19 Tips to Retain BFCM Shoppers and Boost Loyalty

Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) is one of the most profitable periods for any retailer, especially for Shopify store owners. In fact, TRIBBUTE reports that their managed eCommerce campaigns saw a 30% YoY conversion growth. 

However, once the dust settles and the influx of BFCM shoppers diminishes, the challenge remains: how to retain BFCM shoppers and increase loyalty. To capitalize on the momentum and convert these shoppers into repeat buyers, implementing a robust post-BFCM retention strategy is essential.

This article will guide you through effective strategies to retain those shoppers and turn them into loyal, long-term customers. 

Key Takeaways

• Use Loyalty Programs to keep BFCM shoppers coming back by rewarding them for future purchases.
• Personalized Email Campaigns using Shopify’s integrations can increase post-BFCM engagement and drive repeat sales.
• Track Repeat Purchases on Shopify to identify loyal customers and offer them tailored promotions.
• Mobile Optimization on Shopify ensures a smooth shopping experience, driving higher post-BFCM retention rates.
• Effective Cross-Selling and Upselling using Shopify apps can significantly increase your AOV and encourage repeat purchases.

What is BFCM?

BFCM, or Black Friday Cyber Monday, is a time when consumers flock to online stores for major sales, typically offering deep discounts. It's a period that kicks off the holiday shopping season, and for Shopify store owners, it often brings in the most traffic and highest sales volume of the year. 

However, the key to success doesn’t stop with the initial spike in sales; converting these shoppers into repeat customers is essential for sustained growth. How to retain BFCM shoppers and keep them engaged year-round is the challenge retailers face after the holidays.

Also Read: Add Variant Selector on Shopify Collection Pages

Once you’ve attracted BFCM shoppers, here are the essential tips to keep them loyal to your brand long after the sales.

19 Tips to Retain BFCM Shoppers and Increase Loyalty

As BFCM shoppers flock to your store for limited-time deals, retaining them through personalized experiences is essential. Here are 19 proven strategies tailored for building long-term customer loyalty and repeat business. 

1. Launch a Strategic Loyalty Program

A strategic loyalty program helps you keep BFCM shoppers coming back. By offering rewards for repeat purchases, you incentivize customers to continue shopping at your store. For example, offer a points system where shoppers can earn rewards for every purchase. With Shopify, you can easily integrate apps like Smile.io to create personalized loyalty programs, which will improve customer retention post-BFCM.

2. Offer Exclusive Early Access to VIPs

Reward your most loyal customers with exclusive early access to future sales or special promotions. Shopify allows you to easily tag VIP customers or segment them for personalized emails or special offers. Early access to deals makes your shoppers feel valued and strengthens their emotional connection with your brand, encouraging them to return.

3. Create Tiered Discounts & Smart Bundles

Use tiered discounts and smart bundles to encourage larger purchases and increase customer lifetime value. For example, offering discounts based on purchase thresholds, like “10% off on orders over $100,” encourages customers to spend more. Combine this with bundled product offers on Shopify to help customers discover more products and save while shopping.

4. Run a High-Impact Refer-a-Friend Campaign

A refer-a-friend campaign is an effective strategy to expand your customer base while retaining existing shoppers. Offer rewards, such as discounts or free products, for both the referrer and the new customer. Shopify makes it easy to set up referral programs through apps, which will help improve customer retention by creating a word-of-mouth marketing channel.

5. Optimize Your Site for Mobile & Speed

The majority of online shopping is done on mobile devices, especially during BFCM. Ensuring your Shopify store is mobile-optimized and loads quickly is essential for retaining shoppers. A slow website can drive potential repeat customers away. Use Shopify’s built-in mobile optimization tools or apps like PageSpeed to ensure your site is responsive and fast.

6. Build Urgency with Flash Sales & Countdown Timers

Flash sales and countdown timers create urgency, prompting customers to make purchases quickly. Adding urgency to your offers is an excellent way to drive quick sales while maintaining excitement after BFCM. Shopify’s apps like Hurrify can easily integrate countdown timers into your store to encourage immediate action.

7. Use User-Generated Content (UGC) in Ads

User-generated content (UGC), such as customer reviews or social media photos of your products, is a powerful tool for building trust and engagement. Use UGC in your ads to create authentic, relatable marketing content. Shopify’s integration with platforms like Instagram and Facebook makes it easy to showcase real-life experiences, increasing conversion rates and customer loyalty.

8. Prepare Your Customer Service with a Q&A

Providing excellent customer service during and after BFCM is essential for retaining shoppers. Set up a Q&A section or live chat feature on your Shopify store to address customer queries quickly. Use chatbots or AI-powered support to handle frequent questions efficiently, ensuring customers feel supported throughout their shopping experience.

9. Create a BFCM-Specific Gift Guide

Gift guides are a great way to capture interest from your BFCM shoppers, especially during the holiday season. Create a BFCM-specific gift guide to help your customers make their next purchase. Shopify’s easy-to-use design tools allow you to feature top products, best sellers, or seasonal items in one convenient guide that entices shoppers to return.

10. Implement a "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) Option

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options have become incredibly popular in recent years, especially during big sales events. Shopify integrates with providers like Klarna and Afterpay, allowing your customers to purchase now and pay later, which can help increase conversions and encourage repeat business. This feature is particularly valuable to shoppers who may hesitate to make larger purchases.

11. Use AI to Personalize the Experience

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help you deliver personalized experiences to your customers. With AI-powered tools on Shopify, you can recommend products based on a shopper's browsing history and preferences. Personalized recommendations enhance the shopping experience and increase the likelihood of a repeat purchase. How to retain BFCM shoppers effectively? Make use of AI-driven personalization.

12. Plan Your Post-BFCM Retention Strategy

Your post-BFCM retention strategy should be set in motion before the sales event even begins. Think about how you’ll follow up with customers after they’ve made a purchase. Email campaigns, loyalty program notifications, and special offers can help you maintain engagement and keep shoppers coming back after the rush.

13. Promote Email List, SMS, and Push Notification Sign-Ups

Building your email list, SMS list, and push notifications after BFCM is essential for staying in touch with your customers. Use Shopify's email marketing tools to send personalized offers, reminders, and updates on new products, keeping your brand top-of-mind for repeat business.

14. Send a Warm Thank-You Email

A simple thank-you email can go a long way in building loyalty. Personalize it with customer-specific details, like a recent purchase, and offer an exclusive discount or reward. Shopify's email templates make it easy to express appreciation and encourage future purchases.

15. Cross-sell and Upsell During the Purchase

Cross-selling and upselling are great ways to increase average order value and keep customers engaged. Recommend complementary products or premium versions of items already in the cart. Shopify apps like Bold Upsell and ReConvert make it easy to set up these techniques during the checkout process.

Also Read: How to Complete Your Shopify Signup in 7 Quick Steps

16. Keep the BFCM Momentum with Your Loyalty Program

Your loyalty program can carry the momentum from BFCM into the future. Encourage repeat purchases by rewarding customers with points or discounts for every order they make. Shopify’s integration with loyalty apps allows you to easily maintain engagement beyond BFCM.

17. Offer Subscriptions to Encourage Repeat Purchases

Subscription-based models can drive consistent revenue and customer loyalty. Offering subscriptions for products that customers need regularly, like consumables or essentials, can increase repeat purchases. Shopify’s subscription integration makes it simple to manage recurring billing and offer customers flexibility in their purchases.

18. Provide Exceptional Customer Support

Excellent customer support is key to building long-term loyalty. Respond to inquiries quickly and offer personalized solutions for any issues. Be it through live chat, email, or social media, providing top-notch support on Shopify helps ensure customers stay satisfied and return for future purchases.

19. Build a Smooth Shipping Experience

A smooth shipping experience ensures customer satisfaction and loyalty. Offer transparent shipping times, track orders, and provide updates throughout the delivery process. Shopify’s built-in shipping tools allow you to offer real-time tracking and choose the best carriers to improve your customers’ overall experience.

To keep your BFCM shoppers coming back, StarApps Studio offers the perfect tools to enhance their shopping journey. With Variant Image Automator, ensure seamless product image updates, while Color Swatch King simplifies variant selection. 

To ensure your strategies worked, let’s discuss how to measure your post-BFCM success with Shopify’s customer lifetime value metrics.

Measuring Post-BFCM Marketing Success with Customer Lifetime Value on Shopify

After BFCM, Shopify store owners need to assess how well they’ve retained customers and if their marketing efforts have paid off. In the Shopify marketplace, tracking CLV and using key metrics can help you optimize your post-BFCM strategy and ensure your customer retention is on track.

1. Lifetime Revenue

Lifetime Revenue on Shopify refers to the total revenue generated by a customer over the entire duration of their relationship with your store. By tracking revenue generated during BFCM and comparing it with future purchases, you can identify which customers are more likely to bring in higher revenue. This helps Shopify store owners focus marketing efforts on nurturing high-value customers who provide the best long-term returns.

2. Profitability

For Shopify stores, Profitability is a key metric that reflects how much profit each customer contributes to your business. After BFCM, measuring profitability helps you determine if your retention efforts are truly yielding positive returns or if the discounts offered during BFCM are impacting your margins. By analyzing which customer segments generate the highest profits, you can refine your marketing to cater to your most profitable audience.

3. Churn Rate

Churn Rate indicates how many customers stop purchasing from your Shopify store over a specific period. A high churn rate post-BFCM suggests that customers may have been lured by discounts and may not return. By tracking churn, Shopify store owners can identify areas to improve, like customer service, product offerings, or loyalty initiatives, to ensure that customers remain engaged and make repeat purchases.

4. Customer Engagement Score

Your Customer Engagement Score is an important metric to track after BFCM. It measures how often and how deeply customers interact with your Shopify store. This could include actions like opening marketing emails, engaging with your brand on social media, or using loyalty program features. A higher engagement score means that your customers are not just one-time buyers but are actively involved with your brand, increasing the likelihood of future purchases.

5. Repeat Purchase Rate

The Repeat Purchase Rate is vital for Shopify store owners to measure the effectiveness of post-BFCM retention strategies. This metric tells you how often customers return to make additional purchases after BFCM. A high repeat purchase rate indicates that your retention efforts, like loyalty programs and personalized offers, are working. You can track this easily on Shopify with apps that track customer behavior, allowing you to refine your strategies to increase repeat business.

6. Average Order Value (AOV)

Average Order Value (AOV) is an essential metric for Shopify store owners, as it tells you the average amount a customer spends per order. After BFCM, measuring AOV helps you understand if customers are still purchasing at high amounts or if the purchases drop after the discounts end. Increasing your AOV through strategies like cross-selling, upselling, or offering bundled discounts can significantly increase your profits in the long term.

7. Purchase Frequency

Purchase Frequency tracks how often a customer makes a purchase from your Shopify store over a set period. After BFCM, this metric allows you to determine if customers are buying from you more frequently, which is a positive indicator of loyalty. A higher purchase frequency means that your engagement efforts are leading to regular shopping habits, enhancing long-term profitability.

Also Read: How to Display Color Variants in Shopify Collection Pages

Next, let’s examine how StarApps Studio’s tools can help retain BFCM shoppers and boost customer loyalty well into the future.

Optimize BFCM Shopper Retention and Loyalty with StarApps Studio's Powerful Tools

As BFCM brings a flood of new customers, your goal is to turn those first-time shoppers into repeat buyers. To achieve that, your store needs to offer a seamless shopping experience, optimize product displays, and engage customers effectively. 

StarApps Studio provides a suite of powerful tools to help you retain those BFCM shoppers and build long-term customer loyalty. From optimizing product images to improving SEO and streamlining product browsing, these tools are designed to help your Shopify store enhance the shopping experience, drive conversions, and keep customers coming back.

Variant Image Automator

To retain BFCM shoppers, it’s important to provide them with a smooth, intuitive shopping experience. Variant Image Automator streamlines this by automatically assigning relevant images to each product variant, saving you time while improving the user experience. 

• Auto-Assign Variant Images: Automatically link the correct image to each variant, providing a seamless shopping experience.
• Enhanced User Experience: Only display relevant images for the selected variant, improving access and product clarity.
• Improve Conversions: Clear and organized images lead to faster purchasing decisions and reduced cart abandonment.

Color Swatch King

Color Swatch King makes it easier for customers to compare product variants directly on the collection page. By displaying color swatches, size options, or custom images, this tool provides a quick and intuitive way to compare different variants. For BFCM shoppers, this feature reduces friction by eliminating the need for customers to scroll away from the page, keeping them engaged and more likely to complete their purchase. 

• Quick Comparison: Display color swatches or images for easy comparison and quicker decision-making.
• Seamless Browsing: Keep customers on the collection page for easier access, reducing the chances of cart abandonment.
• Easy Decision Making: Display key product details like price and availability directly in the swatches to help customers make decisions faster.

Variant Title King

With Variant Title King, product titles are dynamically updated based on the selected variant, ensuring customers always know what they’re purchasing. Be it a different color, size, or style, this feature enhances transparency and minimizes confusion. By providing clearer product titles for each variant, you make it easier for BFCM shoppers to find the exact product they want, improving their overall shopping experience and boosting loyalty.

• Dynamic Product Titles: Update titles based on the selected variant for better clarity and understanding.
• Clearer Information: Ensure customers know exactly what they’re purchasing, reducing confusion and improving trust.
• Easy to Manage: Customize titles with relevant details such as SKU or product type for better product management.

Variant Descriptions King

After BFCM, retaining customers means providing them with all the information they need to make an informed purchase. Variant Descriptions King ensures that every product variant has detailed descriptions, such as size charts, care instructions, and variant-specific details. By organizing the information into tabs or accordions, the app keeps your pages clean, mobile-friendly, and easy to browse. 

• Unique Descriptions for Each Variant: Offer specific details for each product variant, improving customers' ability to make informed decisions.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: The app adapts to mobile devices, ensuring a smooth browsing experience on any screen.
• Reduces Returns: By providing clear and accurate descriptions, customers make better-informed decisions, leading to fewer returns and higher customer satisfaction.

Variant Alt Text King

Variant Alt Text King helps you improve SEO and accessibility by automatically optimizing alt text for all your product variant images. This tool ensures your store’s images are properly indexed by search engines, increasing organic traffic to your Shopify store. It also enhances accessibility for customers using screen readers, making your store more inclusive. 

• Automatic ALT Text Optimization: Automatically update alt text for all product variant images, boosting SEO.
• Improved Accessibility: Ensure your images are accessible to customers using screen readers.
• SEO Increase: Optimize your images for better search engine rankings, driving more organic traffic.

SA Variants: Combined Listings

SA Variants: Combined Listings make it easier for customers to find the product variant they’re looking for. Instead of browsing multiple pages, all variants (such as size or color) are displayed directly on the collection page. This streamlined approach to browsing enhances the shopping experience, making it more efficient for BFCM shoppers. 

• Show All Variants on Collection Page: Display multiple product variants directly on the collection page for quicker browsing.
• Organized Shopping Experience: Group related variants together for a smoother shopping experience.
• Improved SEO: Unique URLs for each variant improve search engine rankings, driving more organic traffic.

Keep your BFCM shoppers coming back for more with the power of StarApps Studio’s solutions.

Conclusion

Learning how to retain BFCM shoppers and increase loyalty requires a thoughtful and comprehensive strategy. By using tools like loyalty programs, personalized experiences, and AI-powered insights, you can keep customers engaged well after the sales rush. Maintaining momentum post-BFCM with targeted campaigns, seamless customer service, and a strong loyalty program will ensure customers return time and time again. With the right approach, your Shopify store can turn seasonal shoppers into lifelong, loyal customers.

Integrating StarApps Studio into your Shopify store is the key to retaining BFCM shoppers and building long-term loyalty. From Variant Image Automator to Color Swatch King and Variant Descriptions King, these tools optimize every aspect of your customers' shopping experience. By enhancing product images, making product details clearer, and improving SEO, you’ll create a personalized experience that encourages repeat business. 

Reach out to us today to build stronger relationships with your customers and ensure their loyalty long after BFCM!

FAQs

1. How can I use Shopify's loyalty programs to retain BFCM shoppers?

Use Shopify's loyalty apps to reward BFCM shoppers for repeat purchases, increasing engagement through point systems and personalized rewards that encourage return business.

2. What are the best post-BFCM email strategies on Shopify?

Use Shopify's email marketing integrations to send personalized offers, thank-you emails, and exclusive discounts, keeping BFCM shoppers engaged long after the sales event.

3. How do I track repeat purchases from BFCM shoppers on Shopify?

Use Shopify analytics or apps like Repeat Customer Insights to monitor purchase patterns, track repeat orders, and tailor marketing to your most loyal BFCM shoppers.

4. Can Shopify's mobile optimization impact BFCM retention?

Yes, a mobile-optimized store ensures smooth browsing and checkout, essential for retaining BFCM shoppers who increasingly shop via smartphones during and post-event.

5. What’s the best way to cross-sell and upsell post-BFCM on Shopify?

Utilize Shopify's built-in product recommendations and third-party apps to suggest complementary products or upgrades, maximizing AOV and keeping BFCM shoppers coming back for more.