E-Commerce: Cyber Monday

40% E-Commerce Cyber Monday Sales Increase

Cyber Monday is a definite trend. In 2004 77% of online retailers reported a significant sales spike on the Monday after Thanksgiving, according to the trade group Shop.org,. The numbers are significant. 2004’s sales figures increased by a whopping 40% according to Atlas, a company that reports and analyzes online activity.

Activity on the Internet begins to increase during the days before Thanksgiving as savvy shoppers seek price comparisons, alternate colors or sizes of items not available at local brick-and-mortar stores. It seems that Web shoppers tend to dislike hauling packages and prefer to scope out the deals on Black Friday, relaxing before their computers rather than slamming down credit cards after long waits in checkout lines. The hunting peaks on Sunday because some folks think watching football or seeing old movies just isn’t very exciting. Bargain hunting always is. And this online bargain hunting goes on 24/7/365.

Internet activity spikes beginning at 12;00 p.m. East and West coast times, continuing on throughout the day. Unwitting employers may wonder why their Internet usage suddenly increases on this day, as fast fingers key in online web retailer addresses looking for deals.

How To Capitalize On E-Commerce Cyber Monday

Next year, plan your online sales well in advance to catch the eyes of cyber shoppers. According to the National Retail Federation, the more crafty online retailers began their special sale offers five days prior to E-commerce Cyber Monday. Those with brick-and-mortar stores e-mailed early deals to online shoppers before rolling these out to shopping swarming through stores on Back Friday.

Next year, online retailers should plan to offer special promotions, heavy discounts, and incentives including free shipping or free gifts with twofer offers according to a BizRate Research eHoliday Mood Study comparing online holiday performance to more than 150 brick-and-mortar retailers.

Cyber Monday Officially Christened In 2004

Not that shoppers needed another excuse to go forth and spend, the E commerce retailer community dubbed the day after Black Friday Cyber Monday. It is a smart marketing technique, because many millions of Americans, reluctantly returning to work after a long weekend spent watching football or at the mall, sit down before their employer’s high-speed Internet connections and spend lunch hours buying what they liked in all those stores. Not that they would ever think of spending productive time other than lunch hours doing so.