Day 5 of 12 Days of Holiday Marketing Tips for Your WAHM Business - Cyber Monday and Black Friday
One Black Friday long ago, I thought it would be a great idea to go early to the stores and find great deals on holiday shopping. I thought I would hit a few stores and finish my holiday shopping, saving money with the great deals available. I even found the sales information the night before on the internet. It was going to be a fun, successful shopping event. Boy, was I in for a treat!
My first stop was Walmart. They had a laptop on sale that I wanted. I arrived at the store about an hour before the it opened. I was among the first in line (despite my late arrival according to many Black Friday repeat shoppers). There was no organization, no line or tickets. At the time I didn’t realize the importance of the organization that should have been implemented.
When the doors opened everyone outside rushed into the store, running to the electronics section. The same section I was heading towards. What was everyone running for, I thought. So I ran (walked fast) too.
When we all arrived at the electronic section, the employees were keeping everyone out of the section. The employees decided to stand on top of the checkout counters and yelled out to everyone to calm down or no one would get anything. However, the mob of shoppers was relentless. They kept pushing toward the front.
The sight was unbelievable. I said to my husband, “too bad I don’t have a camera with me.” This was before I bought my cell phone with a video camera.
The employees, frustrated, threw boxes of the laptop I wanted out at the crowd. People raised their hands to catch them. It was like a concert where they throw t-shirts out at the audience.
No, I did not catch one. However, if one had been thrown my way, I think I would have ducked.
The employees yelled out that all the laptops were gone. The crowd thinned and the employees began shouting the next items and tossed it to any one who raised their hands symbolizing they wanted it.
I left feeling as if I had witnessed the craziest event of my life and upset that I did not have a camera with me. That night the incident was all over the news.
However, I did get my laptop. I went to Best Buy where they also had some deals and they gave out numbers and had a line; way more organized. That was when I learned how important planning and organization was for the merchants during a shopping event as Black Friday.
That was my first and last Black Friday shopping event participation; never again! But, Cyber Monday, now that is something to be excited about. No lines, no angry mob, no possibility of being knocked out. Shopping from the comfort and safety of my home (or for some people, their jobs).
Today's 5th Tip of 12 Days of Holiday Marketing Tips: Get Involved with Cyber Monday.
What is Cyber Monday?
Shop.org contrived Cyber Monday. They received surveys that reported that a higher amount of online shopping followed Black Friday. It turns out that employees use company computers more for personal shopping during lunch hours at work. This year will be the one-year anniversary of this online shopping event. It occurs the first Monday after Thanksgiving.
How can you take advantage of Cyber Monday for your Holiday Marketing?:
1) Again, I am going to refer to the "12 Days of Something" I mentioned a couple days back. Become crafty in how you can incorporate Cyber Monday into your "12 Days.” Perhaps, your 12 Days can work up to an end on a big sale during Cyber Monday. Don’t forget to mention how much easier and better Cyber Monday will be in comparison to Black Friday and shopping at brick and mortar stores.
2) Google Checkout is helping Cyber Monday Merchants with advertising below their search.
3) Also, if you are involved with Google Checkout you can use the Google Shopping Search to have your products listed.
4) And there is more. You can have a Google Checkout Badge next to your Adword Advertisement, which will give you a 10% increase in click-throughs according to Google. Go to Google Checkout to find out more.
5) Have Google site search on your website to make it easy for customers to find the products they are looking for on your site.
6) Use customer reviews, photos and video to enhance your product listing.
7) Make gift suggestions in the product description.
I think Cyber Monday is an awesome idea and if you have products that you can sell Google Checkout and Cyber Monday will be a great opportunity for you to expose yourself this holiday season.
Keep looking out for more great Holiday Marketing Tips to come. I have so much more to share with you.
