Retail sales are massive every holiday season. But if you are not ready for the onslaught, a rush of customers that temporarily increases your bottom line could bring several headaches. Missed shipping dates, insufficient staff to cover support emails and phone calls, and inventory backlogs can leave holiday shoppers dissatisfied. Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid those potential problems by prepping your WooCommerce business ahead of the holiday season.
Prepare Your Staff
Staff, skill, and stock up in preparation for the holiday rush.
- If necessary, hire seasonal workers to help manage increases in sales or customer needs.
- Educate employees about product details, sales, holiday discounts, and shipping deadlines. Also, consider cross-training staff ahead of time so you can move resources quickly during peak demand.
- Remember to stock up on coffee in the breakroom, treats to lighten the mood during hectic shifts, and supplies your staff must do to complete their jobs. If everyone in your team works remotely, consider sending gift cards for this purpose.
Ensure Your Returns Policy is Clear
Consider whether your exchange or return deadlines align with the holidays. If a customer orders early to beat the shipping rush, they may need more time than usual for any exchanges if the gift is not suitable. You should also ensure your return policy is clear. What can be returned? If so, under what conditions? That way, gift-givers don’t have unpleasant surprises if problems arise on Christmas morning.
Make Sure to Communicate Last Order Dates
Create urgency to convert shoppers into buyers by ensuring they understand shipping deadlines. In addition, use content that is simple to update across all your pages so you may change the countdown as the holidays become closer. Remember to include the last order dates on the homepage, landing pages, product pages, and shopping cart pages.
Boost Sales Via Marketing Campaigns
Start with offers that encourage people to place significant orders. For instance, seasonal add-ons, free shipping, gifts with a purchase of a specific size, or discounts on orders over a certain amount are great options to consider. Once you set up your perk, boost it by mentioning the promotion in your social media posts, landing pages, holiday email marketing, and on your product and shopping cart pages.
Moreover, make sure your ad campaigns stand out with simple designs, compelling images, and videos. Don’t forget about using targeted messaging to reach out to existing and previous customers!
Reduce the Risk of Errors in Shipping Processes
Did you know that less is often more regarding potentially complex processes? So, select just a few of the most popular shipping methods. This way, you can minimize the risk of errors and assist customers in making the best choice for their needs. Start with some research to choose shipping options that are ideal for your WooCommerce store:
- Where do your customers live? Do you primarily serve a regional customer base or frequently ship internationally?
- What are the most affordable and convenient shipping options for your target audience?
- Lastly, what are the shipping deadlines for the services you are selecting?
Update Your Site Design for the Holidays
Physical stores often decorate their locations to help get holiday shoppers in the mood for seasonal purchases. You may do the same thing with the design of your WooCommerce site. You can do this by adding several festive images or festive graphics. Maybe add some seasonal copy to prominent areas. Other examples to prepare your site for the season include countdown timers that create urgency and related product sections that promote up-sell.
Enjoy more sales during the holiday shopping season by planning your promotions, discounts, sales, and deals ahead of time. The good news is that collaborating with an accomplished e-commerce web design company can enhance your efficiency and excite your customers.
Craig Kahl is the President and CEO of Adventure Web Interactive. AWI has been recognized as Baltimore’s Top Web Design Firm by The Daily Record and named one of Silicon Review Magazine’s Top 50 Most Admired Companies in the country. Before founding Adventure Web Interactive in 1997, he was VP of Operations for Campus Concepts, Inc., and the youngest division head in history for Pitney Bowes at age 24. He has a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola University. Craig is a member of the International CEO Club and Rolling Road Golf Club and loves spending time outdoors with his wife and son.
