Crunch time for holiday marketing strategy has arrived
The holiday shopping season isn’t coming. It’s already here. Is your business ready?
The National Retail Federation reported that 2 out of 5 web users began their holiday shopping last month, with another 2/5 preparing to begin within the next few weeks – well before “Black Friday.”
Many businesses have already taken note – 38.5% of online retailers began their marketing campaigns at the same time, with another quarter beginning in early November. The early start has merit; Rackpace Hosting says U.S. Retailers will make 25% of their holiday sales online, and holiday sales in general are slated to hit 54.47 billion, up 16.8% from last year.
Businesses are also learning how to better leverage mobile marketing in the months to come. 43% of respondents to a Bronto survey said they are devoting more resources to improving mobile websites and their customers’ mobile experience. Mobile purchases are expected to rise 11% in 2012, while 4 out of 5 shoppers are planning to use their smartphones in some capacity while shopping, whether it is in shopping for deals, comparing prices or staying up to date on special offers or promotions.
The biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, is a little more than two weeks away, but there’s still time to craft a strategy, whether it be through mobile marketing or specially placed advertising.
Top Holiday Shopping Days in 2012 – From ShopperTrak
- Black Friday – November 23rd
- Super Saturday – December 22nd
- Saturday, December 15th
- Friday, December 21st
- Sunday, December 23rd
- Saturday, December 8th
- The Day After Christmas – Wednesday, December 26th
- The Saturday After Thanksgiving – November 24th
- Thursday, December 20th
- Saturday, December 1st
Sources: eMarketer | Marketing Charts | ShopperTrak | eMarketer
