Although in-store sales only increased .5% (according to the AP Wire) Black Friday was a bonanza for Affiliate Marketers and online retailers.  Top U.S. retailers saw a 27% rise in online traffic as consumers reacted positively to promotions, according to ShopLocal, Gannett Co.’s online marketing service.  And sales showed even more strength…

Shoppers spent 35 per cent more on Black Friday web purchases than a year earlier, with the average order value reaching $170.19, according to online retail analytics company Coremetrics. Those shoppers bought an average of 5.4 items per order, up from 4.6 items last year, Coremetrics said.  Ad to that PayPal reports 20 percent more transactions on Black Friday compared to last year.

Other Black Friday indicators included a nightmare for systems and network administrators…  Most significantly Kohl’s Corp.’s website crashed because of a surge in online traffic on Black Friday.

This is all encouraging news for Affiliate Marketers who are usually scrambling to make last minute site changes, product additions, etc. during the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sequence.  But this year the markdowns have been coming out earlier and specific Cyber Monday postings from OPMs/AMs, etc. are either going to be very late, or won’t happen at all.  Compared with previous years activities, special promotional announcements for Black Friday / Cyber Monday are down, while earlier promotional activity was very high.

No one really knows what will happen after Cyber Monday.  But there is still time to take advantage of Cyber Monday by adjusting your product mix, kicking out that last newsletter emailing, etc. yet today.

Information gathered from:

The LA Times

The Economic Times

CNN Money

Sometimes you forget the simplest things.  Like skipping the one thing that can make your Black Friday / Cyber Monday efforts pay now and well into the future.  If your smart your all done with the heavy lifting for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  Well, outside of doing the promotion updates themselves.  But you already know what they are, have your links/graphics ready, etc.  But you’ve forgotten something.  I know you have.  80% of all Affiliate Sites are missing the boat and you can avoid this mistake.

Update your Newsletter/Email List Subscriptions.

Change the graphics, clean up the design, add a free giveaway or a contest.  Anything to take advantage of the additional traffic and get more people on your email newsletter lists.  Here’s the three most effective things you can do.

1. Brighten the Graphics – The rest of your site is themed, right?  But I’d bet you have the same old tired graphics for your newsletter subscription button.  CHANGE IT.
2. Move it up the page -  I mean really up the page.  Like near the top of the page.  On the right hand side too.  Don’t let people miss the opportunity to get your newsletters.  The higher on the page the more signups you’ll get.  Which means you’ll be able to engage with more people not only for this season, but well into the next year and beyond.  That means more sales.
3. Give it Away for Free! – Add a bonus!  How about a free pdf with activities for the kids to do while your shopping?  A contest for the delivery of a free centerpiece for the Christmas Dinner Table?  Andy Williams Christmas CD?  Anything.  Either give a gift or have a contest (or both).  Make signing up to your newsletter irresistible.

Now get cracking!  You’ve only got a few days and if your current workload is anything like mine you need to get with it.