The holiday shopping season has arrived!
Shoppers want to buy the best gifts for their loved ones without breaking any penny banks. Despite consumers’ frugality, the average holiday spending per person is $805.65.
Don’t let the major retailers garner all the consumer’s attention. The Black Friday frenzy is an opportunity for bloggers to build brand awareness, grow readership, and earn extra cash.
Prepare for one of the busiest shopping days. Below are four strategies to help you.
1. Create Lists of Top Deals
During the holidays, most buyers are rushing to check off items on their gift lists. Not only do they have to juggle their normal routines, shoppers want to actually research the products and services they will buy.
But there’s one major issue: time.
It takes several hours to find the perfect gift. Between work, household chores, and kids, consumers don’t have the time or energy to proactively examine each and every product.
So, that’s where bloggers can help. Do the legwork for your readers. Research brands to learn which ones offer the best products at the highest quality.
[bctt tweet=”How #bloggers can cash in on #BlackFriday: Create lists of top deals in your niche.” username=”hostgator”]
Be sure to stick to top deals in your niche. For example, if you’re a travel blogger, locate airline or hotel discounts.
Then, write about your findings using a list format. People love lists because they are easy to read and present helpful information.
The Krazy Coupon Lady is a blog that teaches consumers extreme couponing strategies. In the example below, she offers readers a top 10 deal list.
Go above and beyond with your lists by offering your readership something different. It’s perfectly fine to add holiday humor and creativity to your posts.
'If your post title promises to list 7 items of something on your topic, then you need to have 7 points that are interesting and stay on track with the article. This could require research since you want to make sure to create something unique,' writes Ariel Rule, a Hubspot Inbound Certified blogger.
Be a resource for your audience. Give them a list of awesome deals.
2. Start a Social Media Campaign
Blogging alone won’t draw people to your Black Friday posts. You will need additional help to attract people.
Social media is one of the best ways to gain your reader’s attention. Why?
Because social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, give people the opportunity to talk freely about their likes and dislikes. These platforms allow for casual conversations and open dialogue.
Therefore, it’s an effective method to speak directly with your readers. Engagement is as simple as responding to a comment or retweeting a message.
When starting your campaign, learn which social media channel your readers use the most. Then, read their posts and profiles to discover the topics that matter to them.
The key is to connect their interests with your campaign’s goal. Do you want to increase your website traffic? Or maybe your follower count?
'The social media marketing goal you’re pursuing affects what kind of campaign you choose to run; the kind of campaign you run effects which holiday is the most appropriate opportunity,' says Sumari MacLeod, campaigns copywriter at Hootsuite.
After selecting your goal and researching your readers, create content that will entice people to learn more about your blog. The Blonde Salad lures its fans with backstage pictures and video of events.
And if your followers love Pinterest, try DIY, tutorials, and recipes-they have a 42% higher click through rate than any other pin types.
Persuade people to check out your blog this holiday season. Social media might be your best bet.
3. Highlight Your Affiliate Offers
Affiliate marketing is a popular way for bloggers to earn income. In a gist: you receive a commission for promoting other people’s products.
With an influx of new readers, you can steer shoppers toward the products you promote. Make sure you display a clear disclaimer before recommending these services as gift ideas. If not, you risk losing your reader’s trust.
Moreover, avoid listing your offers as the only option for consumers. Instead, create a detailed comparison chart on why specific products provide more value.
[bctt tweet=”#BlackFriday can be an ideal time for bloggers to spread their wings in #affiliatemarketing.” username=”hostgator”]
'When people are in buying mode for a physical product, they tend to have their options narrowed down to 2 or 3 and need help making the choice that is best for them…Comparison web pages are not only very popular and helpful for readers, they are also very profitable for you,' says affiliate marketer Jennifer Ledbetter.
You also may want to sell your own products, like books, online courses, or clothing. You’ll gain another stream of income and build a solid brand image.
Luvvie Ajayi, blogger at Awesomely Luvvie, recently released her first book. She keeps a static announcement on her site to encourage visitors to buy.
Keep in mind selling to people isn’t about you. You want to speak the shoppers’ language, and they desire an extraordinary gift for their family member or friend.
Therefore, use terms that will peak their curiosity. Sarita Harbour, a professional blogger, suggests the following:
'Look at the comments, questions, and the complaints. Pay particular attention to how your target reader phrases their concerns. What words are they using to describe their anxieties?'
Boost your revenues on Black Friday. Experiment with affiliate offers or your own products.
4. Grow Your Email Subscription List
Black Friday doesn’t center around the dramatic increase in site traffic. That’s great; but what happens after the holiday rush?
As a blogger, it’s important to transform these shoppers into lifelong fans. To accomplish this task, ask them to sign up for your email newsletter.
Email marketing lets you create personalized messages, which has been proven to raise click-through rates by an average of 14% and conversions by 10%.
But before planning your email campaigns, concentrate on how you will woo folks to join your email list. Consider offering access to exclusive content, like bonus tips or checklists.
'A video bribe can be a single video that covers a topic in depth, or a series of videos tackling different subtopics. They can be a live recording of you presenting the information to camera, or a slideshow presentation with you providing the voiceover,' states Stef Gonzaga, a poet, creative writer, and blogger.
And make the process of signing up painless. A simple pop-up box works well for most websites. We Wore What keeps it simple with a few words and only asking for an email address.
You want more than just seasonal readers. Strive to grow your email lists.
Join the Mania
Shoppers are hunting for the best holiday deals.. Use this shopping season as a chance to attract new readers to your blog.
Create lists comparing popular products. Start your own social media campaign to generate buzz. And strategically position your affiliate offers to earn money.
Take advantage of the Black Friday mania.
Shayla Price creates and promotes content. She lives at the intersection of digital marketing, technology, and social responsibility. Originally from Louisiana, Shayla champions access to remote work opportunities. Connect with her on Twitter at @shaylaprice.