Unlock 25% More Sales This Black Friday

As Black Friday approaches, Shopify and Shopify Plus store owners are preparing to capture as many sales as possible during this high-stakes shopping period. Are you making the most of your store's potential? Research shows that optimised Shopify websites can increase sales by up to 25% – a figure that can make all the difference during Black Friday. In this guide, we’ll explore essential Shopify-specific optimisation strategies that can help you unlock that 25% boost, making Black Friday your most successful sales event yet.

Why Shopify Optimisation Matters for Black Friday

Black Friday brings high traffic and intense competition, with limited time to capture customer attention. Website optimisation – particularly for Shopify and Shopify Plus stores – can enhance load speed, improve user experience, and guide visitors toward making purchases. At 54 Bit Studios, we work closely with clients to ensure their Shopify websites don’t just function but excel during high-traffic periods like Black Friday.

Here are the essential Shopify optimisation tactics for maximising impact this Black Friday:

• Enhance Site Speed and Performance for Shopify
• Mobile Optimisation Is Essential for Shopify Sales
• Optimise the Shopify Customer Journey
• Simplify Shopify Checkout for Increased Conversions
• Prepare Shopify Infrastructure for High Traffic
• Implement Exit-Intent Pop-Ups with Shopify Apps

1. Enhance Site Speed and Performance for Shopify

A slow website can quickly lose shoppers to competitors, especially on Black Friday. Studies have shown that even a 1-second delay can reduce conversions by up to 7%. For Shopify and Shopify Plus stores, take advantage of these speed-enhancing measures:

• Image Optimisation: Use Shopify’s built-in image compression tools, or use an app like Crush.pics to reduce image size without losing quality.
• Theme Optimisation: Work with a developer (or ourselves!) to enhance your current theme for faster performance.
• Clean Out Third Party Apps: Most Shopify apps slow down your store, so consider removing those you no longer use / need. Ask your development partner to optimise the load behaviour on those you do need to prioritise critical resources.

Most Shopify apps slow down your store, so consider removing those you no longer use / need. Ask your development partner to optimise the load behaviour on those you do need to prioritise critical resources.

2.Mobile Optimisation Is Essential for Shopify Sales

With mobile transactions making up a significant share of e-commerce, Shopify store owners must ensure that their sites are fully mobile-optimised. On Black Friday, a substantial portion of your customers will shop via mobile, so make sure your Shopify site offers a seamless experience.

• Simplified Navigation: Ensure that your Shopify store’s mobile menu is straightforward, using clear categories so shoppers can quickly find what they need.
• One-Tap Checkout: Shopify and Shopify Plus offer mobile-friendly checkout options, including Apple Pay and Shop Pay, to streamline the buying process.
• Accelerate Mobile Load Times: Use Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) where possible or Shopify’s Mobile Optimisation tools to ensure speed.

3. Optimise the Shopify Customer Journey

A streamlined customer journey is crucial to converting browsers into buyers. Shopify offers tools to help you optimise the user experience (UX) on your site, identifying and removing barriers to purchase. Here’s how to create a seamless Shopify shopping experience:

• Clear Calls to Action (CTAs): Shopify makes it easy to add prominent, actionable CTAs like "Add to Cart" and "Buy Now." Use these strategically across product pages.
• Personalised Recommendations: Use Shopify apps like Bold Product Upsell or ReConvert to show related products or popular items, boosting basket size and engagement. If you have access to a developer, you can even implement Shopify’s own recommendations engine which is included in Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced plans.
• Highlight Black Friday Deals: Make your Black Friday deals easy to locate by setting up dedicated sections, using Shopify banners or pop-ups to showcase discounts.

At 54 Bit Studios, we help Shopify clients analyse customer behaviour and optimise the buyer journey, reducing cart abandonment and improving conversions on Black Friday.

4. Simplify Shopify Checkout for Increased Conversions

Complex checkouts drive cart abandonment – a costly mistake, especially on Black Friday. Shopify offers a robust, customisable checkout experience for both Shopify and Shopify Plus users. Optimise your checkout process by:

• Minimise Page Loads: Turn on Shopify’s One-Page Checkout which we’ve seen boost checkout completion rates by up to 27%.
• Offering Multiple Payment Options: Enable options like PayPal, Shop Pay, and Apple Pay for a smoother, faster checkout experience.
• Guest Checkout Options: Shopify supports guest checkout, allowing first-time buyers to skip the account creation process.

5. Prepare Shopify Infrastructure for High Traffic

Black Friday can strain any website, and Shopify stores are no exception. Ensuring your Shopify or Shopify Plus store is equipped to handle a traffic surge is essential. By working with a trusted Shopify partner like 54 Bit Studios, you can prepare your e-commerce platform to handle the busiest shopping day of the year.

• Leverage Shopify Plus Infrastructure: For Shopify Plus users, utilise advanced server resources and load balancing options to handle heavy traffic.
• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Shopify boasts a powerful CDN to deliver content faster, reducing latency during peak periods. Ask your developers to make sure third-party libraries and services are hosted on Shopify to minimise risks of bugs caused by any external issues.
• Guest Checkout Options: Shopify supports guest checkout, allowing first-time buyers to skip the account creation process.

6. Implement Exit-Intent Pop-Ups with Shopify Apps

If visitors are leaving without purchasing, an exit-intent pop-up can encourage them to stay. Shopify offers a range of apps that help you implement this feature, allowing you to offer a last-minute Black Friday discount or remind visitors of your top deals.

• Discount Pop-Ups: Use apps like Privy or JustUno to show exclusive offers or discounts before they exit.
• Cart Recovery: Target visitors who abandoned their cart on Black Friday using Shopify’s in-built cart abandonment features or, use the more-powerful Klaviyo to tailor messaging specific to users’ carts and the Black Friday period.

Ready to Boost Your Shopify Black Friday Sales?

By focusing on optimising your Shopify store’s speed, mobile usability, customer journey, checkout process, and infrastructure, you can unlock up to 25% more sales this Black Friday.

At 54 Bit Studios, we’re more than just a web agency – we’re your dedicated Shopify partner. As specialists in Shopify and Shopify Plus, we understand the unique demands of the platform and the importance of preparing for high-traffic events like Black Friday.

Want to see how your Shopify store performs? Get a free Shopify website audit today by filling out our contact form below!

We're offering a free Shopify optimisation audit to help identify areas for improvement before Black Friday. Visit our Shopify Black Friday checklist and tips to get started and maximise your sales potential. Don’t miss out – let us help you unlock your full Shopify sales potential.