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6 Awesome Cyber Monday Shopping Tips
While Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, it happens to fall on November 28th. As people return to work following the three-day holiday weekend, they start shopping online in earnest. For many of us, it’s a slow work day anyway, so why not take advantage of the time spent in front of our computers and smartphones? If you’re like many of us, you’ll be doing the same thing. To maximize your Cyber Monday and get the most out of the many deals that will be available, follow these tips and tricks. Even when it comes to Cyber Monday, there must be a method to the madness!
Do Your Research Ahead of Time
Figuring out what deals you’ll want to pursue can mean the difference between saving money and getting exactly what you were looking for, and ending the day with an empty shopping cart and disappointment. Do your research ahead of time and see which retailers are offering deals. If you have specific gifts in mind for family or friends, consider buying them on Cyber Monday – you might be able to get some great deals and save a ton of money in the process.
Be Mindful of Mobile Security
If you plan on shopping using your smartphone or tablet, remember to be mindful of mobile security. Though shopping from a secure Wi-Fi network or encrypted data plan is generally considered safe, un-secure Wi-Fi networks can leave you vulnerable to hacking and identity theft. Stick to trusted networks. You can also minimize your risks by buying mobile devices with built-in security measures. Many mobile processors, like the Snapdragon line by Qualcomm, offer advanced security features which can greatly improve your protection against malware and theft.
Create a Shopping List
Put together a shopping list ahead of time, and you can not only speed up the buying process, you can be certain that you were actually able to buy everything you had intended to. The last thing you want is for Tuesday to roll around when you suddenly remember that you failed to buy the flat screen television that was available at 50 percent off! Don’t make that mistake! Put together a list and stick to it.
Watch for Deals All Weekend
The weekend following Thanksgiving, you’re likely to see promotions for all types of sales. If you’d like to save money, keep an eye out for deals that might interest you – particularly deals for Cyber Monday. Look for advertisements online, keep an eye out for television and radio commercials promoting Cyber Monday specials, and rummage through your junk mail before throwing it into the trash or recycle bin. There might just be an offer or two that you actually like!
Don’t Miss Email Promotions
The odds are good that your inbox is going to be inundated with emails in the days leading up to Cyber Monday. For once, you might want to actually open them before sending them to the trash. Why? Because Cyber Monday is all about the deals, and you will likely find that you can save on some of your favorite items (particularly if you receive emails from your favorite retailers). Not only that, but Cyber Monday emails can be pretty clever, too. If you’re already planning to shop online on the Monday after Thanksgiving, why not open up those emails and see if there are any deals that interest you?
Follow Your Favorite Retailers on Social Media
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook users should consider following their favorite retailers online. And not just because this will allow them to see what promotions are being offered, but because in some cases, retailers offer promotions that are exclusive to social media. It’s easy for marketers to determine the effectiveness of their social media campaigns when they can track sales directly to the source. If you follow your favorite clothing company on Instagram or Facebook, you might just find a special promotion just for you (well, you, and the tens of thousands of other fans who follow them online)!
