Black Friday is a golden opportunity for ecommerce businesses to boost sales and grow their customer base just in time for the festive season.
But it's crucial to prepare well in advance to make the most of it. From optimising your website to making sure you’re working with a seamless payment solution, there’s lots to be done to ensure that you’re ready– and we’re going to tell you all about it!
Prepare for Black Friday in 5 Steps
Stock Up
Before the Black Friday madness kicks off, take a close look at your inventory. Make sure you have sufficient stock to meet the anticipated demand. If possible, add new products or expand your product range to attract more customers. Keep in mind that customers often shop for Christmas gifts on Black Friday, so stocking up on popular gift items is always a good idea!
Optimise Your Website
Your website is your digital storefront, which is why it’s incredibly important to have it looking neat and tidy. After all, you won’t be able to give your customers a smooth shopping experience if your virtual store is messy and unorganised.
Follow these steps to optimise your website:
Test, Test and Test Again
Put your website to the test. Does it sprint or crawl? Make sure it loads quickly and is mobile-friendly. A snail-paced site can cost you sales, so ensure yours isn’t, especially on mobile.
Update Product Pages
Refresh those product pages to ensure that they’re up to date with accurate descriptions, prices, and images. Crisp images, accurate descriptions, and varied options are a must.
Streamline Checkout
Simplify the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment. Try offering guest checkout so that customers can skip some of the admin and transact faster, and make sure payment methods are secure and user-friendly.
Implement a Chat Feature
Add a chat or messaging feature for real-time customer support. It can be a game-changer for resolving customer queries and boosting trust.
Secure Your Website
Ensure your website is secure to protect customer data. One way to do this is to add an SSL certificate if you haven't already.
Go Mobile Friendly
Did you know that almost 70% of online shopping is done on mobile devices in South Africa? Online shopping has never been more accessible and in demand. To make the most of it, you should make sure your website looks and works well on a phone screen. Here’s how:
Responsive Design
Make sure your website design is responsive, so it adapts to different screen sizes and looks great on mobile devices. Test this by visiting your website on a phone and tablet.
Mobile Speed
Test your website's mobile speed and ensure it loads quickly on smartphones.
Mobile Payments
Make sure your mobile checkout process is as seamless as the desktop version. Reminder, our iK Pay Gateway has some of the lowest fees in the market!
Offer your clients additional payment options with our latest release, the iK Buy Button. Sell anything, instantly by creating a buy button that your customers can click on to pay.
Prepare Customer Support
Black Friday can become quite chaotic, so make sure you’re prepared for an influx of customer support queries. To stay on the safe side, you can:
- Extend your hours so that you’re available to assist customers during peak times.
- Amp up staff training for that gold-standard service to prepare for a higher volume of inquiries and resolve issues promptly.
- Create a Black Friday-specific FAQ section on your website to address common customer questions.
Test Your Site
When it comes to Black Friday, it’s best not to leave things to chance. When it’s go-time, your website must be ready to process orders. Double, triple, even quadruple-check your site.
Here are some key things that should be on your radar before the big day:
- Perfect your content
- Verify contact details
- Streamline your payment process
- Ensure your visuals are crystal clear
Not sure if your payment gateway is going to cut it come Black Friday? Check out iK Pay Gateway, our secure and affordable payment gateway!
Happy Selling!
Remember, the key to a profitable Black Friday lies in thorough preparation. With thoughtful planning and execution, you can make the most of this lucrative shopping holiday. So, get ready, gear up, and make the most of it. Your business will thank you!
