20+ WooCommerce Black Friday & Cyber Monday (BFCM) tips for sellers

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) are critical holiday sales periods for eCommerce stores, especially WooCommerce store owners. With competition heating up, it’s essential to optimize your WooCommerce store well in advance for the BFCM holiday season to maximize conversions and sales. This updated guide will walk you through strategies and tools to boost the holiday season performance of your WooCommerce store during (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) BFCM.

 

How to prepare & optimize the WooCommerce store before the Black Friday & Cyber Monday (BFCM) festival starts?

The best practice is to optimize your WooCommerce store for the BFCM festival beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassles, with:

Plan Your Strategy Early

Inventory Management: Analyze previous BFCM sales data to determine which products are likely to be bestsellers. Stock up on these items, and consider offering discounts on slow-moving inventory.

Set SMART Goals: Define clear, measurable objectives (like increasing conversion rate by 20%) to guide your BFCM marketing and promotions. This makes it easier to assess the success of your campaigns.

Website Performance and Speed Optimization

• Upgrade Hosting: Traffic spikes during BFCM can slow down your website. Upgrade to a WooCommerce-optimized hosting provider to handle increased traffic. Consider using cloud hosting or dedicated servers for better performance.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Implement a CDN to speed up content delivery for users worldwide. CDNs store copies of your website on multiple servers globally, reducing server load and boosting load times.
• Lazy Loading and Compression: Use lazy loading for images and videos to ensure that large media files don’t slow down page load times. Compress files using tools like Smush or ShortPixel to further enhance speed.

Mobile-First Optimization

With over 70% of BFCM shopping done on mobile devices, it’s vital to optimize your WooCommerce store for mobile users during the Black Friday an Cyber Monday holiday season.

• Mobile-First Design: Ensure that your WooCommerce theme is responsive and mobile-friendly. Test the site on multiple mobile devices to catch any UX/UI issues.
• Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP): Consider using WooCommerce AMP to ensure faster page load times on mobile devices.
• Mobile Payment Gateways: Enable one-click mobile payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal Express to simplify the mobile checkout process and reduce cart abandonment.

Early promotions and start ads.

As you may have noticed, many shops begin their Black Friday sales far before the 27th of November. Following this trend will allow you to reach out to present and potential clients with Black Friday promotions over a longer period of time.
Determine the framework of your promotions first – “Will you give me a 15% discount? Will it be a BOGO sale? Are there any flash sales on specific items? Consider what will be the most appealing to your customers. What will pique their interest?” – Plan and proceed strategically.

• Dynamic Pricing: Utilize dynamic pricing strategies with WooCommerce plugins such as WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing & Discounts. This allows you to create customized offers like BOGO (Buy One Get One) deals, tiered pricing, or flash sales that encourage quick purchases.
• Scarcity Tactics: Create urgency by highlighting limited stock availability or countdown timers. Plugins like Countdown Timer Ultimate can help you display real-time urgency indicators on product pages.

Smart coupons for WooCommerce store during BFCM holiday season

Give your consumers even more reasons to shop at your store during Black Friday and Cyber Monday with the Smart Coupons plugin. By extending the core WooCommerce coupon functionality, the plugin gives you everything you need to accelerate your sales by utilizing discounts, credits, coupons, and vouchers with the following:

• Create discounts based on a specified amount or percentage.
• Coupons can be generated in bulk and sent out to a large number of people.
• Coupons should be issued based on product purchases.
• Customize and fine-tune discount policies to meet your specific needs.

You can even turn on and off free shipping promos with Smart Coupons. For example, you may provide free delivery on the first 100 sales and then rapidly switch back.

WooCommerce store holiday optimization essentials for Black Friday & Cyber Monday?

Once the BFCM sale begins, you need to stay updated and proactive throughout the season. Here are some tips to enhance your performance during this time:

Making the shopping hassle-free.

For first-time customers make the entire purchase process simple and quick. Improve your store’s navigation and search capabilities, provide explicit product descriptions, and make your checkout page easier to use.

• One-Click Checkout: Simplify the checkout process by enabling one-click payment options using plugins like WooCommerce One Page Checkout. Faster checkout reduces friction and improves conversion rates.
• Guest Checkout: Don’t require customers to create an account during BFCM. Enable guest checkout to cater to first-time or casual shoppers.
• Multiple Payment Gateways: Offer a range of payment options including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Stripe to increase the likelihood of completing purchases.

Build up trust with a multichannel presence.

When it comes to online shopping, customers trust marketplaces more than any other eCommerce website. Your brand presence on multiple marketplaces is a label of trust that will assist you in boosting sales across platforms. The best part is, that you can easily sync your WooCommerce store with any of your target marketplaces without any hassles. This multichannel selling approach not only helps in the diversification of your sales channel but also renders global exposure to your products. 

Expand the payment and checkout options.

In April, one in every four credit cardholders in the United States had their cards canceled or their credit limits cut, so you may wish to offer more than one payment option to your customers. Consider giving “buy now, pay later” alternatives or subscriptions that allow customers to pay for their goods over time.

Work on shipping choices.

Because more people are shopping online rather than in stores, you may wish to offer overnight or two-day delivery so customers may receive their orders as soon as possible. Those on a tight budget will benefit from free or low-cost shipping that takes a little longer.

• Free Shipping Threshold: Set a minimum cart value to qualify for free shipping, which can increase the average order value (AOV). Display this offer clearly on product pages and throughout the checkout process.
• BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store): If you have a physical store, offer BOPIS as an option. This method is especially appealing to last-minute shoppers who want to avoid shipping delays.
• Transparent Shipping Times: With shipping delays expected during the BFCM period, provide real-time shipping estimates on your product pages and at checkout to manage customer expectations.

Build communication with your customers.

Work on brand recognition with effective and valuable communication with your customers. Along with improving trust, it is a sure shot to bank on a loyal customer base. Provide realistic pieces of information on transportation delays manufacturing difficulties and estimated delivery dates. Try to include a message at the top of your website informing buyers that their things may take a few extra days to arrive. And if your things arrive ahead of schedule, that’s fantastic! That will be a pleasant surprise for your customers and a preferable alternative.

Bring in new and updated inventory.

Make sure you have enough product pieces in hand for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. M Additionally, ensure your site’s inventory is properly set up. Examine your inventory levels to see if they’re all correct. You don’t want to sell a product that you don’t have in stock. Also, make sure your inventory is synchronized across all of your selling platforms. If someone buys something on Amazon, your WooCommerce store’s inventory should fall in line as well.

To help your sync and manage your inventory on different eCommerce platforms, feel free to check out CedCommerce’s WooCommerce extension page.

Simulating the in-store experience.

While shoppers are shopping online, it’s your job to make it as realistic as possible. Allow customers to feel as if they are seeing and touching your things in person, making the entire process fun and engaging. Consider the following for the same:

Photos and videos to cover every angle of your product line.

If you sell apparel, model it on a variety of body shapes so that clients may see how it will appear on them. Include footage of youngsters playing with the toys if you’re selling them. If you sell a variety of sizes, include photos of them next to items that demonstrate their scale. You might even want to incorporate 360-degree photographs so that consumers can see your products from different perspectives.

Introduce a live chatbox to your store.

When shopping in a store, customers have the opportunity to ask salespeople questions. A live chat box at the bottom of the screen, provides them the same possibility for a healthy interaction.

Live chat for WooCommerce.

With all of the craziness surrounding Black Friday, an unanswered query about a product could lead to missed sales and dissatisfied customers. Integrating LiveChat for WooCommerce, on the other hand, is a simple way to stay in touch with customers during their visit.

Informative and effective product description.

Focus on sensory language in your product descriptions. For example- What does the perfume that you sell smell like? Do your candles smell like an apple orchard in the fall? If you sell clothing, add size charts so that customers can figure out what size they need.

Compare and Recommend the products.

Customers can more quickly compare their alternatives and realize what more they might need when shopping in a physical location. Product recommendations upsell and cross-sell, and product comparison features can all help to create this experience in your business.

FAQ’s.

Alternatively, stay ahead of your customers’ questions by creating a FAQ page that answers the most common questions beforehand.

Make them feel special.

When someone buys something in a physical store, they have the option of taking it home right away. Give your consumers the same kind of quick delight by giving them something right after they place an online order. For instance – If you offer food items, send a PDF containing recipe ideas to your customers.

Additional tools to help you optimize and grow your WooCommerce store during BFCM holiday:

Keep your marketing strategies on point throughout the  BFCM festival and optimize your WooCommerce store and even after the festival is over:

• Email Marketing and Personalization 

Segment Your List: Personalization is key. Segment your email list based on customer behavior, past purchases, and demographics. Offer early access to deals for loyal customers and VIP members.

Automated Abandoned Cart Recovery: Set up automated abandoned cart emails with WooCommerce plugins like WooCommerce Cart Abandonment Recovery. Include personalized product recommendations and discount codes to entice shoppers back.

Post-BFCM Follow-Ups: Don’t forget to nurture relationships after BFCM. Send follow-up emails with additional offers or discounts to turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.

• Google Listing and Ads: Expand your brand’s reach in a global region by selling on multiple platforms by simply making your products visible on Google search.
• WooCommerce pre-orders: Let your customers pre-order their desired products even before they are made available for selling under the ‘coming soon’ section.
• Product Bundles for WooCommerce: Product bundles are collections of products that are offered together and are a very effective sales tactic.

• Google Analytics

Instead of trying to sell everywhere, figure out which ones are currently delivering the most traffic to your site and concentrate your efforts there with Google Analytics.

• Target BFCM-Specific Keywords: Optimize your site for BFCM-related search queries like “Black Friday WooCommerce deals,” “Cyber Monday WooCommerce offers,” and long-tail keywords relevant to your products. Create SEO-optimized landing pages specifically for BFCM to drive traffic.
• Optimize for Voice Search: With more people using smart assistants, optimize for voice search by including conversational, long-tail keywords in your product descriptions.
• Use Schema Markup: Enhance your search visibility by implementing schema markup for products, reviews, and offers. This can boost your store’s rich results on Google, increasing click-through rates during BFCM.
• Retarget Cart Abandoners: Use Facebook Pixel and Google Ads to retarget users who visited your site or abandoned their carts during BFCM. Offer personalized discounts or reminders to complete their purchase.
• Loyalty Programs: Turn first-time BFCM shoppers into loyal customers by offering them membership in a loyalty program. Reward repeat customers with points, discounts, or early access to future sales.
• Soft Launches and A/B Testing: Before BFCM kicks off, run soft launches to test site functionality, email performance, and UX. Use A/B testing to find the most effective designs, promotions, and offers. 

Summary (Prepare your WooCommerce store during the holiday season)-

A checklist for your WooCommerce store for a smooth Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) holiday sale.

Before the festival:

• Make your store easily accessible with a Mobile App.
• Run early promotions and ads.
• Talk about it all over your social media.

During the festival:

• Make shopping a breeze by checking your website’s performance.
• Keep an eye on the checkout process.
• Keep your inventory updated.
• Build communication with your customers.
• After-purchase offers and deals.

After the festival:

• Reach out to your customers via social media or emails.
• Talk about upcoming offers – eg ‘Guess what we have in store for you for this Christmas’.
• Ask for reviews and flaunt on social media.
• Collect data and run an analysis.

Need help?

We understand that handling an online business can be overwhelming, especially during the holiday season. Keeping in mind all the demands and requirements of present-day eCommerce, CedCommerce is a helping hand to many prolific brands worldwide.

From creating a store from scratch to helping you build your brand’s name, Ced has solutions to every requirement. Feel free to reach out to our experts via Skype or WhatsApp!