In a perfect world, we would have our Christmas shopping finalised weeks before the big day, all wrapped under the tree and ready to go.
In the fast-moving world we live in, it is almost normal to leave shopping until the last minute. The only caveat is that, with most stores online now, we often rely too heavily on our postal system to dispatch and deliver quicker than ever.
You know the feeling. You have ordered something too close to a deadline, be it Christmas, a birthday or even an event. Each day you desperately check the tracking, and when no movement occurs, panic sets in. It can be frustrating, and even if the brand you ordered from is not at fault, you are tempted to message them to see if there is anything they can do.
Now, if you have done it before, your customers have likely done the same. And they are likely to do the same this year as Christmas creeps up on us once more. So, what are you doing to guarantee they know key cut-off dates and shipping deadlines long before they place that last-minute order?
Here is what we recommend:
Send a plain-text shipping cut-off announcement
Telling customers plainly when they should order by is one of the best ways to inspire orders while preventing a mass of customer service enquiries down the track. Understand how long your packages usually need to arrive, then add a few days as a buffer.
Just a quick note on Christmas shipping. We dispatch all orders within 48 hours from our Melbourne warehouse. To receive your order before Christmas, please order by the dates below.
Remind customers where you dispatch from and how long dispatch usually takes, so they understand the true lead time from order to delivery. Keep it simple, it is more cut-through this way. But do not assume everyone will open or read it.
Use your announcement bar to your advantage
An announcement bar above the logo in your emails can continually communicate shipping cut-offs. Not everyone will read it, but those who do get quick access to their order deadlines.
Try colouring these bars so they stand out more than usual. They are easily missed, especially when customers are skimming.
Use repeatable blocks in your emails
Adding a graphic under your body copy can serve as a strong reminder about cut-off times. This lands better on the eye-line than an announcement bar, especially for skimmers, so it is more likely to catch attention.
Keep the text short and sharp.
Don't promise shipping
Where possible, add a short clause to your shipping graphics and emails to protect against delays outside your control.
Ready when you are
Make sure it ships in time for Christmas
We can help you communicate clearly to your customers in the lead-up to Christmas, so no message is lost in translation. Not sure where to begin? Get in touch with our team to find out more.
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