like a pro: 

Start Early

The best time to start preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday is in the summer. This will give you plenty of time to plan your promotions, stock your inventory, and test your website for traffic spikes. 

• Start by brainstorming a list of products that you want to offer on sale.  
• Consider, what products are popular with your customers? What products have been sitting in your inventory for a while? What products can you get a good deal on from your suppliers? 

• Once you have a list of products, start planning your promotions.
• How much of a discount will you offer? What other incentives will you offer, such as free shipping or gift cards?

• Start stocking your inventory. This will help you avoid running out of stock on popular items. 

• Test your website for traffic spikes. Make sure your website can handle a large volume of traffic without crashing. 

Set Realistic Goals  

Don’t expect to double your sales overnight. Set realistic goals for yourself and your team and be prepared to adjust your plans as needed. 

• It’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve. Start with a modest goal and then see how you can exceed it. 
• Be prepared to adjust your plans as needed. If you’re not meeting your goals, don’t be afraid to make changes. You may need to offer deeper discounts, run more promotions, or target your marketing more effectively. 

Offer Great Deals

This is the time to really slash your prices and offer amazing discounts. Take the time to ensure your deals are market standard to avoid losing customers to your competitors. 

• Research what other retailers are offering on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make sure your deals are at least as good, if not better. 
• Consider offering exclusive deals to your email subscribers or loyalty program members. This will help you drive traffic to your website and boost sales. 

Promote Your Sales

Let your customers know about your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals through email marketing, social media, and paid advertising.  

• Start promoting your sales early. This will give you time to build excitement and anticipation. 
• Use email marketing to send out personalized deals to your subscribers. 
• Post about your sales on social media and use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience. 
• Run paid advertising campaigns to target your ideal customers. 

Make Shopping Easy

Ensure your website can handle a large volume of traffic. Test your website for speed and functionality, and make sure it’s easy for customers to find what they’re looking for. 

• Use a reliable hosting provider to ensure that your website can handle a large amount of traffic. 
• Use a content delivery network (CDN) to improve the speed of your website. 
• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. More and more people are shopping online from their mobile devices. 
• Use clear and concise product descriptions. 
• Make sure your checkout process is easy and straightforward. 

Provide Excellent Customer Service

Shoppers expect excellent customer service, especially during busy shopping periods like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Take the time to confirm that your customer service team is able to handle a high volume of inquiries. 

• Have a dedicated team of customer service representatives available to answer questions and resolve issues. 
• Use live chat or chatbots to provide 24/7 customer support. 
• Respond to customer inquiries quickly and courteously. 
• Go the extra mile to resolve customer issues. 

Always Have a Plan B

Things don’t always go according to plan, so it’s important to have a contingency plan ready just in case. Be prepared, and you’ll be able to handle any challenges that come your way. 

• Have a backup plan in case your website crashes. This could be a static landing page with your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, or a link to a third-party website that can handle the traffic. 
• Think of ways to cross-sell in case you sell out of one product early.  

In summary, making the most out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday takes thoughtful, timely, and strategic planning. As highlighted above, realistic goal setting, advertising enticing promotions, and offering a seamless shopping and customer service experience can help position your business to maximize its Black Friday and Cyber Monday potential.