It’s incredible to think that Cyber Monday, the tech-centric anchor to Cyber Weekend, was originally created by retailers to encourage people to shop online. But today, without e-commerce, consumers would be essentially lost. Think Amazon during Covid. Once I found a package at my front door and I couldn’t even remember what I’d ordered. (OK. More than once.)
According to data and market research company Numerator, this year is expected to be the first time a majority of U.S. consumers will shop online over the five-day Cyber weekend. One-quarter of consumers say they’ll shop only online this season. However nearly 60% plan to follow a hybrid model, mixing in-person and online shopping.
This Cyber weekend will no doubt be impacted by supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages. And given that major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart started offering discounts weeks ago, you might be wondering if Cyber Monday is worth your time. But if 2020 is any indication, it will be.
Deal Me In
Nearly half (45%) of consumers expect to complete all or most of their holiday shopping over Cyber Weekend. According to TechRadar, Cyber Monday deals are often as good as those on Black Friday, and can act as something of a continuation of significant sales. Three tips the technology news and reviews publication cite to get the best deals include checking in early; knowing what you’re searching for; and preparing to buy alternative purchases.
On Monday your brand will no doubt encounter the window shopper, someone who visits your site but doesn’t end up making a purchase. Instead of getting frustrated, think of them as potential consumers, long after Cyber weekend is over. Considering that an average e-commerce site earns nearly $330,000 in monthly revenue after being in business for just one year, converting those window shoppers into loyal customers is definitely worth the wait.
Clearly it’s important to make sure you’re using the best possible website platform for the holiday rush and going forward. Online stores built on WordPress, for example, can install the free WooCommerce plugin which optimizes for speed and scalability. WP Engine is offering discounts this weekend on hosting, themes, plugins and more.
Here is just a handful of our favorite compilations of Cyber Monday deals, many of which are constantly updated. Happy Cyber shopping!
- Mashable: One of the most comprehensive round-ups starting featuring the best deals from Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Dell, HP and other retailers.
- Tom’s Guide: Great deals for TVs, tablets, mattresses, REI jackets, and appliances at Target.
- Wired: Best of gaming, headphones and security systems.
- Popsugar: Handpicked specialty items from Target.
- BGR: Best Apple deals including Apple watches, AirPods and Macs.
- USA Today: List of gift subscription items for wine connoisseurs to Audible listeners.