Key Takeaway:
Understand what design and functionality tips are important when giving your site a holiday makeover.
For brick-and-mortar businesses, putting up holiday décor is a standard operating procedure. But what about your digital décor? Today’s shoppers visit websites before, during, and after their in-store shopping visits. Is the aesthetic experience you’re creating online going to evoke the festive feelings your shoppers want? Will customers remember your website’s excellent visuals and UX long after the holiday magic has faded?
Working with a web designer to dress your website for the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult. We’ve rounded up some best practices to keep in mind when tweaking your site’s design and functionality for the festive season.
Design Tips for Your Holiday Site Makeover
Design is essential for a successful holiday website makeover, creating a festive and engaging shopping experience. Here are some essential tips to help you craft a holiday-ready site that attracts customers and boosts sales.
1. Define Your Holiday Look
The summer is the perfect time to start planning what your site will “wear” for the holidays. Your holiday branding should be both festive and brand appropriate. Consider what colors and images you’d like to use. For best results, you’re going to want to use your holiday imagery on your websiteand on all your social platforms for consistency.
Combinations of red, green and white, as well as blue and white, are the most common color choices for winter holiday promotions. But there’s no law that says that’s what you have to do. So, if you have a good reason to depart from the norm, do so. For instance, if your brand is known for a specific color such as purple, feature that color prominently in your holiday website décor.
2. Mix in Some Festive Video Content
Enhance your holiday site with engaging video content that goes beyond static images. Showcase gift guides, behind-the-scenes preparations, or customer testimonials to add a personal touch. Holiday-themed tutorials or countdown videos can help build excitement for upcoming offers. These elements not only create a festive atmosphere but also encourage customer interaction and repeat visits.
3. Establish Your Holiday Offers
Know the details of your main holiday offer, as well as any other savings opportunities you’d like to promote during the holiday season. That will make it easier to integrate this information into your holiday website décor.
4. Know Your Holiday Timeline
Determine how you would like your holiday décor to appear on your website. While many online retailers begin their holiday promotions in October, some traditionalists wait until Black Friday. It’s also important to know when you’d like your holiday website décor to disappear. Some businesses might choose to switch into new year’s mode the day after Christmas. Others prefer to wait till New Year’s Day before their site’s holiday look turns off and the new look turns on. Whichever option you choose, it’s important to pre-schedule the date of this switch so your website doesn’t stay in holiday mode long after Christmas has ended.
“Enhance your holiday site with engaging video content that goes beyond static images. Showcase gift guides, behind-the-scenes preparations, or customer testimonials to add a personal touch.”
– Technology Therapy® Group
Functionality Tips for Your Holiday Site Makeover
A well-dressed site is not just about festive aesthetics, though. It’s crucial to strategically organize and present your holiday-specific content. Here are some ways to make sure your site not only looks the part but also functions seamlessly during the busiest shopping time of the year.
1. Highlight Essential Information with Callouts and Alert Bars
Use callouts and alert bars to highlight essential information, so it captures attention regardless of where your visitors navigate. Consider starting with a callout for your gift guide in early October and transitioning to critical alerts such as custom order cutoffs in November. Since alert bars are site-wide, they guarantee that every visitor gets the message immediately upon landing on your site.
2. Add Countdown Timers to Create Urgency
Incorporate countdown timers for upcoming sales or exclusive offers. This tactic adds a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging customers to make purchases before time runs out.
3. Showcase Key Offers on Your Home Page
The home page should serve as the primary platform for major announcements. Update your banner and the sections immediately following it to promote holiday sales, gift guides, and special events like private shopping experiences. That way, customers don’t miss the most timely and appealing deals.
4. Place Important Information Prominently for Quick Scanning
Position critical information like shipping deadlines and special offers above the fold, so visitors will easily see it without having to scroll down the page. Also use clear, eye-catching fonts and colors that contrast well with the rest of your site to further boost readability.
5. Roll Out Content in Phases
Modern websites offer the flexibility to publish content in phases, a capability you can use to your advantage during the holiday season. For example, if your holiday gift guide is not ready by October, consider releasing a preliminary one-page teaser. Then follow it with the complete version of the gift guide in November. It’s a great way to engage your audience and keep them returning to see what’s new.
6. Engage Visitors with Interactive Elements
Delight visitors with interactive elements like a holiday-themed quiz or simple calls-to-action (CTAs) that lead to newsletter sign-ups, so they stay updated with all your holiday news. These interactions not only enhance user experience but also aid in gathering valuable customer data.
6. Update Your Holiday Hours
Clearly communicate any changes to your regular business hours during the holiday season. You’ll save your customers frustration and prevent any potential lost sales due to timing confusion.
“It’s crucial to strategically organize and present your holiday-specific content. Position critical information like shipping deadlines and special offers above the fold, so visitors will easily see it without having to scroll down the page.”
– Technology Therapy® Group
Keep Your Website Glowing During the Holidays and Afterward
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