Estimated read time: 2 minutes, 33 seconds
Cyber Weekend isn’t just Cyber Weekend anymore — it’s the kickoff to an extended season of opportunity. What used to be a single sales surge has grown into weeks of elevated demand, where preparation determines lasting success.
At FastSpring, we’re here to help you handle the surge, delight customers, and maximize sales well beyond the weekend itself.
Here’s your step-by-step game plan to stay ahead of the competition and maximize every opportunity.
1. Lock In Website Performance
- Stress-Test Your Site: Simulate peak traffic to make sure your store won’t slow down or crash.
- Streamline the Checkout: Eliminate friction so shoppers can move from cart to confirmation in seconds. Reduce checkout to as few clicks as possible — no unnecessary forms or fields — and offer plenty of different payment methods.
2. Play to Win With Conversions
- Optimize Product Pages: Use A/B testing to refine layouts, calls-to-action, and copy.
- Maximize Conversation Rates: Offer local currencies, payment methods, and regionalized experiences. The more familiar the journey, the higher the likelihood of conversion.
3. Prep Your Fulfillment and Inventory
- Forecast With Data: Review past sales to anticipate this year’s best sellers.
- Stock up on Licenses: Ensure that you have sufficient licenses uploaded to meet the increased demand.
- Check Your Systems: Confirm fulfillment workflows are ready to deliver without bottlenecks.
4. Create Offers That Stand Out
- Bundle and Discount: Craft compelling promotions and bundles that shoppers can’t ignore.
- Offer Smart Coupons: Use multi-discount options and FastSpring’s Combine Discounts feature for maximum impact.
5. Run Practice Drills: Test Everything (Twice!)
- Be Thorough: Products, coupons, checkout flows, and license keys — test them all.
- Prepare for Scale: One small glitch at scale can cost a lot of money. Don’t leave it to chance.
6. Kick Off Marketing Early
- Go Live Before the Rush: Launch campaigns now — across email, social, and ads.
- Build Buzz: Use countdowns, sneak peeks, and reminders to generate excitement.
7. Defend Against Threats
- Secure Your Site: Cyber threats spike with higher traffic. Protect your data and your shoppers.
- Trust FastSpring’s Defence: Our fraud prevention engine is your shield at checkout.
8. Coach Your Support Team
- Prepare for Game Day: Train your team to resolve payment and order questions fast.
- Tap Into FastSpring: Keep customer interactions seamless with our extensive resources. From detailed documentation to OwlBot, our AI-powered support tool, we’ve got everything you need to resolve queries quickly and confidently.
9. Manage Payment Hurdles
- Expect Some Declines: High volume = higher likelihood of declines.
- Have a Backup Plan: Guide customers to alternate payment methods while FastSpring filters out risky transactions.
10. Play the Long Game: Post-Purchase Retention
- Follow Up Strong: Thank-you emails, loyalty discounts, and re-engagement campaigns build lasting connections.
- Think Beyond the Weekend: Convert Cyber Weekend shoppers into holiday-season regulars and year-round fans.
FastSpring: Your Partner for the Full Season
Cyber Weekend is just the starting whistle. With FastSpring’s all-in-one payment platform — from checkout, to fraud protection, to global tax handling — you’ll be ready to win the weekend and the extended sales season ahead.
Sign up for a free account or request a demo today.
Ryan Carney is a Platform Support Specialist who problem-solves behind the scenes to help sellers resolve complex issues and keep things running smoothly. Outside of work, Ryan stays active and challenge ready with a wide range of sports and physical hobbies.
