Word on the street is that during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season, traffic to shopping websites can increase by a whopping 173% ! Whilst this will be music to many business owners’ ears, there’s a slight issue.
IS YOUR WEBSITE READY TO HANDLE A SUDDEN SURGE IN TRAFFIC?
We’re not being dramatic here. All you have to do is take a look back over what happened to GHD last year to know even the biggest of brands can be subject to a Black Friday crash.
So, what steps can you take to limit the risk of your website letting you down on Black Friday?
#1 Check. Your. Speed.
We’re in the middle of a global pandemic. Some of our favourite retailers have been forced to close. Shoppers have no other option but to head online in search of a bargain and that means the digital fight is on.
Our point? With more people heading online, it’s never been more important to ensure they can get their deals, FAST.
That’s why you need to make sure your site speed is top notch! How? Well if you’ve got an expert maintaining your website, you’re safe. If you haven’t then you’ll need to check it yourself.
You can instantly check your website speed using this super cool tool, here.
Note: Your website needs to load a page in less than 3 seconds. (and less is much better)
#2 Optimise those images
We heard you say “What are you talking about” as you read that; don’t worry we will explain.
In short, your pages need to be light and images can make them heavy. So, to reduce page weight, you need to optimise your images; compress them into the right formats to the minimum size possible.
Taking this step will ensure that your Black Friday shopper has a better experience when using your website.
Still not sure what to do? There are a bunch of free tools to help you out.
#3 Put it in the basket
If you really want an insight into how well your website supports the Black Friday shopper, become one!
This means taking all the steps on your site that your customer would take:
Search for an item – does it come up? Click the item and read the description – does it tell you what you want to know You don’t like it – can you easily navigate to similar items or back to the menu? Click a real bargain – you love it, can you add it to a basket easily? Go to the basket – does the right product and price appear? Checkout – do you have to register, or can you be a guest? Pay – can you enter your card details securely? Are there extra security measures? Bought – what message do you get when you’ve paid? Did you get a receipt? Did you receive an email?
It might sound like a lot of work however taking these steps will help you identify any issues before your customer does!
#4 Get on the phone with your hosting provider
Your hosting provider is the company who enables your website to be visible on the internet. Any quality hosting provider will be expecting your call ahead of Black Friday, so don’t be afraid to jump on the phone.
A lot depends on your hosting provider when it comes to handling high traffic you see.
Once you’ve got them on the phone, ask them:
How much of the current bandwidth you’re using during normal times What your current limits are Whether you need to upgrade – you’ll need to forecast expected traffic here
If they’re super helpful, they might even give you some other insight and advice!
All too much?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. There’s still time to get help. At Glow, we’re currently offering a free website maintenance trial for all new customers, meaning we can do some of those basic tests for you!
Find out more by getting in touch with the team today.
