It’s the most wonderful—and can be the most hectic time of the year for business owners with e-commerce websites! Whether you’re a seasoned holiday pro or just getting into the e-commerce game, preparing your online store for the holiday rush can feel like planning an elaborate dinner party for relatives you’re obligated to impress. Fortunately, our team is here to help you every step of the way, minus the awkward family conversations. You’re all on your own for those, unfortunately.
Here’s a rundown of how Digital Tea can help e-commerce businesses get holiday-ready and maybe even make it through the season with a little cheer left to spare. As your local Edmonton Digital Marketing Agency, we’re ready when you are!
Speed Boost for Your E-Commerce Website: Because Slow is a No-Go
Imagine you’re at a holiday market, excited to buy something, but the checkout line is so frustratingly slow that you end up heading home instead. The same thing happens online! When customers are holiday shopping, they have precious little patience for slow-loading sites. Every second counts, and if your site doesn’t load fast, it can become more than just a speed problem—it’s potentially a lost sale.
How We Help:
With 25 years of experience in Edmonton Web Design, we know a thing or two about optimizing websites!
We’ll run a thorough site speed audit, optimizing everything from your images to server response times. If your website was a sleigh full of gifts, we’d be the reindeer delivering it to your customers faster than you can say “next-day shipping.” Plus, we’ll ensure that it’s optimized to be fast and user-friendly on both desktop and mobile devices, so your customers can browse without lagging, whether they’re in line at the grocery store or lounging on the couch.
User-Friendly Navigation: Guiding Shoppers to the Good Stuff
Holiday shoppers have two things on their minds: finding the perfect gifts and doing it as quickly as possible. If your e-commerce website is like a maze, customers won’t be finding that “perfect gift” anytime soon. Instead, they’ll be closing your tab and buying from a competitor.
How We Help:
We’ll optimize your website’s navigation so even the most frantic shopper can find what they’re looking for in a snap. Our team of Edmonton web designers can be thought of as your website’s GPS, steering shoppers straight to what they need—no detours, no dead ends. And yes, that includes smart search features so customers can type in “fuzzy slippers” and actually find them!
A Streamlined Checkout Process: Keep it Simple, Santa!
According to statistical data from the Baymard Institute, the average online shopping cart abandonment rate is around 70% (see Baymard Institute Cart Abandonment Stats List 2024). Don’t let a complex checkout process be the Grinch Who Stole (Your) Christmas (Sales). Customers want to add items to their cart, pay, and get on with their merry way, so let’s make it easy for them.
How We Help:
We’ll give your checkout process the Marie Kondo treatment, eliminating unnecessary steps that don’t “spark joy” (or conversions). Our team of Edmonton web developers can help you tidy up aspects of your ecommerce pages including guest checkout options, pre-filled shipping info for returning customers, and streamlined payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other popular payment methods. We make it easy for customers to get from “Add to Cart” to “Order Confirmed” with minimal fuss.
Secure Shopping and Donations for a Worry-Free Season
Holiday shopping should feel magical, not nerve-wracking. Customers need to know that your website is a safe place for them to shop, especially with cyber threats on the rise generally which are bound to ramp up during the holidays. No one wants to have their credit card limit turned into someone else’s holiday budget! You also likely don’t want the bad press of being the company that leaked the personal information of countless valued customers.
How We Help:
We’ll beef up your site security with the latest SSL encryption, PCI compliance checks, and multi-factor authentication for customer accounts. Consider us the bouncers at your virtual store’s entrance, keeping it secure and keeping the digital “pickpockets” out. Your customers will shop with confidence, you’ll have peace of mind, and your Digital Tea Edmonton web developer elves will be shaking hands on another job well done!
Inventory Management: Don’t Let “Out of Stock” Ruin the Holidays
There’s nothing worse than a customer finding the perfect gift only to discover it’s out of stock. This is especially true during the holidays when restocking isn’t always quick. Having an efficient inventory system is key to holiday success.
How We Help:
We will integrate advanced inventory management tools into your site, so you always know exactly what’s available. We can also set up backorder and waitlist features for popular items, so customers can stay in the loop and feel assured they’ll get what they want – even if it takes a little longer than they’d hoped. Some products are worth waiting for!
Targeted Holiday Digital Marketing: Stand Out from Crowd
The holidays are noisy—everyone’s virtually shouting about sales, deals, and “must-buy” items. If your digital marketing plan isn’t on point, your message can get lost in the crowd. You need smart, targeted campaigns that reach your audience and give them a reason to click “Buy Now.” Lucky for you, Digital Tea has the know-how to make your Search Engine Optimization and Pay-Per-Click (Google Ads) campaigns shine like a string of holiday lights!
How We Help:
We can set you up with holiday-specific Google ad campaigns that showcase your best offers, create retargeting ads to keep your brand top-of-mind, and optimize your on-page content to keep your holiday message front and center. And we’ll throw in a little festive flair because what’s the holiday season without some sparkle?
Customer Support with a Smile (And a Fast Response Time)
The holidays bring an influx of questions that you may not normally have to answer, or certainly not at such a high volume. These might include queries about shipping options, stock levels, and gift wrapping. If your customer service team isn’t prepared, these inquiries can quickly become overwhelming. Great support isn’t just about answering questions; it’s about keeping customers happy and coming back.
How We Help:
We’ll get you set up with robust FAQ sections on your website, which work double-time to increase your search engine ranking as well as take pressure off your staff by reducing the number of phone calls and emails they need to get through in a day. Live chat options and AI chatbots can also handle common questions, so customers get instant answers without waiting in line (and saves you time and money too!). For those questions that need a personal touch, we’ll ensure your contact options on your website are properly set up, such as ensuring that your contact forms get to the right people automatically, and that you’re set up with direct phone links for customers to call when they need help. Think of us as your holiday customer service elves, working hard behind the scenes to keep everyone merry and bright.
*Digital Tea staff wearing Elf hats not included. Any Elf hats worn while working on your project is purely coincidental.
Preparing for Post-Holiday Returns and Support
Ah, the post-holiday season: a time for relaxing, sipping hot cocoa, and…dealing with returns. Returns are a big part of the e-commerce website holiday aftermath, and having a clear, simple path for customers to make their returns is an essential part of creating great customer experiences.
How We Help:
We’ll help you set up an easy returns process on your website so your customers are able to complete their transactions with ease. Whether you’re offering exchanges, refunds, or store credit, our Edmonton web development pros will make sure it’s a smooth, stress-free experience for all parties. And for added customer satisfaction and peace of mind, we can help implement a “return tracking” feature, so shoppers know exactly where their returned items are in the process.
Planning Your After-Holiday Strategy
The holidays may be a peak period, but they don’t have to be the end of the story. January sales and “new year, new you” digital marketing campaigns are ways to keep your customers engaged even after the last of the glitter has been vacuumed up off the floor. Preparing your business for post-holiday sales trends can help maintain some momentum and turn one-time holiday shoppers into loyal, repeat customers all year round.
How We Help:
Our Digital Marketing gurus can work with you to develop post-holiday strategies including fine tuning your website’s on-page and technical Search Engine Optimization to help customers find you organically, and setting you up with Pay-Per Click (Google Ads) campaigns to continue to drive customers your way, even after the Christmas rush has gone. With our help, your holiday success can turn into year-round gains and build a base of customers who come back long after the holiday lights are packed away.
Wrapping It Up
Preparing for the holiday season doesn’t have to feel like a marathon. With our help, you can get your e-commerce site in shape, keep your customers happy, and capitalize on the busiest shopping season of the year. So, let us take the holiday prep stress off your shoulders—you focus on selling, and we’ll make sure your site is ready to shine brighter than Rudolph’s nose.
Let’s make this holiday season your best one yet. After all, ‘tis the season for sleighin’ it!