If you run an ecommerce business, it's important to know the best times of the year to sell your product or promote your service. Thanks to the growth of social media and mobile shopping, you can buy anything at any time. This leaves ecommerce business managers with one question: what are the best and worst months for ecommerce?
The Best Months for Ecommerce
If you're here for the short answer, then you're in the right place. The best months for ecommerce are:
November, December & January
When you think about how many sales there are throughout winter, it will come as no surprise that the winter months are the best months for generating ecommerce revenue.
The winter months host a variety of effective sales, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November, Super Saturday and Boxing Day sales in December, followed by New Year's Day Sales in January. A busy couple of months for ecommerce, right!?
The Worst Months for Ecommerce
Statistically, the worst months for ecommerce are:
June, July & August
These summer months generate the least amount of ecommerce sales, dipping as much as 30% in comparison to the winter months.
Why Do Ecommerce Sales Drop in Summer?
There are many theories as to why ecommerce sales fall throughout summer. Thankfully, though, being aware of this will allow you to put together a plan to battle the ecommerce summer slump.
Summer is a slow time for ecommerce because...
People are out and about more
Summer is a great time for shoppers to get out of their homes. Due to this, foot traffic increases rapidly which is why you may see a dip in online sales and website traffic.
Businesses hold onto new releases for high-peak periods
As an ecommerce business owner, it makes sense to hold onto your new stock until the winter's peak sale period. Because of this, you may find less people purchasing items from your website.
People are busy
Summer is a time of relaxation and rest, so you may find that many shoppers are on their own holidays or escapades. This may seem like a very minor reason, but it has a huge effect on sales. Put simply, people may be too busy to be shopping online throughout summer!
How to Beat the Ecommerce Summer Slump
The best advice is to not panic if you see a sudden dip in your ecommerce sales throughout summer. Expecting the dip is half the battle because it means you can prepare!
To combat the ecommerce summer slump, you can be proactive and do the following:
- Make sure your website is mobile friendly: 60.1% of people use their mobiles to shop, so it's integral that your website is responsive and works properly on mobile. Slow sites convert a lot less than quicker ones. Search Mobile Friendliness Test on Google to check your website now!
- Refresh your content: when things are slow, appreciate the gift of time! Devote your energy to optimising your product or service pages, conducting keyword research or updating your branding for a fresh feel. The possibilities are endless.
- Keep up with your stock: summer is a great opportunity to get rid of any spring or winter inventory that you may have hanging around. It's a great opportunity to say out with the old, and in with the new.
Most importantly, by focusing on the bigger picture, you can use the drop of ecommerce sales in summer to boost your business for winter. At Designer Websites, we're more than happy to help you out. Take a look at what we have to offer and get in touch today!
Here at Designer Websites, we specialise in ecommerce website design as well as search engine optimisation, PPC advertising, blog writing, and a variety of other techniques that can help you to grow your customer base. Use the links below to find out more about our services.
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