Waiting until November to plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? That’s like stepping into the ring against a heavyweight champ without any training. In the ultra-competitive arena of e-commerce, the early planners grab the lion’s share of profits. Here’s how you can dominate this year’s biggest shopping days, with insights from award-winning agency, Mattered, your guide to mastering the retail rush.

1. Email Marketing: Your Secret Sauce

Start simmering your email campaigns now because this is the gourmet dish you can’t afford to mess up. Segment your audience like a pro—VIP clients, cart abandoners, the ‘just browsing’ folks—and tailor those emails to speak directly to them. Remember, personalization makes people feel special, and special people open their wallets. Use data from last year to adjust your approach, focusing on what worked best, and don’t forget to sprinkle some exclusive deals or early access to make your subscribers feel extra special.

Stats to Chew On: According to Campaign Monitor, segmented email campaigns can drive a 760% increase in revenue. So, chop, mix and season those emails wisely!

For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, if you’re not boosting your ad spend, you’re basically giving your competition the keys to the castle. Increase your visibility by investing more in your best-performing channels—be it PPC, social media ads, or retargeting campaigns. Think big and bold with your creative content, ensuring it breaks through the noise. And remember, timing is everything; start your ads early to create hype, but save some budget for last-minute push notifications to capture those spontaneous shoppers.

Mattered Tip: Use data-driven insights to identify which times and platforms garnered the most conversions last year and adjust your ad placements to double down during these peak times.

3. Refresh Your Content Like It’s a New Season of Your Favorite Show

Just like you wouldn’t binge-watch a show with last season’s plot twists, your customers don’t want last year’s vibes. Refresh your website and social media with new graphics, engaging videos, and interactive elements that highlight your sales. Make sure your site is optimized for mobile because, let’s face it, a lot of shopping happens from the comfort of the bed with leftover pie in hand.

Creative Boost: Utilize AR or VR if possible to give users a virtual try-before-you-buy experience. It’s innovative and could be the hook that lands you that big fish (aka the undecided shopper).

4. Collaborate to Accumulate

Why go solo when you can increase your reach with collaborations? Partner up with influencers and other brands, or even showcase user-generated content to build trust and extend your audience pool. Make these collaborations fun and engaging—think live streams, giveaways, or co-branded limited editions.

Success Story: Look at how brands like GoPro and Red Bull collaborate during high-energy events. While you don’t have to jump out of a plane, think about how a partnership could add that extra adrenaline rush to your campaigns.

5. Stock Up, Follow Up, and Keep Up

Inventory management can make or break your Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Stock up based on predictive analytics to avoid the dreaded ‘Out of Stock’ banner. Equally important is your follow-up—ensure your customer service is on point to handle any issues that arise. Post-event, keep the momentum going with thank-you emails, feedback surveys, or even sneak peeks at your next big event or sale.

Insight: Use AI-driven tools to forecast demand more accurately, ensuring that you have just enough stock to meet customer expectations without overcommitting.

Yes, gearing up now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday might seem premature, but in the e-commerce arena, the early brand catches the worm—or, in this case, the sale. These strategies are your ticket to a record-breaking Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “Remember, preparation is key, but flexibility is your friend. Monitor, adapt, and react in real-time to keep your campaigns fresh and your customers engaged,” says Victor Ricci, CEO and co-founder of Mattered. If you’re preparing for the holiday rush and seeking expertise that delivers results, reach out to Mattered today. Let’s make this shopping season your most successful yet.