When the going gets tough, the tough, apparently, go shopping. Thanks in large part to social media marketing and online branding (mixed with insane store hours), Thanksgiving weekend racked up an estimated $52.4 billion in retail sales according to CNN and a survey from the National Retail Federation. This number is up 61 percent from last year’s $45 billion. Despite an national income that behaves more like a stalled-out car than a skyward-bound rocket, retail is back — and this is great news for online retailers, who hope to cash in big for today’s Cyber Monday madness.
Internet retailers wisely offered deals and discounts in hopes of taking a chunk out of Black Friday sales figures, and that plan that paid off. Online sales on Thanksgiving Day jumped up 39.3 percent and were up 24.3 percent on Black Friday compared to sales on the same days in 2010. Early buzz built around online shopping deals will turn help out Cyber Monday, too. Online tracking firm ComScore says it projects Cyber Monday sales to hit $1.2 billion, up from $1 billion last year. Online giants like Amazon and iTunes are, of course, throwing their hats into the discount ring, but the real Cyber Monday story is how hip shopping websites like Fab.com and OpenSky are really using the day to lure in new customers with huge savings.
And other online businesses, including travel sites, are utilizing Cyber Monday to offer bargains in arenas that might not usually be thought of as gift ideas. Social media marketing is working overtime to alert folks of the latest shopping specials. Specialized and strategic content can be created to ignite social and online channels with news of your online business genius. There’s a sense of empowerment and can-do spirit behind Cyber Monday this year, as online companies of all sizes are marching forward to be part of our collective renewed shopping interest — and we love it!
So, readers, what is your Cyber Monday game plan? Any personal success stories you’d like to share? And what site has the best deals going on today? Sound off below!
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