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Keen to supercharge your sales before the year’s end? Discover the most effective seasonal sale ideas to help your small business stand out from competition during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 shopping weekend.
Every year, late November marks the start of the shopping spree in both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. Both consumers and businesses are ready for massive sales: for instance, in 2024, 31% of Americans plan to spend more during seasonal sales than last year.
As your potential customers are preparing to hunt for the best deals, you need to make sure your business is ready for the surge in shopping. Hosting a successful sale right before Christmas is crucial for businesses of all sizes – so even if you only launched your online store yesterday, you can still benefit from this shopping spree.
We’ve rounded up some practical tips to help you maximize your sales and brand visibility during this peak shopping season. But first things first – what are we going after?
In the next few weeks, you can plan your promotional activity around four key shopping moments: Singles Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
Observed on November 11th (11/11), Singles’ Day comes from China as a celebration for individuals without romantic partners. With time, it has transformed into a major sales event – first in China, then expanded globally.
Alibaba, a Chinese retailer, was the first to host a Singles’ Day sale in 2009, and by now it has become the world’s largest online shopping day. Last year, the global Singles Day sales reached nearly $156 billion. Ecommerce businesses see it as an early opportunity to boost revenue – and to test promotional and marketing mechanics before Black Friday.
If you’re keen to trial a promo campaign or launch a page with Singles Day sale, explore the options with it.com Domains (availability and prices current at time of publication):
Originating in the United States and falling on the Friday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday is probably the most recognized shopping event globally. In 2024, Black Friday falls on November 29th, and nearly 36% of Americans plan to shop Black Friday deals this year.
If you run an ecommerce business, leverage Black Friday to offer the most substantial discounts of the year. Typically, retailers run Black Friday deals across higher value items, including electronics, fashion, fragrances, and more. Interestingly, many retailers initiate promotions well before the official date, turning Black Friday into ‘Black November’.
Here are a few ideas for a domain name to run a Black Friday sale (availability and prices current at time of publication):
Source: Pexels
Cyber Monday is an annual online shopping event that takes place on the Monday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The term was coined in 2005 when Black Friday was still majorly an offline event. Cyber Monday offered an alternative to shopping in-store and an opportunity to snap a deal online from the comfort of your own home.
In 2024, Cyber Monday will occur on December 2nd. You can use this option to extend your most popular promotions, or offer last-minute deals and exclusive online discounts on products you have in stock after Black Friday. Cyber Monday sales are projected to exceed $13.2 billion in 2024.
For a Cyber Monday promotion campaign, explore the domain name options below (availability and prices current at time of publication):
Established by American Express in the United States in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an alternative to the larger shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, often dominated by the major retailers. On Small Business Saturday, consumers are encouraged to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. Last year, shoppers spent an estimated $17 billion during this one-day event.
In 2024, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30th in the U.S., and on December 7th in the United Kingdom. As a small business, you can participate by hosting special events or promotions to reach out to new customers.
If you are keen to support the initiative, you can do so with some domain name options from it.com Domains (availability and prices current at time of publication):
Source: Pexels
WIth an array of events to boost sales (and entice some gift shoppers with your products and services ahead of holiday seasons), give a try to some Black Friday marketing tactics that actually work.
Seasonal sales always look daunting, and it might seem like it’s hard to cut through the noise, especially when trying to compete with giant retailers with large marketing budgets. However, you still can get your share of pre-holiday spend if you play smart.
Shoppers are ready for deals and promotions early. Google Trends show that customers start searching for ‘Black Friday deals’ as early as the first week of November. Start with smaller promotions (such as buy two, get one free, or 10%-20% discounts) or trial your promo mechanics during the Singles’ Day sale. That way, you can generate Black Friday revenue before it even starts.
Top tip: launch a member-only, early exclusive access to deals to your lapsed or regular customers.
We recommend creating a landing page per each type of sale you are planning to host (e.g. having Black Friday and Cyber Monday pages separately). Include year in the page title and meta data. If you are not ready to disclose your deals yet, put a placeholder – for example, a countdown to your planned sale, a form to sign up for deals alerts, as well as a carousel of best selling products for users to get inspired.
Once you’re ready to launch, increase the prominence of your landing page – link them from your homepage and mega menu, link to the promo pages from other pages on your website.
Top tip: when the sale is over, you can either place a temporary 302 redirect, or ‘orphan’ it (remove all links to the promo page from other places of the website) until next year.
While some customers are after huge discounts, others might seek value over price. Hence, creating curated product bundles specially for this shopping occasion is a great idea for a small business. Pair related products – for example, if you sell hair care, offer a set of shampoo, conditioner and hair mask or serum – and offer it at a discounted price for an added value. This also creates an opportunity for customers to try additional products, and for you – to increase an average order value.
Top tip: bundle up your bestsellers with the ones typically overlooked to sell your extra stock, or throw in some samples as a thank you for supporting your business.
Let’s face it – shoppers are in for deals, and you better not disappoint them! Yet, to avoid losing profit, explore the mechanics like tiered discounts, based on the number of items bought, or the size of the basket. Shein and Sephora are actively utilizing this approach during sales events. Another option is a flash sale – an increased discount or special offer during a short (usually hours) period of time. Spice it up with a countdown clock and email reminders to your customer base to create a sense of urgency.
Top tip: offer an additional discount to those who sign up to your promo newsletter – it’s a great chance to grow your CRM base.
In 2023, 40% of shoppers planned to do most of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday weekend. You can target gift shoppers with a curated collection of items suitable as gifts, or prominently featuring gift sets on your homepage, or writing up gift guides to help their research.
Top tip: offer free gift wrapping for items on sale.
Customers navigate between online channels in their deals hunt. You can start by teasing up your sales on social media, then do a preview on your website (see the tip above for the landing page strategy), then go full-on with your targeted search and social conversion campaigns.
Top tip: email marketing is your best friend during sales – Black Friday sees an increased click-through rate of 13% on average, and the subject lines that feature Black Friday or Cyber Monday increase click-through rates by 64%. Email can also help target abandoned carts before the sales are over.
A hard journey is easier together. As a small business, you might want to explore partnerships with another SMB producing a related product or service to offer bundled deals. For example, if you sell furniture, partner up with a company offering rugs, or with an interior designer. By cross-pollinating each other’s social media feeds, or creating a joint Pinterest promo board, you can expand your reach to new audiences.
Top tip: launch your exclusive partnership on a standalone domain name and link to your respective brands’ websites.
Looking for more ideas to grow your revenue online? Visit it.com Domains blog and follow us on social media.
Continue reading on the it.com Domains blog...
Every year, late November marks the start of the shopping spree in both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. Both consumers and businesses are ready for massive sales: for instance, in 2024, 31% of Americans plan to spend more during seasonal sales than last year.
As your potential customers are preparing to hunt for the best deals, you need to make sure your business is ready for the surge in shopping. Hosting a successful sale right before Christmas is crucial for businesses of all sizes – so even if you only launched your online store yesterday, you can still benefit from this shopping spree.
We’ve rounded up some practical tips to help you maximize your sales and brand visibility during this peak shopping season. But first things first – what are we going after?
Key Seasonal Shopping Events
In the next few weeks, you can plan your promotional activity around four key shopping moments: Singles Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
What is Singles Day?
Observed on November 11th (11/11), Singles’ Day comes from China as a celebration for individuals without romantic partners. With time, it has transformed into a major sales event – first in China, then expanded globally.
Alibaba, a Chinese retailer, was the first to host a Singles’ Day sale in 2009, and by now it has become the world’s largest online shopping day. Last year, the global Singles Day sales reached nearly $156 billion. Ecommerce businesses see it as an early opportunity to boost revenue – and to test promotional and marketing mechanics before Black Friday.
If you’re keen to trial a promo campaign or launch a page with Singles Day sale, explore the options with it.com Domains (availability and prices current at time of publication):
- singlesday.it.com – available, $49 per year
- offer.it.com – premium domain
- 1111.it.com – available, $49 per year
What is Black Friday?
Originating in the United States and falling on the Friday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday is probably the most recognized shopping event globally. In 2024, Black Friday falls on November 29th, and nearly 36% of Americans plan to shop Black Friday deals this year.
If you run an ecommerce business, leverage Black Friday to offer the most substantial discounts of the year. Typically, retailers run Black Friday deals across higher value items, including electronics, fashion, fragrances, and more. Interestingly, many retailers initiate promotions well before the official date, turning Black Friday into ‘Black November’.
Here are a few ideas for a domain name to run a Black Friday sale (availability and prices current at time of publication):
- friday.it.com – available, $49 per year
- bf.it.com – premium domain
- discount.it.com – premium domain
Source: Pexels
What is Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is an annual online shopping event that takes place on the Monday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The term was coined in 2005 when Black Friday was still majorly an offline event. Cyber Monday offered an alternative to shopping in-store and an opportunity to snap a deal online from the comfort of your own home.
In 2024, Cyber Monday will occur on December 2nd. You can use this option to extend your most popular promotions, or offer last-minute deals and exclusive online discounts on products you have in stock after Black Friday. Cyber Monday sales are projected to exceed $13.2 billion in 2024.
For a Cyber Monday promotion campaign, explore the domain name options below (availability and prices current at time of publication):
- monday.it.com – available, $49 per year
- cm.it.com – premium domain
- onlinesale.it.com – available, $49 per year
What is Small Business Saturday?
Established by American Express in the United States in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an alternative to the larger shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, often dominated by the major retailers. On Small Business Saturday, consumers are encouraged to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. Last year, shoppers spent an estimated $17 billion during this one-day event.
In 2024, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30th in the U.S., and on December 7th in the United Kingdom. As a small business, you can participate by hosting special events or promotions to reach out to new customers.
If you are keen to support the initiative, you can do so with some domain name options from it.com Domains (availability and prices current at time of publication):
- smallbiz.it.com – available, $49 per year
- shoplocal.it.com – available, $49 per year
- indie.it.com – available, $49 per year
Source: Pexels
WIth an array of events to boost sales (and entice some gift shoppers with your products and services ahead of holiday seasons), give a try to some Black Friday marketing tactics that actually work.
7 Black Friday Sale Ideas For Small Business
Seasonal sales always look daunting, and it might seem like it’s hard to cut through the noise, especially when trying to compete with giant retailers with large marketing budgets. However, you still can get your share of pre-holiday spend if you play smart.
- Pace your deals
Shoppers are ready for deals and promotions early. Google Trends show that customers start searching for ‘Black Friday deals’ as early as the first week of November. Start with smaller promotions (such as buy two, get one free, or 10%-20% discounts) or trial your promo mechanics during the Singles’ Day sale. That way, you can generate Black Friday revenue before it even starts.
Top tip: launch a member-only, early exclusive access to deals to your lapsed or regular customers.
- Maintain your promo pages
We recommend creating a landing page per each type of sale you are planning to host (e.g. having Black Friday and Cyber Monday pages separately). Include year in the page title and meta data. If you are not ready to disclose your deals yet, put a placeholder – for example, a countdown to your planned sale, a form to sign up for deals alerts, as well as a carousel of best selling products for users to get inspired.
Once you’re ready to launch, increase the prominence of your landing page – link them from your homepage and mega menu, link to the promo pages from other pages on your website.
Top tip: when the sale is over, you can either place a temporary 302 redirect, or ‘orphan’ it (remove all links to the promo page from other places of the website) until next year.
- Offer value
While some customers are after huge discounts, others might seek value over price. Hence, creating curated product bundles specially for this shopping occasion is a great idea for a small business. Pair related products – for example, if you sell hair care, offer a set of shampoo, conditioner and hair mask or serum – and offer it at a discounted price for an added value. This also creates an opportunity for customers to try additional products, and for you – to increase an average order value.
Top tip: bundle up your bestsellers with the ones typically overlooked to sell your extra stock, or throw in some samples as a thank you for supporting your business.
- Make your offers irresistible
Let’s face it – shoppers are in for deals, and you better not disappoint them! Yet, to avoid losing profit, explore the mechanics like tiered discounts, based on the number of items bought, or the size of the basket. Shein and Sephora are actively utilizing this approach during sales events. Another option is a flash sale – an increased discount or special offer during a short (usually hours) period of time. Spice it up with a countdown clock and email reminders to your customer base to create a sense of urgency.
Top tip: offer an additional discount to those who sign up to your promo newsletter – it’s a great chance to grow your CRM base.
- Help gift shoppers
In 2023, 40% of shoppers planned to do most of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday weekend. You can target gift shoppers with a curated collection of items suitable as gifts, or prominently featuring gift sets on your homepage, or writing up gift guides to help their research.
Top tip: offer free gift wrapping for items on sale.
- Use a multi-channel approach
Customers navigate between online channels in their deals hunt. You can start by teasing up your sales on social media, then do a preview on your website (see the tip above for the landing page strategy), then go full-on with your targeted search and social conversion campaigns.
Top tip: email marketing is your best friend during sales – Black Friday sees an increased click-through rate of 13% on average, and the subject lines that feature Black Friday or Cyber Monday increase click-through rates by 64%. Email can also help target abandoned carts before the sales are over.
- Partner up with others
A hard journey is easier together. As a small business, you might want to explore partnerships with another SMB producing a related product or service to offer bundled deals. For example, if you sell furniture, partner up with a company offering rugs, or with an interior designer. By cross-pollinating each other’s social media feeds, or creating a joint Pinterest promo board, you can expand your reach to new audiences.
Top tip: launch your exclusive partnership on a standalone domain name and link to your respective brands’ websites.
Looking for more ideas to grow your revenue online? Visit it.com Domains blog and follow us on social media.
Continue reading on the it.com Domains blog...
