5 Steps to Set Yourself Up for Cyber Monday Success

Everyone knows about Black Friday. With its midnight madness and jaw-dropping promotions, Black Friday became a can’t-miss event! For decades, it was the day for shoppers to find the best deals of the Christmas shopping season. But then, just as it’s done with virtually everything else in our lives, the Internet changed the face of holiday shopping.

Cyber Monday: The Origin Story
While Black Friday has long been considered the official start of the Christmas shopping season, retailers began to notice a curious trend in the early 2000s. On the Monday following Black Friday, there seemed to be a spike in online purchases—mainly between the hours of 8am-5pm. While it seemed odd at first, the trend was relatively simple to figure out.

As more and more companies shifted their business practices online during the Dot-Com Boom, employees needed Internet access. And even though participating in e-commerce may have violated more than a few corporate Internet usage policies, employees faced the irresistible convenience of shopping online. After the trend continued for several years, the term “Cyber Monday” was coined in 2005, and the online version of Black Friday became a holiday fixture.

5 Tips for Making the Most of Cyber Monday
In 2017, online consumers spent more than $6.5 billion on Cyber Monday, which was a 16.8% jump from the year before. As mobile technology continues to improve and make digital transactions easier, it’s safe to assume Cyber Monday’s popularity (and profitability) will only increase. That means whether you’re shopping from home, your smartphone, or your workplace (don’t worry, we won’t tell), there will be millions of other virtual shoppers searching for holiday bargains along with you. Luckily, you still have time to prepare your digital shopping strategy.

To make your Cyber Monday shopping experience as smooth and rewarding as possible, be sure to follow these practical tips:

• Bookmark your favorite websites. This step is the digital equivalent to planning out your Black Friday shopping route. But thanks to mobile phones and streamlined web browsers, you can mark your favorite e-tailers with just the tap of a screen or the click of a button. A little quick-and-easy planning can save you time—and money!
• Stay tuned to social media. As stores and companies look for creative ways to connect with potential customers, many are offering special deals and promo codes via social media. So before Cyber Monday rolls around, make sure you’re following your top stores on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Sign up for newsletters. While newsletters aren’t traditionally a great way to get up-to-the-minute sale details, online specialty stores occasionally offer special discounts to customers who join their mailing list. Receiving the occasional newsletter email is a small price to pay for saving big on items you love.
• Set a spending budget. We know, we know. This tip can apply to just about any shopping experience. But since making online purchases doesn’t involve manual payments for physical items, it feels effortless—and that can be expensive. So, before you load up that digital shopping cart, know how much you’re willing to pay at checkout.
• Keep an eye on your cards and accounts. Cyber Monday draws millions of customers. This is good news for retailers—but it can also provide a virtual playground for scammers and cybercriminals. Since regular monitoring is one of the best defenses against financial fraud and identity theft, don’t forget to check your banking and credit card statements for unauthorized activity.

Whether you do your holiday shopping on Cyber Monday, Black Friday, or random days throughout the year, a Holiday Club Account with us gives you a smart way to pay for your purchases. When you open one of these specialized accounts, you can set aside money all year long, earn interest on your savings, and gain access to your funds just in time for the winter holiday season. Ask us for more information today!