The holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time to prepare your site to cater to the needs of customers. When you make shopping easy, customers will be more inclined to buy. Here are three simple tasks to get you started.

Check Your Checkout

One of the primary reasons for cart abandonment is the checkout process. Often it’s having to enter details repeatedly that drive people away. Lengthy sign-up sheets and registration forms also cause customers to stray. Allow your customers to check out as a guest if they do not have a registered account with you. They should not be made to feel like second-class citizens because they have not shopped with you before.

Since many shoppers are buying gifts for friends and family, it may be difficult for them to enter all the details of the recipient. Make this easier by transferring all details like address, preferred shipping time, etc. to the recipient. The gift sender should only have to enter the gift recipient’s email address, and technology can take over from there to procure further details for dispatch.

Give Your Customers Real Deals

Don’t just slash prices and offer a buy-one-get-one-free on your bestsellers. Put some thought into what you are offering your customers. You need to create and promote exciting deals so that shoppers make use of them.

For starters, keep tabs on inventory: what sells, what doesn’t, what was popular last year, and new products that have been selling well in the current year. You should also see what your competitors are up to and offer comparisons and product deals. Early bird incentives (buy before Nov 31st and get 10% off your order!) as well as shipping options (order in the next 12 hours and receive your product by Friday!) encourage customers to make the purchase. Make sure your exciting deals get the attention they deserve by promoting them on your site, via social media, email, and other avenues.

Flawless Fulfillment

As the orders come in quick and fast, the most important part of your operation is ensuring flawless fulfillment to match your customer’s needs. Higher-order volumes may require extra planning and staffing, and re-arranging your warehouse as well as more efficient inventory control. Partnering with a fulfillment partner like Speed Commerce can make the process smoother and more streamlined. We have a dedicated team for each of our clients and can handle a wide range of industries. And we don’t just pick, pack and ship out orders. We can handle all your holiday needs, from personalization to kitting and engraving; as well as returns and drop-shipping, if required.

We aim to be your strategic partner, to help you maximize productivity and grow your business!