As an eBay seller, your competitors are already gearing up for Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). Are you? Don’t get left behind—avoid these common mistakes to stay ahead and maximize your profits:
1. Not Preparing Early Enough
- ❌Mistake: Waiting until the last minute to plan promotions, update listings, or organize inventory.
- ✅Avoid It: Start prepping at least 6 weeks in advance. Early preparation guarantees your listings are optimized, inventory is secured, and promotions are ready to roll.
2. Ignoring Listing Optimization for Mobile
- ❌Mistake: Neglecting to optimize your eBay listings for mobile shoppers.
- ✅Avoid It: Make sure your listings are mobile-friendly with clear images, concise descriptions, and relevant keywords. Your competitors are already ranking higher in mobile searches—don’t miss out.
3. Not Having Enough Stock
- ❌Mistake: Running out of in-demand products early, leading to missed sales and disappointed customers.
- ✅Avoid It: Forecast demand based on last year’s trends and stock up on popular items. Your competitors are prepared—are you?
4. Offering Confusing or Weak Discounts
- ❌Mistake: Complicated promotions like “Buy 3, get 2 half off” or small discounts that don’t excite shoppers.
- ✅Avoid It: Keep your deals simple and competitive, like “20% off everything” or straightforward BOGOs. Your competitors are making their deals irresistible—don’t let yours fall flat.
5. Poor Mobile Optimization
- ❌Mistake: Ignoring mobile shoppers, who make up a large portion of BFCM traffic.
- ✅Avoid It: Make sure your eBay listings have a responsive design that works seamlessly on mobile devices.
6. Neglecting Abandoned Cart Recovery
- ❌Mistake: Missing out on sales by not following up on abandoned carts.
- ✅Avoid It: Use eBay’s abandoned cart email feature to remind potential customers to complete their purchases. Your competitors are reclaiming lost sales—are you?
7. Ignoring Email Marketing
- ❌Mistake: Failing to leverage email to build excitement and recover sales.
- ✅Avoid It: Tease your promotions early and send reminder emails closer to BFCM.
8. No Incentive for Returning Customers
- ❌Mistake: Focusing only on attracting new buyers while neglecting your loyal customers.
- ✅Avoid It: Offer exclusive deals or early access to BFCM promotions for repeat customers.
9. Not Optimizing Checkout
- ❌Mistake: Complicated checkout processes that lead to high cart abandonment.
- ✅Avoid It: Simplify checkout on eBay by ensuring you accept multiple payment methods and offer a guest checkout option.
10. Skipping Retargeting Ads
- ❌Mistake: Not setting up retargeting ads for visitors who browsed but didn’t buy.
- ✅Avoid It: Use Facebook or Google retargeting to nudge those visitors to come back and purchase.
11. Forgetting to Offer Free Shipping
- ❌Mistake: High shipping fees can be a dealbreaker, leading to cart abandonment.
- ✅Avoid It: Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount to entice buyers.
12. Overlooking Customer Support
- ❌Mistake: Not providing quick customer service, especially during the busy BFCM period.
- ✅Avoid It: Stay responsive with live chat or fast email replies. Your competitors are offering top-tier service—don’t fall behind.
13. No Post-Sale Engagement Plan
- ❌Mistake: Treating BFCM as a one-time event with no follow-up.
- Avoid It: Follow up with customers post-purchase to encourage reviews and offer future deals.
14. Ignoring Analytics
- ❌Mistake: Not tracking key metrics like sales, traffic, or customer behavior during BFCM.
- ✅Avoid It: Use eBay’s analytics tools to monitor performance and adjust strategies.
15. Not Having a Clear Returns Policy
- ❌Mistake: Confusing or hidden return policies can drive buyers away.
- ✅Avoid It: Be transparent with a clear and easy-to-understand returns process.
16. Forgetting About Cyber Monday
- ❌Mistake: Focusing all your efforts on Black Friday while ignoring Cyber Monday.
- ✅Avoid It: Extend your promotions through Cyber Monday to capture even more sales.
17. Not Having Enough Positive Customer Reviews
- ❌Mistake: Lack of verified positive reviews can undermine shopper trust, costing you sales.
- ✅Avoid It: Your competitors are already ramping up their reviews. Boost your ratings with tools like Feedback by eDesk to automate requests and gather more 5-star reviews.
Your Competitors Are Ready for BFCM—Are You?
Don’t let your competitors pull ahead. Implement these strategies now to make this Black Friday & Cyber Monday your most profitable yet.
