Another Manic Monday has passed – AdvanceMe Business Blog

IBM reports on Cyber Monday 2011 performance

While some shoppers rushed through their Thanksgiving meals and headed to their favorite retailers, others stayed in the comfort of their home and waited until Monday to begin their Holiday shopping. In our last post, Cyber is the new Black, we introduced Cyber Monday to newbies and how previous trends can predict a greater outcome this year than Black Friday 2011.  The results are in…Thanks to IBM. Cyber is the new Black

Black Friday had a tremendous turnout to kick off this holiday shopping season however according to cloud-based analytics findings by IBM, Cyber Monday sales increased 29.3% over Black Friday. Compared to Cyber Monday 2010, sales were up 33% this year. Patrons discussed Cyber Monday Shopping via social media 115% more this year than 2010. Discussions included sharing tips on price comparison and avoiding scams.

Cyber Monday 2011 was a big hit this year; will this trend continue to beat out Black Friday? With new technology developing each year who knows how, if and when shoppers will spend a full Thanksgiving day at home and allow retail workers to clock in when the sun is up on Black Friday versus midnight.

Visit IBM’s full press release regarding Cyber Monday’s performance: http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/36113.wss

Did you participate in Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or both?

Business owners and consumers feel free to share your stories about your holiday shopping season experiences.

Cyber is the new Black – AdvanceMe Business Blog

Cyber is the new Black – Holiday season shopping trends reveal Cyber Monday may override Black Friday in the future

Cyber is the new BlackMarin Software (provider of the leading online advertising management platform for advertisers and agencies) predicted that consumers will now start looking for holiday gifts online to purchase on Cyber Monday. Page search conversions volumes have shown that if the 2011 season stays within the same lines of the 2010 season Black Friday will no longer rank as the most profitable shopping day of the year. 

What is Cyber Monday?

For those who are not aware of this unofficial shopping holiday, Cyber Monday is used as a term for online holiday shopping which takes place following Black Friday. Cyber Monday made its grand debut on November 28, 2005. 

Online Holiday shopping trends

According to Marin Software, Cyber Monday edged out Black Friday as the most profitable day for online retailers; this predicts that shoppers will begin holiday gift searches in early 2011. This software also showed, a 52% increase of paid search occurred during the 2010 holiday season.  Online retailers who invested in higher priced paid search for the 2010 holiday season received a great return on their investment due to consumers looking to the web for their holiday shopping needs.

Online shopping has become the latest convenience over the past decade. Many consumers prefer the online deals versus that traffic, crowds, and early morning stampedes during Black Friday.  Depending on the new deals, free shipping offers, and selections, Black Friday may even be the thing of the past.

To learn more about Marin Software findings on this new shopping trend, click here.

As a retailer, how are you promoting Black Friday and Cyber Monday? As a Customer, are you going to stand in line or get them online?