With the holiday season upon us, most people prepare for colder weather and hunting bargains on Thanksgiving weekend. Marketers, however, should prepare to run a successful holiday campaign. To accomplish this, they have to get the attention of their customers for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Beyond.
Holiday Shopping has Evolved
Black Friday has been regarded as the beginning of the holiday shopping season since the 1930s. However, it started to pick up steam in the last ten years. According to the National Retail Federation, one big factor was online sales. Cyber Monday is expected to account for $105 billion toward holiday sales.
Strategy: As crowded as your store might be, more sales could be coming from online than anywhere else. Encourage people to go to your website.
Smartphones on the Rise
Nearly 2/3 of Americans own a smart device. Smartphones and tablets are the device of choice for most US consumers. This year, the number of people that plan to browse and buy online will grow. Last year, this figure went up by 44%.
Strategy: Is your website optimized for mobile browsers? It should be.
Smartphone Shoppers Browse for Great Bargains
The best possible marketing tool you have is likely in your consumer’s pocket. In fact, 54% of all holiday shoppers will be using their smartphones to look for deals throughout the day.
Strategy: Needless to say it’s also in your company’s best interest to focus on mobile advertising. Run mobile specific ads that will encourage consumers to make a purchase on the fly.
Consumers Will Get Social
According to Global Web Index, 98% of digital consumers use social media. 93% of Baby Boomers are also on social media.
Strategy: Social media is a prime opportunity to get your brand out. Consumers will share hashtags, talk about their experience shopping with you, and your bargains. So make them good.
Online Consumers Love to Hunt for a Bargain
According to Nielsen, 59% of consumers say they enjoy taking the time to find bargains Consumers are addicted to a good deal and it might be because retailers and may even be able to pay more if they think that the benefits outweigh the price.
Strategy: Make it easier for your customers to be able to deals. Consider using your social media channels, or sending text messages to your customers to get your message out, and make their hunt a little easier.
Keep Your Customers Coming Back
Lower prices aren’t the only thing that keeps customers coming back. According to Nielsen, 55% of consumers care about price. However, these factors also need to be considered.
- Quality (57%)
- Convenient location (56%)
- Product availability (54%)
- Coupons (46%)
- Customer Rewards Program (34%)
Strategy: Price is important, but it’s not everything.
Give Consumers What They Want.
In a survey conducted by Scanlife, 47% of consumers would be willing to share location and personal information if it meant they could receive a deal.
Strategy: Reward these loyal customers with text messages that offer deals. A text messaging service, such as nResponse, can inform your customers of secret sales, deals, and even send mobile coupons.
Think Beyond Black Friday.
A small text message can make a big impact. 77% of smartphone users said mobile offers, such as surprise points or rewards, exclusive content, and special birthday messaging, have a positive or very positive impact on their brand loyalty.
Strategy: When your business uses nResponse to send out a message, you can store customer information, and control when they get messages. Messages can be sent out via text message, email, or voice mail. Whichever your customers would prefer, you can deliver.
Learn how your business can deliver the messages your customers want.