Running a holiday promotion can be a great way to boost holiday eCommerce sales at one of the busiest times of the year. People love getting into the spirit of gifting, so why not make it easy for them? This list of eCommerce ideas should get you started.
From free postage to gift-wrapping and two-for-one deals, there are tonnes of ways you can leverage the festive season.
Editor’s note: Learn what the big online retailers already know — read our start-to-finish guide to building a high-performing eCommerce website.
9 eCommerce ideas to try this year
You’re sure to have a merry time trying out these holiday marketing ideas.
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The magic duo.
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Two for one.
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The limited-time sale.
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Gift guides.
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A paired offer.
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Festive web pages.
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An email newsletter.
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A blog.
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Seasonal videos.
Before we reveal our tips, let’s discuss the importance of setting measurable goals.
Related: 10 ideas to increase sales this Christmas
Make a plan
As a kid, you probably wondered how Santa got all the way around the world in just one night, delivering presents to children all over the world. Well … he had a plan, a strategy, a roadmap. Santa and his reindeers don’t fly blind — and neither should you.
Kick this holiday eCommerce season off with a goal.
Do you have a target in mind? Perhaps you’re looking to:
- Increase your holiday eCommerce sales by 20 percent.
- Generate 30 new leads.
- Increase return purchases by a certain percentage.
Whatever your goal is, these holiday season tips and tricks are sure to help you get there.
1. The magic duo
Whether your customers have been naughty or nice, you’re going to reward them for shopping with you not once, but twice.
There are two things all of us want when Santa comes to town, and that’s free postage and gift-wrapping.
Nobody has time, or money, to worry about shipping fees, sticky tape and ribbon. People are likely to be working longer hours in the lead-up to the big day, so anything you can do to make their lives easier will have them wanting to buy from you, not your competitor. Season after season, holiday shoppers are all about added value.
2. Two for one
On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love said to me … buy one, get one free!
Who doesn’t love a two-for-one deal? Everyone does. Truth is, the holiday season is expensive, and everyone’s after a bargain. Here are a few more easy eCommerce ideas:
- Stocking fillers are a great way for your customers to spend without splurging. Make sure you offer something for many.
- Combine related products into a variety of bundles with a variety of price points.
- Don’t forget the gift vouchers. These make it easy for customers to buy for those who are hard to buy for (you know the ones).
Not sure how much of a discount to offer? Learn the fine art of creating sale offers that still make you money here.
3. The limited-time sale
This time of year has a natural sense of urgency about it … before customers know it, it’s nearly Christmas Eve and they still haven’t finished their shopping. Capitalizing on this with one-time-only offers or flash 12-hour sales can persuade shoppers to click BUY NOW in the fear of missing out (FOMO).
4. Gift guides
Photo: Pepi Stojanovski on Unsplash
At this time of year, people’s letterboxes are full of catalogues, giving your potential customers trillions of gift ideas. Go one better, with a customised gift guide delivered straight to their inboxes. It’s a great way to promote your bundles and stocking fillers, not to mention your best sellers and your one-time-only packages.
5. A paired offer
The holidays are also the perfect time to partner with like-minded businesses to offer complementary products or services. A wine shop could partner with a cheese manufacturer for example; a toy company with a local children’s play center. Your customers will love receiving special offers that usually don’t exist. Both businesses will be exposed to potential customers who might not find them otherwise.
6. Festive web pages
Unlike having a shop front, eCommerce stores don’t get to put up the Christmas tree, hang the baubles, or display twinkly lights. But you can bring all the festive fun to your website.
Create a holiday landing page to showcase your holiday specials, making sure to link to it on your home page, on social media and in pay-per-click ads (if you’re using them).
Editor’s note: GoDaddy Online Store makes the holiday season easy on retailers with secure processing of all major credit cards, PayPal and Apple Pay; built-in shipping; inventory management and a streamlined mobile checkout for shoppers on-the-go.
7. An email newsletter
If you don’t already have some form of eNews or member updates, why not start now? Christmas is a great time to show your customers how your product or service can solve their problems. Right now, they’re looking for quick fixes and go-to gifts. Show how your products fit the bill in a series of emails.
Electronic direct mail is also an option. It’s a bigger undertaking than an email campaign, but a great way of getting in front of your customers. This strategy brings together remarketing, pay-per-click, social media and offline advertising to bring likely customers to your website.
Related: How to build your business’ first email address list
8. A blog
Blogging is another great way to promote your products during the holidays.
Perhaps you offer a range of skin care products — why not blog about the importance of keeping your skin hydrated during the stressful holiday season? Or maybe you sell specialty condiments. Write about which sauce goes with what meat and why. Relate your blog content to seasonal events, trends or consumer wants like sustainability in brands. If you have something they want, shout about it.
9. Seasonal videos
Talking about all things digital … people love videos, especially if they give them a good laugh. Help your customers crack a smile by putting together your own silly season footage featuring you, your team and your awesome products or service. Better yet, turn those gift guides into videos for easy viewing (be sure to include a link to our website so viewers know where to buy). Facebook Business Manager also allows the creation of slideshows with the upload of images into templates. Start here.
Simple eCommerce ideas that excite
So, there we have it folks, a few hints and tips to kickstart your holiday eCommerce campaign. Whether you try just one of them or several, these ideas are sure to start a buzz. Off you go now, get on your sleigh, round up all your elves and get cracking!
This eCommerce ideas post was originally published on 27 November 2018 and was updated on 29 October 2019.
