Mike Pomp with WTSN 1270 AM in Dover, New Hapshire interviews CEO of AIS Media Thomas Harpointner regarding December 17th and what it means when receiving free shipping while shopping online before Christmas. Harpointner’s comments included:
“December 17th is bigger for online shopping than Cyber Monday because consumers love bargains and deals which include the biggest incentive, free shipping,” says Harpointner. December 17th is the last day the majority of retailer’s offer free shipping in order for it to get to you by Christmas Day. Buying online after today, you can expect shipping across the country to take about 5-8 business days.” “
A lot of consumers will make the purchase in the store after they have researched online. It’s less expensive for retailers that use the Internet, email marketing, and social media effectively to get customers excited and peak their interest. Retailers need to Implement strategies that create brand loyalty, like sending out email coupons that customers can use as we inch closer and closer to the holidays. Customers will be stepping into the store, simply because they don’t have a choice.”
5 “To Do’s” for Retailers for the Online Holiday Shopping Season:
- Offer Specials: Customers love deals. Offer eye-catching web-only specials with clear calls-to-action (CTAs), limited inventories and expiration dates.
- Publish Ratings & Reviews: Publish product ratings and reviews on your website – customers place high value on the opinions of others.
- Use Email Marketing: While every household has only one postal mailbox, most consumers have a personal email box. Provide incentives to get customers to subscribe to your email newsletter. Then reach out to consumers via email newsletters, which not only promote online sales but also drive in-store traffic.
- Show Return Policy: Make your Return Policy easy to find and understand – allow customers to return products they buy online to the retail store if possible. Offer extended return policies to give customers extra confidence to buy.
- Display Cost of Shipping: Shipping cost is the most-cited frustration about online shopping. Offer free shipping incentives and clearly publish the cut-off days.
AIS Media has been helping businesses cut costs and increase productivity since 1997. With consultants worldwide, AIS Media assists retailers with e-Commerce websites and their Internet strategy and development. To contact an AIS Media consultant in your area click here.
