It’s the middle of November which can only mean one thing; that in the coming weeks the onset of Christmas shoppers is only going to increase! From friends and family to colleagues and our other halves, there are a plethora of gifts to get for the people in our lives but let’s face it; who really wants plough through bustling crowds, get stuck in queue after queue, and feel like you’re living a nightmare?! Thank god for online shopping!
As a nation, we are today, more than ever inclined to head online for whatever we need and this Christmas is going to be no different. From clothes to books to tech gear; whatever we need is now incredibly easy to get, in-fact we can pretty much complete our entire Christmas list with the click of a button… music to the ears of those with e-commerce websites.
For businesses online, the coming few weeks could prove to be tremendously fruitful. There are thousands upon thousands of shoppers ready and more than willing to buy but the only question is… how easy is your website to actually buy from?
Whether a brand new website or a site that has been serving you well for a number of years, with shopping set to rapidly increase in the coming weeks there are a few things to keep in mind if the online branch of your business is going to witness that desired success…
Delivery
With Christmas just a few weeks away delivery dates are incredibly important. Have you provided all the shipping information that you need? Does your website make clear all the appropriate days and have you stated a cut-off time? Remember that if your customers are buying in the run-up to Christmas then odds are that they will be expecting everything at the right time but make all dates clear otherwise you could find yourself in a difficult situation.
Customer Service
The Christmas period is tremendously busy but it is important that your business and all staff members are on the ball and prepared for this. Can you and your team respond quickly to emails? Are you able to answer any and all queries on social media and does your website and FAQ page provide all the right information? Being able to provide quality customer service during the coming weeks could be the difference between success and failure.
Returns
As you may have noticed a vital pattern is merging here in regard to information but every piece of it is crucial. Returns information is just as important as delivery because 9 times out of 10 what your customer buys in the coming weeks will be as a gift and as with all gifts; wrong choices are a possibility. From the size, to style to overall choice; there will be a number of reasons why your customers may want to return an item which is why it is important that you provide the vital information beforehand. What is the returns procedure? Is there a restriction on returning certain items? Are there cut-off dates? The more information you provide, the less likely you will be faced with any difficult situations.
Offers and Products
From unique discounts to the products you are hoping to sell in the coming weeks have you got everything sorted? Have you identified your main products? have you created landing pages for each? Are your offers clear?
Marketing
Have you done and are you doing enough to attract customers to your business and not to your competitors? From email marketing to social ads and social interaction; are you doing enough to promote your business? Are you showing off your latest products and offers and are you providing enough to encourage people to get on your site? Competition is tough so ensure that you are giving your business a fighting chance.
With Christmas just a few weeks away there is an incredible opportunity right in front of you, you just need to ensure that your site ticks all the right boxes for that success to come your way!
