What better time than the holiday rush to increase your focus on your customers? After all, their decision to buy your products—or not—will directly influence your end-of-year performance. Here we outline a handful of examples of what matters most to customers as they shop for holiday gifts. And we explain how you can create a positive customer experience this holiday season.
Prices and Deals
It likely comes as no surprise that prices and deals top the list of what matters to consumers. Discounted prices and special offers can make all the difference in whether a shopper turns into a customer during the holidays. In fact, early deals and promotions during key periods were reported as being key factors in 2021 being a successful holiday season.
Having access to innovative tools that help you during a peak season is crucial. For example, Walmart’s Repricer tool helps Marketplace sellers automate and simplify pricing while closing the gap between their prices and competitors’ prices.
Variety and Options
Beyond saving money, saving time is also a priority for holiday shoppers. This means reducing the number of destinations—in person or online—needed to complete their shopping. With this in mind, it’s helpful to sell your products where customers can find a variety of brands and items so they can check multiple people off their lists at once.
Shoppers have millions of products to choose from across a range of categories when they shop at a Walmart store or on Walmart.com. This not only helps offer customers next-level convenience, but also makes it easier for Marketplace sellers to tap into cross-selling opportunities.
Positive Reviews
When selling online, your product reviews can either work for or against you. Reviews are one of the ways shoppers help build confidence in their online purchases. So, when the stakes are high during the holidays, it's a no brainer to pay even more attention to the opinions your customers are sharing publicly.
One of the best ways to earn more positive reviews is to ensure listing content is clear, accurate, and optimized. This way you can set and meet expectations during a hectic time for many. Walmart's Listing Quality dashboard is helpful in streamlining the optimization process. It ultimately can help save sellers time and drive positive feedback and sales.
Shipping Options
Up next, as an eCommerce seller, your fulfillment strategy is likely top of mind. Especially as orders increase during the holidays. So, how can you appeal to your customers? Offer fast and affordable delivery. The State of Shipping Report, 2022 proves standards are high, citing 62% of consumers expect free delivery to take less than three days.
When you sell on Walmart.com, there are several options to help make this possible. For instance, sellers can tap into an end-to-end solution through Walmart Fulfillment Services. Or they can offer quick delivery via self-serve shipping.
Return Policy
Managing returned products during and after the holidays is inevitable. Because of this, having a return policy and experience you’re comfortable with that will also remain attractive to shoppers is a must. Otherwise, shoppers may be less likely to convert if they don’t have the freedom to make returns if needed.
With Enhanced Returns, Walmart Marketplace sellers can simplify operations and make it possible for customers to return for free, in-store or online. In addition to extended return windows, Walmart customers can count on convenience and flexibility when it comes to returns.
These are just a few examples of the growing number of customer preferences. The truth is, happy customers not only become loyal, but they spread the word of their positive experience. Keep these factors in mind and sell your products through channels that will support your end-of-year success.
