For all you ecomm business owners out there, it is never too early to start thinking about how you’re planning on tackling Black Friday this year. With the rise of e-commerce, the number of digital buyers has grown to over 2.14 billion. It’s time to think logically and strategically so you can make the most out of this Black Friday! 

You’re probably wondering what some of the best ways to stand out in a sea of millions of other e-commerce businesses are. Four simple ways you can best prep to catch the eye of consumers are:

1. Take advantage of lower-cost ads
2. Create a sense of urgency 
3. Make a post-purchase experience that resonates 
4. Connect with customers

By taking advantage of lower-cost ads you can get more value for your money. Because of COVID, many larger companies have chosen to pull their ads, which makes smaller businesses use their advertising money more effectively. When thinking about what type of ads you want to create and use, you may also consider using a sense of urgency within your taglines. When you motivate buyers with a fear of missing out (the FOMO effect often works!) on a ‘one-time deal,’ they feel like they won’t have access to the bargain again.

After you have secured what channel you plan on capturing consumers, you will want to create a post-purchase experience that resonates with the buyer. Following up with an email or having them sign up for a loyalty program shows that you want to stay in touch long after their initial purchase. The key philosophy to remember is that strong relationships are built around making the other person feel important. When you accomplish this on an ongoing basis, success will follow.

Shopify

When looking to set up an online shop that has a low barrier entry and a ton of free features, you may want to get a Shopify account. Shopify is a small business-friendly platform with a low subscription fee and is easy to set up. Just like any online site, there are pros and cons to the platform. Some pros include detailed Shopify admin, a plan for everyone, and tons of apps and support. Some of the cons include there being a slight learning curve and that Shopify alone won’t guarantee your business to succeed. The great thing about Shopify is that there is a broad span of what you can sell on this platform. To name a few: 

• Clothing
• Jewelry
• Home accessories
• Travel products
• Bags and luggage
• Beauty products

If Shopify isn’t for you, there is also a platform called Etsy, created for selling handmade products.

Etsy

Etsy connects people looking for unique goods with independent sellers around the world. There are millions of handmade, vintage, and craft supply items on this platform. Etsy is both quick and easy to use while simultaneously being cost-effective. There is already an established audience on Etsy that provides you with potential shoppers immediately. Another useful thing about Etsy is it allows for testing. Instead of investing too much time into creating a website from the ground up, you can jump right into selling your products, earning money, and building your brand.

Just like anything else, there are cons to Etsy as well. It is a very competitive platform and there is a lack of customer loyalty. There are millions of sellers on Etsy with the potential of having similar products. If a customer doesn’t like exactly what they see they can move on quickly. The lack of branding on Etsy is something to consider as well because shoppers can only identify your business through your company name and the images you choose to upload.  We suggest creating Etsy ads to increase awareness for your products, especially if you are new to Etsy or you have a lot of competitors.  Compared to Facebook ads, Etsy ads are simple to create. 

What Can I Sell on Etsy?

Everything on Etsy must be homemade. To assure you are complying with Etsy’s policies, here is a list of some of the items you can sell on Etsy:

• Handmade items 
• Vintage items
• Craft supplies
• Prohibited items

If you’re looking for help on prepping for Black Friday but need some assistance figuring out the logistics, contact us today to get started!