Ultra quick guide.
With just four weeks left until Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) 2024, time is ticking and ecommerce stores must prepare now. This is the biggest selling event of the year and optimizing your store now ensures you stay ahead of the competition, maximize sales and convert seasonal shoppers into loyal customers.
This is an ultra-quick guide to prepare everything essential in just 4 weeks, and thus make the most of this year's BFCM.
Go for it!
BFCM 2024 Summary
What is the BFCM?
When we talk about "BFCM", we are referring to "Black Friday - Cyber Monday", two of the most important shopping days that mark the beginning of the Christmas season. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday is the Monday after.
Nowadays, BFCM is crucial for stores as it attracts more traffic and sales, especially online.
When is BFCM 2024?
Black Friday will be on November 29, 2024 and Cyber Monday will be on December 2, 2024.
How is BFCM 2024 different from previous years?
- The BFCM will start earlier than usual, this is because they continue to grow in popularity and consumers hope to take full advantage of it. A study by Boston Consulting Group estimates that more than 74% of the US population planned to shop on Black Friday in 2023. This year can help predict that there will be more competition.
- Consumers do research before buying. Today, buyers are more informed than ever. A Google study reveals that more than half of US consumers will review products before going to the store in 2023. Now, consumers are researching and purchasing in the months leading up to the holiday season.
- Rise of mobile commerce. According to Cloudflare, Black Friday was the day with the highest mobile traffic, with 55.3% of events occurring on smartphones. In 2024, mobile devices will continue to dominate the BFCM shopping scene.
- Paid search will be key. Adobe indicates that paid search generated 29.4% of retailers' online sales during the shopping season. By 2024, sponsored search will be critical to increasing sales.
- Customers are looking for more offers and discounts. With global economic growth stagnating at 2.6% according to UNCTAD, consumers will be more cautious with their purchases, looking for offers and competitive prices.
- Growth in health, beauty and fashion sectors. Online sales in the health and beauty sector grew 12% in the first quarter of 2024, according to Foxecom. In the BFCM, these sectors will see a significant increase in sales.
- Social shopping will boost sales. A Salesforce study shows that social media drove five times more traffic in the 2023 holiday season. For BFCM 2024, social media will be essential, especially to reach generations Z and Y.
- High customer service expectations. Consumers expect faster, more personalized service. A Zendesk report indicates that 72% of customers expect immediate support. During the BFCM, meeting these expectations will be key to customer satisfaction and retention.
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Quick Action Plan: 4 Weeks to BFCM Success
Well, if you're reading this, there probably isn't much time left. So this is a quick plan proposal to be ready in just 4 weeks.
Week 1: Optimize your website to improve speed and usability.
- Page loading speed: Make sure your site is charged in less than 2 seconds.
- Mobile-first design: Make browsing and payment seamless on mobile devices.
- Security: Implements biometrics and two-factor authentication to build trust.
Week 2: Create irresistible offers.
- Tiered discounts: Rewards bigger spends with bigger discounts.
- Package offers: fomente valores de carrito más altos con paquetes de productos atractivos.
- Free shipping: Offer it as a motivator for cart conversions.
Week 3: Take advantage of paid and email ads
- Email segmentation: Customize content for different customer groups.
- Countdown Timers: Create urgency with a ticking clock in emails.
- Paid Ads: Invest in social ads, especially on TikTok and Instagram, where Gen Z and millennials are most active.
Week 4: Prepare for the surge
- Monitoring: Go to your technical team to be sure that all your ecommerce ecosystem is being monitored.
- Inventory management: Make sure you have the best-selling products in stock based on demand forecasts.
- Customer service: Increase attention with AI-powered chatbots and temporary hires to manage the influx of inquiries.
After BFCM: What's next?
Once the action has passed, it is time to analyze the performance of your campaign, for example: traffic sources, conversion rate and customer retention. It is also advisable to implement post-purchase strategies such as thank you emails and loyalty programs to maximize the value of each customer. Here's what you should watch:
Post-BFCM Analysis
- Sales tracking, collecting information about the performance of your business and customers in relation to sales activities.
- Traffic sources what include organic search, social media, email marketing, paid advertising, referrals from other websites and direct traffic.
- The conversion rate, which shows how many people have done what they were asked to do.
Also, think about your customer acquisition rate versus customer retention rate. Knowing these numbers will help you determine if you acquired new clients or simply offered attention to those you already had prior to the season.
Remember that the success of BFCM 2024 is not just about the sales day, but how you take advantage of this moment to strengthen your brand, gain customers and keep them engaged for the long term.
FAQ: Quick Preparation for BFCM
Q: How far in advance should I start my BFCM promotions?
A: Now! Customers are already investigating. By launching your site early, you'll be able to capture those buyers.
Q: How can I make sure my site doesn't crash?
A: Test your site's bandwidth and scalability in advance. Check with your hosting provider if necessary to ensure your site can handle a lot of traffic.
Q: Which marketing channel should I prioritize for BFCM?
A: Social media, particularly Instagram Reels and TikTok. These platforms generate significant engagement and traffic during the BFCM.
Q: Should I offer free shipping?
A: Absolutely! It is one of the main factors influencing purchasing decisions during the holiday shopping season.
Q: How can I create urgency during BFCM?
A: Use countdown timers, limited-time offers, and real-time stock alerts to boost conversions.
Now is your turn!
The hours are ticking, but there is still time to optimize your store. If you need help improving the performance of your ecommerce, contact us today! Let's make this BFCM your most profitable season yet.
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Digital Marketing Manager at Orienteed.
I lead the planning and execution of Orienteed's digital marketing strategy with a fantastic team, making sure it aligns with our strategic goals and drives business growth. I'm really into inbound marketing, web design, and creating content that matters.
I wrote the book: "How to Create a Profitable Blog Today."
"Marketing is about values. It’s a complicated and noisy world, and we’re not going to get a chance to get people to remember much about us. No company is. So we have to be really clear about what we want them to know about us."
—Steve Jobs