Leverage Social Media to Make Cyber Monday Work For You

Cyber Monday is right around the corner and it's remarkable how quickly this unofficial holiday has become so significant for consumers and retailers alike. A well-executed Cyber Monday strategy can dramatically affect the bottom line of an organization.

Last year Cyber Monday was the first billion-dollar day in e-tail, and Cyber Monday 2012 is predicted to break the billion-dollar barrier again. As consumers log on ready to spend, make sure your deal is top of mind with these strategies:

1. OFFER YOUR BEST: Give em the best deal you've got. Consumers are smart. They're going to hunt for the best value and most aggressive discounts. This is not the time to play small. Competition is fierce and you want your deal to be so attractive, that people can't help but talk about it. Be creative. Be outrageous. Be generous. Make an offer a savvy consumer wouldn't refuse.
2. REWARD FANS: Give something back to those who dig your product. Especially those who like your company on Facebook or are otherwise following you. At some point, they were inspired enough to choose to stay connected--isn't that a wildly attractive quality in a customer? Of course it is. Reward their loyalty and use the opportunity to exceed their expectations. Not only will it strengthen your connection, but they're likely to tell their friends or followers. By rewarding them, they'll reward you.
3. RECRUIT NEW FANS: Take a cue from Groupon and seize the opportunity to invite new customers with an irresistible offer. Yes, it will boost your sales for a day, but more importantly you'll have an opportunity to build your fan base, followers, and email subscribers. Make the offer exclusive to people who agree to stay in touch by offering incentives to those who like you, follow you, or subscribe to your newsletter. You're planting the seeds for future sales and new fans of your brand.

Taylor Holiday is the director of Digital Strategy and Head of LF l Social for Lucid Fusion, a digital agency.