Why your website needs to be BFCM-ready?

Written on October 3, 2024. Posted in Ecommerce.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday, or BFCM, are fast approaching.

For ecommerce brands, this period can be one of the most profitable times of the year. But here’s the catch: if your website isn’t ready to handle the surge, you might lose out on major sales.

The traffic surge – can your shop handle it?

During BFCM, your site will see a traffic spike like no other. People are hunting for the best deals, often jumping from one website to another. In 2023, ecommerce sales on Black Friday alone crossed $9 billion. That’s a huge market to tap into!

But a spike in traffic can mean trouble for an unprepared site.

Slow loading times frustrate customers, and a crash? That’s the worst – and it happens often. Imagine someone is just about to click “Buy,” and your site goes down.

You need to ensure your hosting plan can handle extra traffic. You might need to upgrade it temporarily.

Speed sells

Speed is what everyone’s expecting nowadays.

Every second counts, especially when people are making quick decisions, hunting for the best deals before they disappear. A website that takes more than 3 seconds to load? Most customers are out the door before they even see your offer.

Research shows that a 1-second delay can drop your conversion rate by 7%. That’s a serious hit during such a period!

How can you ensure that your site is as fast as possible? Compress images, reduce unnecessary plugins, and consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to spread the load.

Your goal is to make your site fast and responsive, no matter where your customers are visiting from, mobile or desktop. Speaking of mobile…

Be mobile-first

More than 50% of ecommerce sales now happen on mobile. People are shopping on their phones more than usual, and BFCM is no exception. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re losing a massive part of your audience. Who wants that?

A mobile-friendly site doesn’t just mean things fit on a small screen. It means the navigation is easy, the checkout is smooth, and the entire experience feels natural on the phone. If users have to zoom in or fight with the design to find what they want, they’ll leave.

So, test your site on multiple devices: phones, tablets, and laptops. Make sure it looks good and works well on each one. The easier it is for customers to shop, the more likely they are to complete their purchases.

Simplify the checkout process

Here’s a scenario that happens way too often: a customer finds a deal, adds it to their cart, heads to checkout… and then leaves without completing the purchase. It’s frustrating, right? This is known as cart abandonment, and during BFCM, it can happen a lot.

Why? Because shoppers are in a rush.

They’ve found a deal, but they don’t have time for a long, complicated checkout process. If your checkout is too slow or asks for too much information, they’ll abandon their cart and move on.

Keep it simple. Offer guest checkout, reduce the number of steps, and provide multiple payment options (think PayPal, Apple Pay, and credit cards). The goal is to make the checkout process as fast and easy as possible. Every extra step is an opportunity for the customer to reconsider and leave.

Build trust to secure sales

With so much shopping happening online, trust is everything. During BFCM, shoppers are spending big, often at unfamiliar websites. They need to feel confident that your store is secure and their payment information is safe. If they have to check, do a little research, that only means that there will be more shops in the game.

So, display REAL customer reviews and testimonials and make sure your return policy is clear and easy to find.

Maximize revenue with smart offers

During BFCM, it’s tempting to focus on discounts alone. But you don’t just want to sell more. You want to sell smarter.

One of the easiest ways to increase your average order value (AOV) is through bundles and upsells.

Offer complementary products as a package. For example, if someone’s buying a pair of shoes, offer a matching belt or socks at a slight discount. Customers feel like they’re getting more for their money, and you increase your overall revenue without lowering prices too much.

Plan and stay organized

The key to a successful BFCM is having a solid plan. If you’re scrambling at the last minute, you’ll miss opportunities. That’s why having a BFCM calendar plan can be a good starting point.

Download our BFCM calendar plan here to map out your strategy.

It includes key dates, ideas for promotions, and steps to make sure everything runs smoothly. When you’re organized, you can focus on making the most of the sales rush, instead of reacting to problems as they come up.

Get ready for BFCM

BFCM is a huge opportunity for ecommerce brands to drive sales, attract new customers, and boost revenue. But none of that happens if your website isn’t prepared.

By optimizing your site for speed, mobile, and checkout, you’ll be ready to handle the traffic and convert more visitors into paying customers.

And don’t forget—planning is everything. Download all the key BFCM sales dates here to make sure your holiday season is set for success!