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If you’re launching an ecommerce store in mid-August, dreaming of big sales during the Christmas rush, the next three months are packed with opportunity. I’ve found that a well-crafted runway plan can make all the difference when breaking into the crowded holiday shopping market.
With Christmas sales ramping up as early as November, every week you spend preparing now lays the groundwork for the best quarter of the year. There is a caveat to what I am saying. Adam Morrison built an online store for me. But that does not mean automatic success. I am a pro at Search Engine Optimization aka SEO.
Adam handed me a gem. I am going to get that gem seen through my hard work and ingenuity!
Factoid: Black Friday is named so because many businesses do not start making money for the year until the Holiday shopping season begins. The word Black in Black Friday is an accounting term that means being profitable. While being in the red means that you have not yet started to make money. Instead you are losing money. The Holiday and Christmas shopping season therefore is a great time for business owners including Ecommerce stores to make a lot of money.
Turning their fortunes from bad to good for the year.
Big Announcement Adam Morrison Built My Ecommerce Store
This is so cool and exciting. I am so excited that Adam Morrison in coordination with Shopify built me an e-commerce store just in time for Christmas. Let me share with you what that means search engine optimization wise. I believe that a good 3 month ramp up for a new website or online store is what you need to be successful. Of course that is when you don ‘t have 6 or 9 months. Which would be much better.
My goal for this blog is as follows.
- Demonstrate to you that mid August is not too late for you to get in on the holiday shopping fun as an Online Marketer and business owner
- Search Engine Optimization is the Yellow Brick Road to Riches
- Focus on Your Products
- Get Your Site Ready for Commerce
- Nail down what people want and need you are a servant of the people
- Be consistently Building no rush needed
- Keep Growing , Researching and Learning
By the end of this blog my goal is that you understand why I say that Adam has created an online store for me just in time for Christmas!!! It will take 2-3 months for me to lay down the SEO framework that will have my site buzzing with customers.
Christmas shopping really starts at the beginning of November and even sooner if you can believe it. I will be ready and you can too!
My Goal: I expect to make at least 100 sales by Christmas on the low end. 1000 non PPC sales by January 1st is my goal. Do you think I can do it?
Seasonal Awareness Helps To Sell Great Products
Don ‘t try to rebuild the wheel here my friends. The Search engines are popping for Back to school right now. In a few months it will be popping for Fall clothes. And of course in the Holiday Christmas shopping season the search engines will be going crazy for gift shopping. Procure your products based on the seasons. Make sure you find a few great products in each category and push those products. GET PEOPLE ‘S ATTENTION and don ‘t let them go!!!!!
I would not think of myself as a great salesman. I think my greatest asset is how much I care and and my passion. So when I build a brand and a business through my online store. It is important for me to find products that are great and needed. Products that I can be proud selling and that my customers truly want and need.
Keep the great products coming and get them in front of the people! I will be a success and you will too. Plenty of opportunities for us Online Marketers and Business owners to make a lot of money.
Building a Strong Foundation: Month 1 (August to September)
Kicking off an online store in August puts me in prime position to catch the early buzz for fall and the holidays. Setting clear goals is the first thing I check off my list. Knowing how many products I want to sell by Christmas and what kind of revenue I’m aiming for helps keep me focused and driven.
Products , Products, Products!
Product research is super important right now. I look for what’s trending for back to school, Fall Festivals, and early Christmas gift ideas. Suppliers who can handle quick turnaround times and maintain quality are high on my list. Reliable inventory means fewer headaches when the orders start flowing in.
SEO is King
I start planting rich keywords into my product listings and blog posts. Search engines take time to notice new stores, usually around 90 days. The earlier I start, the sooner I’ll see that boost. My titles, descriptions, and blog topics all use phrases shoppers are already searching for, like “unique Christmas gifts 2024,” “holiday gift ideas for teens,” and “festive home decor online.”
Sales Tributaries
Getting Shopify and other essential integrations sorted out is another big step that I will be working towards. Features like automated email marketing, easy product review plugins, abandoned cart recovery, and shipping calculators are in the works. This way, shoppers get a smooth experience and I have more power to turn browsers into buyers.
Content Creation and Early Promotion: Rolling Into Month 2 (September to October)
By the start of September, I’m creating a content calendar that covers fall, Fall festivals, and leads right into early Christmas teasers. Social media posts, shorts videos, and blog articles share my story and highlight new arrivals. Instagram Reels, Facebook Lives, and TikTok trends all have a place in my playbook.
Hit the Block Running
Passing out flyers might seem a bit old school, but it’s a budget friendly way to grab local attention. I’ve had good results pairing flyers with QR codes that drive people straight to my store, or using small discounts to entice first-time customers.
SEO Reach
Building backlinks is part of my long game. Guest posts, product reviews by micro influencers, and posts in local online communities all help get my brand recognized by Google. Strong backlinks mean higher authority and a better shot at ranking just as holiday shoppers start searching.
Stay in Touch
This is also when I turn up email list growth. Every new blog post or promo gets paired with a call-to-action for a holiday shopping guide or a VIP discount code. This saves me from last-minute scrambling to generate traffic once Black Friday and Cyber Monday hit. In addition, I dedicate some time to reaching out to niche forums and subreddits around gift giving, sharing useful content rather than hard selling so as to avoid spam and build goodwill in communities that care about the holidays.
Peak Prep and Going All In: Month 3 (October to Early November)
The final month before Christmas chaos is all about tightening up what I’ve built. I look at analytics to learn which products and blog posts are driving the most traffic and which social media platforms are getting the most traction. This helps me double down on what’s working.
Welcome to the Fun!
I will launch pre-Christmas promotions right as Halloween winds down. Early-bird deals for email subscribers, countdowns to Black Friday, and cart reminders are some of my go-to tactics. I start scheduling ad spends for Facebook, Instagram, and Google Shopping to pick up more eyeballs, making sure each ad is seasonally relevant and features enticing holiday imagery.
Holiday themed product photos, special bundles, and festive landing pages help set the tone in my store. I remind myself to keep shipping cutoffs clear and visible so there are no surprises for last-minute shoppers wanting gifts by December 25th. another great idea if you have your own products to ship.
Spend time reviewing packaging, making sure orders look great when they arrive—everyone loves a holiday package that feels special.
My goal is to have a holiday store that’s easy to browse, feels festive, and solves problems for my customers, such as offering gift wrapping or including personalized notes in shipped orders. Another great idea is to have a quick holiday Q&A in your store’s footer to answer common questions about shipping and returns to help lower the number of support requests during crunch time.
Seasonal Focus: Mixing It Up for Maximum Impact
Working with the seasons is vital. My hope is that shining a light on each season keeps my store feeling current. In August, back to school products lead the way. By September, fall decor and Halloween goods push me into popular searches. When Halloween is over, Christmas and winter gear take over. This seasonal switch up keeps my SEO and social feeds full of what shoppers want right now.
Season smart keyword research is ongoing. I will use tools like Google Trends and Ahrefs to spot new search queries. Adding “Christmas 2024 gifts,” “holiday deals online,” and “personalized ornaments” to my list of target keywords as the year wraps up. Additionally, I look for gaps in last year’s holiday trends to figure out where I can stand out this season—whether that’s ecofriendly gifts, unique stocking stuffers, or limited run items.
Optimizing Store Performance: SEO, Backlinks, and Integrations
SEO is the bedrock of my runway plan. Every product listing, meta title, and description gets tuned for seasonal and evergreen searches. Blog posts answer popular questions like “How do I pick a great Christmas gift?” or “What’s trending for holiday decor?” Linking between posts helps both Google and shoppers browse my store without hassle.
Backlinks build slowly. Connecting with bloggers, influencers, and contributing to gift guides or teaming up with holiday event organizers is worth the effort. These connections not only help me climb the search results but also pull in new buyers from audiences that trust those voices.
Shopify’s integrations make daily management easier. Reviews platforms help grow trust, email automation turns browsing into sales, and well placed popups keep collecting email addresses. Chatbots are a solid addition for answering FAQs and handling customer worries when things get busy. I also take time each week to give everything a once-over—checking that carts work, coupon codes apply, and the contact page routes emails properly.
Troubleshooting: Common Hurdles and How I Handle Them
- Slow Search Engine Growth: Three months can feel like forever when waiting for Google to pick up on a new store. I stay busy with content and social buzz so traffic isn’t totally reliant on search early on. Consistency pays in the long run.
- Inventory Surprises: I keep regular check-ins with suppliers and pad my inventory with best sellers. Having a backup plan, such as drop shipping or fast-tracked local suppliers, helps me avoid missing big orders because of stockouts.
- Ad Budget Challenges: Spending can balloon during the holidays. I set daily and overall ad budgets and pause underperforming ads without hesitation. Keeping a close eye on conversion rates is crucial.
- Tech Issues: Shopify is reliable, but even the best platforms hit snags. I always keep customer support details handy and routinely test my checkout process from a customer’s viewpoint. Quick fixes can make or break a sale.
- Keeping Content Fresh: Batching photos and social posts for upcoming weeks frees me up during the peak season to focus on fulfillment and customer service.
Quick Tips for a Successful Ecommerce Christmas
- Start early with SEO: Rich keywords in product titles and descriptions are at the heart of my approach.
- Create shareworthy social content: Festive product demos, quick holiday tips, and behind-the-scenes posts work wonders.
- Use flyers and in-person promos: Sometimes going with simple, local outreach brings in new shoppers.
- Simplify the checkout: Fewer clicks, quicker payment options, and clear shipping details mean smoother holiday shopping.
- Push for reviews: I ask every buyer for feedback to grow trust quickly as new shoppers visit.
- Analyze and adapt: Tracking results lets me shift my efforts fast and ditch what isn’t working.
FAQs: Making the Most of Your Three Month Runway
How long does it really take for Google to start ranking my products?
It usually takes about three months for new ecommerce stores to see real movement in search rankings. I focus on building high-quality listings and steady content from the beginning, knowing the results will arrive just as the holiday rush peaks.
Is it worth handing out flyers with a new online store?
Flyers are surprisingly effective for building local buzz, especially with a discount. I’ve found that QR codes and catchy deals bridge the gap between offline and online shoppers without breaking the bank.
Do I need pro product photos from day one?
Quality photos always help, but natural light, clean backgrounds, and a phone go a long way for starters. Upgrading as I grow makes sense but isn’t essential in the beginning.
Best way to manage shipping for Christmas?
I put cutoff dates for guaranteed Christmas delivery on every product page and send reminders out via email and socials. Quicker shipping choices and solid communication help set realistic expectations for buyers, reducing stress close to Christmas.
Final Thoughts
The three month runway to Christmas holds plenty of chances to build momentum and win over customers who might stick around all year. Each move, from SEO basics and engaging content to smooth shopping, gives me a better shot at busy sales and repeat buyers. If you’re launching ecommerce now or need to shake up your holiday strategy, this is the best time to get to work and make this season your most successful yet.
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