Making a List and Checking It Twice: Are You Ready for the Holiday Rush?

Key Takeaway:

Understand the value of double-checking your digital marketing.

Know exactly what to check to help make your shopper’s experience a smooth and friction-free one both during and after the holidays. 

Santa doesn’t just make his list. He checks it twice to make sure no name is missing. Retailers should take the same approach with their digital readiness. During the holiday rush, even one overlooked detail—a broken form, outdated hours, or a missed notification—can derail a sale or frustrate a shopper. Before peak season hits, double check the essentials so you’re not scrambling later. Here’s a digital list to check twice.

Holiday Helpers: Tune-Up the Essentials Before the Rush

The holidays move fast, and small oversights can create big frustrations for shoppers. Before the rush hits, take a moment to double-check the basics so every customer interaction feels smooth and reliable.

Update and/or Test:

1. Store Hours

Make sure your holiday hours are updated everywhere (e.g. Google Business Profile, Yelp, socials, your website header, footer, and Contact page).

2. Forms

Test every form (contact, appointment booking, newsletter, etc.).

• Complete all fields so you catch any hidden errors.
• Confirm your success message or thank-you page is correct.
• Ensure form submissions reach your email marketing platform.
• If a form triggers an auto-responder, make sure it arrives in your inbox.

3. Notifications

Double-check that you receive form and order notifications.

4. Voicemail

Update your message so customers know your holiday hours and expectations.

5. Old Listings

Remove outdated offers on Yelp, Google Business Profile, or anywhere else online.

Sleigh-Ready Shopping: Make Sure Checkout Glides Smoothly

A working checkout is the retail equivalent of a well-waxed sled slipping gracefully over the snow. One hiccup during purchase can send shoppers elsewhere, so now’s the time to test the entire path from cart to confirmation.

Here’s What to Look For:

• The checkout process completes with no errors.
• Order notifications arrive correctly.
• Click-to-call links function on mobile.
• Pricing, shipping, and stock info are accurate and clear.
• Confirmation and thank-you pages display properly.

Bonus tip: While testing, look for ways to elevate the experience, like offering gift wrap or adding shipping cutoff reminders.

Keep Spirits Bright: Ensure Your Emails Actually Reach Customers

Your holiday messages can’t do their job if they disappear into Spam or Promotions. A quick deliverability check now keeps communication merry and keeps customers informed when they need it most.

• Test marketing emails to see where they land.
• Add a note to your thank-you and confirmation pages telling customers to check Promotions or Spam.
• Update automations to reflect holiday offers and deadlines. (Check things like abandoned cart, browse abandonment, and post-purchase.)

Follow the North Star: Confirm Your Tracking Is Leading You to the Right Insights

You’ll want clear visibility into what worked once the season wraps. Make sure your tracking tools are guiding you in the right direction, so every customer click or purchase is captured accurately.

• Ensure Google Analytics and other analytic tools (like Microsoft Clarity or Google Tag Manager (GTM) are functioning correctly.
• Do a test order and confirm that the purchase is properly tracked. Try searching for your business on Google or ChatGPT before testing. Then check whether the correct source shows in your analytics.
• Review conversion tracking for ads and email integrations.

Wrap It Up Right: Refresh the Policies That Protect You (and Your Shoppers)

Policies may not feel festive, but they’re essential this time of year. Reviewing them now prevents confusion later and helps customers feel confident buying from you during the busiest weeks of the year.

Double-check:

1. Terms & Conditions

Add or confirm a clause noting that pricing errors may occur.

2. Return Policy

Reflect any extended holiday return windows.

3. Shipping Policy

Add holiday cutoff dates for guaranteed delivery.

4. Privacy Policy

Make sure that it’s accessible and current.

Check It Twice, Then Enjoy the Season

Just like Santa reviewing his list one more time before takeoff, giving your digital presence a second pass so that nothing slips through the cracks. A quick re-check now can save you headaches later—and create a more seamless and joyful experience for your customers. Once you’ve worked through the list, you’ll head into the holidays knowing your website, policies, and tools are ready to support your busiest season.

Even Santa Has Elves: Bring in Backup to Spot What You Might Miss

A busy season leaves little room to catch every detail alone. Bringing in a second set of eyes can help you catch small issues before they turn into customer headaches. TTG is here to help you tidy up loose ends, spot gaps, and get your website prepped for the holiday season hustle. Our Digital Audit Program is an easy way to check if your website, data tools, and UX are truly ready for the holidays (and the new year).

Let TTG Double Check Your “List”