IBM says businesses should expect a record-breaking holiday shopping forecast this season. They predict Mobile Holiday Shopping will take center stage, as more people will be shopping from their Smartphones and Tablets than ever before. 

So, what does this mean for your business?

It all depends. If your website has a responsive, mobile-friendly design, you can breathe a little easier.  If not, you may be sitting in the sidelines as your competitors lure your customers to their website’s checkout counter. Here are some more interesting statistics you’ll want to consider:

• 15 Percent increase of online sales is expected to increase over a 5-day holiday shopping period.
• Apple iOS is expected to drive twice the amount of mobile traffic of Android by four times the sales. 
• Over half of all Thanksgiving Day, online shopping will come from a mobile device for the first time in history. 

Don’t fret, the good news is there is a couple of weeks left before shoppers hit the pavement running.  But, you have to act now, don’t procrastinate. Here are a few tips on how to get your website up-to-speed for the impending holiday season. 

Create Better Content

Having a great website design is imperative, but good content will always reign as king. Make sure your content is clear and concise. If you have an ecommerce website, make sure your product descriptions are compelling. You should have a clear call-to-action on every page. The key to gaining more sales is to create content that will make people want to come back (long after the holidays). 

Additionally, make sure your blog posts are reader-friendly and well-optimized. Your blog posts are a great tool to use to help attract new visitors and potential customers.

Image is Everything

For your featured products, consider hiring a good photographer with experience in Web photography.  When it comes to product images, and photos - presentation and good visualization is crucial. Often times, many companies forget that visitors cannot touch or feel product items. It's crucial that your photos demonstrate the most important qualities of your products. This can be accomplished by great Web photography. 

Landing Pages

If you're launching a holiday promotion, consider creating landing pages for your promotions. Landing pages are great way to increase your conversion rate. Make sure your website's holiday design and graphics are consistent with your overall brand.

Keep Track 

Regardless of what time of year it is, you should always keep track of every marketing campaign you launch.  If you haven’t already, consider installing Google Analytics to help keep track of the traffic that flows to your website.

Back Up! Back Up! Back Up!

What if your server suddenly crashes? Are you prepared? Never rely solely on your hosting company or your IT guy for backups. Make sure you backup your website ‘today’ in the event it crashes in the future. It's better to be safe than regretful any day!

Focus on Security

Your website should be secure to avoid getting hacked. There is nothing more daunting than discovering your website has been hacked or infected with a virus. Make sure you install robust security software, avoid using 'admin' as your username, and always use strong passwords to thwart online thieves.

Do you need help revamping your website for the holiday season? Call Maxmize Studio and for a free consultation at: 866.213.2352.