This holiday season, you won’t catch me standing in line for a discounted TV or elbowing through crowded stores. Instead, I’ll be doing most of my shopping from the couch — trusty smartphone in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other. And like many customers, I’ll be spending the weekend after Thanksgiving on the hunt for the best Cyber Monday deals for everything from electronics to pet supplies.
As more people embrace the convenience of online shopping, Cyber Monday has quickly evolved from an afterthought to Black Friday into a major retail holiday. In 2023, two out of three Americans (66%) planned to shop on Cyber Monday. This year, Adobe predicts that consumers will spend a record-breaking $13.2 billion during this event. Many businesses will take advantage of Cyber Monday’s popularity by offering exclusive discounts for online shoppers.
Preparing for Cyber Monday involves more than listing a few bargains on your website. Top companies develop effective marketing strategies to capture their audience’s attention and stand out from the competition. This guide covers Cyber Monday marketing tactics and best practices to help you engage online shoppers and boost your sales.
When is Cyber Monday 2024?
Cyber Monday always falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving. In 2024, it will be on December 2.
Some businesses only offer Cyber Monday deals for 24 hours, encouraging customers to purchase quickly. Others have extended deals for the entire holiday weekend, starting on Thanksgiving. Some people refer to these five days as the Cyber Five.
Increasing holiday sales through Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is more than just another shopping day. For many businesses, it’s one of the most significant revenue-generating events of the entire year.
An eMarketer report predicts that 15.5% of holiday ecommerce sales will occur during the Cyber Five, which spans from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday. While that number may seem modest, it could add up to a staggering $75 billion in sales this year. Cyber Monday is anticipated to be one of the biggest shopping days of the weekend, with sales expected to increase by 7.8% from last year.
Participating in Cyber Monday can help you start the holiday season with a bang. It’s a great opportunity to attract new and existing customers with limited-time deals. For example, you could discount your top products by 50% or give a free gift with every purchase. These offers build hype around your brand and motivate customers to act quickly, driving sales.
This shopping event also lets you experiment with new marketing techniques to see what resonates best with your audience. For instance, you might create humorous marketing emails filled with snowman puns. Don’t get the results you expect on Cyber Monday? No worries — there’s still plenty of time to switch up your strategy for the rest of the holiday season.
The benefits of being online
Unlike Black Friday, Cyber Monday is an exclusively online event. This digital format offers many benefits for businesses in all industries.
Cyber Monday lets you greatly expand your reach beyond your local area. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, you don’t have to wait for clients to come to you. Instead, you can actively engage your target audience through email, social media, influencer marketing, and other channels. This approach allows you to connect with new and existing clients from anywhere.
Cyber Monday deals also boost brand awareness. Customers searching for a bargain might come across your promotional materials or website, leading them to explore your products and services. Even if they don’t buy anything on Cyber Monday, they may remember your brand later and return to make a purchase.
Cyber Monday lets you gather customer data, too. Marketing platforms like Constant Contact allow you to collect information as leads interact with your emails, social media content, and website. Analyzing this data can provide valuable insights into your audience’s behaviors and preferences.
Say, for instance, you notice that hundreds of Instagram users engage with your Cyber Monday reels, but your stories only get a few views. Based on this information, you can focus on creating reels for your holiday marketing campaigns or share different content for your stories, improving your engagement levels.
Email marketing strategies for Cyber Monday
You don’t need to hire a plane for skywriting or film elaborate commercials to promote your Cyber Monday deals. Email remains one of the most effective and reliable marketing strategies for this retail holiday. After all, it’s the easiest way to reach customers where they’re shopping — on their computers and mobile devices.
Use these proven techniques to create powerful Cyber Monday emails.
Schedule your Cyber Monday emails strategically
No one enjoys getting spammed by repetitive emails from the same brand. But if you don’t remind customers about your upcoming deals, they might overlook them when Cyber Monday rolls around. Thoughtful email timing can help you strike the right balance.
Send the first email a week or two before Cyber Monday to pique early interest in your deals. Schedule this message for a time when your audience is most likely to engage based on your historic email open rates. Typically, customers tend to open more emails in the morning and during the mid-week.
Send one or two reminder emails during the week of Thanksgiving. For example, you might send an email on Tuesday before customers get distracted by the holiday, then again on Friday. This strategy will keep your brand at the top of customers’ minds without bombarding them.
Of course, you should also send a final message early on Cyber Monday. That way, clients will have all day to check their inboxes and explore your deals.
Write an attention-grabbing subject line
Your target audience will likely receive many emails about Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Creating an engaging subject line will help your message stand out in crowded inboxes.
Mention Cyber Monday in your subject line so customers instantly recognize the holiday you’re promoting. An action-oriented subject line can also create a sense of urgency and increase the chances of readers opening your message.
Here are a few examples of subject lines for inspiration:
- TODAY ONLY: Cyber Monday furniture deals!
- Cyber Monday flash sale: Stock up on pet gear
- Save 50% on laptops on Cyber Monday
- Save big on cabin rentals this Cyber Monday!
Get straight to the point
Customers are searching for bargains on Cyber Monday, so keep your messaging clear and straightforward. Use concise statements with specific numbers to spotlight your best offers right away. For example, “50% off storewide” is more compelling to discount-hungry shoppers than a vague message like “save big on Cyber Monday.”
While visuals can be powerful, don’t clutter your Cyber Monday emails with too many images or videos. Stick to a simple, mobile-friendly layout to make it easy for customers to spot your offers quickly. You can also use different colored backgrounds or fonts to call attention to specific deals.
Include a clear call to action
The clock is ticking on Cyber Monday, so your email should feature a direct call to action (CTA) that guides readers to the next step promptly. Here are a few potential CTAs:
- Shop Cyber Monday deals now
- Claim your one-day coupon
- Explore Cyber deals
- Shop sale
Cyber Monday email marketing examples
Before you start drafting your Cyber Monday emails, study examples from other brands for inspiration.
This Banana Republic Factory email uses an oversized font to highlight the brand’s main Cyber Monday deal: “60% off everything.” The sharp contrast between the white font and the simple dark background instantly grabs the reader’s attention. Above this message, the smaller font gives additional details about the promotion, including: “Free shipping on all orders with free returns.”
Petco created a more elaborate marketing email for their Cyber Monday promotion. Like Banana Republic, they spotlight their top deal in large white font: “Up to 50% off on petco.com!” They follow this compelling statement with links to product categories for different pets, allowing the audience to quickly locate the most relevant items. At the bottom of the email, Petco includes more deals and repeats their call to “Shop Now,” building urgency.
Promote your brand on social media
Social media marketing is a great way to connect with customers before and during Cyber Monday. Here are three ways to spread the word about your upcoming sales and build hype.
Partner with influencers
Customers increasingly rely on influencers to recommend new brands and products. As of May 2024, 66% of Gen Z and 55% of millennials reported that they had bought at least one product they say featured in creator-generated posts.
Consider collaborating with influencers who fit your brand values to promote your Cyber Monday deals. For example, a TikTok influencer could film a product demonstration and offer an exclusive holiday discount to their followers. This strategy lets you tap new audiences and grow your brand reputation.
Run pay-per-click ads
Meta, YouTube, and other social media platforms offer pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. As the name suggests, this model means you only pay when users click on your ad, with the option to set a spending cap. It’s a budget-friendly way to reach your target audience.
To get the most out of your PPC ads, tailor them to your customers’ interests. Say, for instance, you run a bookstore and want to attract women in their thirties. You could create ads spotlighting Cyber Monday deals on popular genres — such as romance and true crime — to engage this audience and drive more clicks.
Create product posts
Social media platforms are inherently visual, which makes them perfect for showing off your products. In the days leading up to Cyber Monday, create posts highlighting your upcoming deals.
Capture attention with high-quality images and videos of your products in action. For example, before-and-after videos can demonstrate the effects of your cleaning or skincare products. You might also showcase user-generated content to highlight your products’ value and build trust with potential customers.
Best practices for Cyber Monday
Along with developing a Cyber Monday marketing strategy, optimizing the user experience for the holiday is critical. That way, your customers can easily find information and purchase without stress.
Follow these best practices to put your best foot forward on the big day.
Update your inventory
Products can sell out quickly on Cyber Monday, especially if you’re offering great bargains. Use an ecommerce platform like Shopify or Zoho Inventory to maintain an accurate inventory count on your website. This step will help you avoid frustrating customers if you run out of stock.
Automate your confirmation emails
It’s easy for customers to get caught up in the excitement of Cyber Monday shopping and lose track of their purchases. Prevent confusion by using Constant Contact to set up automatic confirmation emails. These messages should include order details, delivery estimates, cancellation policies, and other vital information.
Send discounts early
While some customers make spontaneous purchases, others carefully plan their Cyber Monday spending in advance. Share your discounts at least one week before the holiday to give your customers plenty of time to browse your deals and make purchase decisions. For example, you could send an email with a 40%-off coupon and personalized product recommendations to create anticipation.
Set yourself up for success on Cyber Monday
Don’t get left on the sidelines this Cyber Monday. With careful preparation, you can spread the word about your deals and boost your holiday sales.
Get started by researching your competitors’ past Cyber Monday offers. This analysis can help you identify popular products and effective marketing tactics. Look for opportunities to distinguish your brand from the competition. For example, you could offer unique discounts or product bundles.
Once you’ve mapped out your deals, begin developing an engaging marketing campaign. Get creative with product giveaways, influencer partnerships, and other marketing strategies to generate excitement for Cyber Monday shopping.
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