You’re probably already feeling the buzz around Black Friday, the biggest shopping event of the year. Black Friday continually transforms the ways people shop worldwide. With millions of online shoppers, and customers flocking to physical stores, retailers should adapt all their marketing communications, from products to Black Friday deals making the most of this holiday shopping season.
In this blog, we will take a look at some key Black Friday statistics, spill the beans on the latest shopping trends, and explore why translation and localization are essential ingredients for success on Black Friday.
Essential Black Friday Stats You Need to Know
Black Friday has become a worldwide shopping phenomenon, not only in the United States! Online Black Friday deals reached a record-breaking $9.8 billion in 2023, a significant increase compared to the previous year.
eCommerce continues to dominate Black Friday sales. Although physical stores still see significant traffic, approximately 60% of consumers prefer online shopping over in-store shopping, as reported by WifiTalents.
Also, Black Friday has expanded beyond its U.S. roots. According to Black Friday Global, the following infographic shows how sales on Black Friday increased compared to a regular day, with Germany experiencing the largest increase of 2418%. Other countries that saw significant increases were Spain (706%), Russia (527%), and the UK (1708%).
The global average sales increase on Black Friday was 663%, indicating the event’s impact on consumer spending globally.
Black Friday Shopping Trends and Consumer Behavior
- Online Traffic
Influencer MarketingHub finds that Black Friday website traffic and conversion rates continue to surge, with 87 million online shoppers and 72 million in-store shoppers in 2022, surpassing Cyber Monday in online sales.
Ever wonder which Black Friday products experience a dramatic spike in interest? Queue shows the most popular product categories of 2023, based on the number of product views across mobile phones and websites:
- Mobile Shopping Behavior
Mobile shopping has become the go-to option for many consumers. Most Black Friday statistics indicate that shoppers now prefer to purchase from the comfort of their homes.
Sales came from mobile devices and mobile wallets for snagging the best discounts. According to Firework, Black Friday eCommerce sales are expected to exceed $10 billion in 2024, driven by buy-now-pay-later options and mobile shopping.
- Social Media Contribution
Social media is now a powerhouse for connecting with your target audience during Black Friday shopping.
Platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have emerged as a portal for consumers to grab the hottest Black Friday deals, with influencer marketing making a great impact. A targeted social media campaign can bring more customers to your store on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For example, Nintendo used X to promote a limited edition bundle of new and existing product lines on Black Friday. They shared an unboxing video and added strategic hashtags to boost visibility.
- Cross-Border Shopping
Black Friday isn’t limited to local customers anymore. Cross-border shopping continues to rise, with international consumers eager to join in on the shopping event.
Sender reports that 15% of global orders are now cross-border sales, indicating that Black Friday is expanding far beyond U.S. borders and becoming a truly international shopping event.
This means that more online shoppers worldwide take advantage of enormous discounts which makes it necessary for companies to cater to international consumers.
The Importance of Translation and Localization for Black Friday Success
- Language and Cultural Barriers
Cultural and linguistic differences can quickly turn potential customers away from the brand, resulting in lost sales. International consumers are more inclined to interact with brands that deliver content in their native language and align with their cultural preferences.
Therefore, retailers must invest in translation and localization services to make all marketing materials accessible in multiple languages, which can increase engagement and revenues.
- Localized Marketing Materials
Whether it’s an application, website content, product description, marketing messages, product offerings, or even your Black Friday deals, localizing all marketing materials is key.
This is because it helps you appeal more to your target markets, boost a sense of affinity with the brand, and keep your product top-of-mind. Additionally, it helps you foster customer loyalty and shows that you’re a part of their community.
- Multilingual Customer Support
Connecting with customers in their native language can change the whole shopping experience!
No matter if it’s live chat, email, or even a chatbot, multilingual customer support builds long-term loyalty with international Black Friday shoppers and ensures that your customers feel valued and understood.
- Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Every market is different, and each audience has their own shopping behavior. For this reason, you can’t assume that effective SEO tactics in one country will work in another.
If global customers can’t find you in search results, you might miss the chance to make sales on Black Friday. When targeting a local customer base, consult an in-country SEO specialist to optimize your website with relevant keywords in different languages. By doing this, you will rank higher in search results and increase the likelihood of a Black Friday purchase.
Reach New Markets This Black Friday: A Limited-Time Offer on All TransPalm Language Services
Are you ready to expand your reach this Black Friday? We’ve got you covered. Our expert translation and localization services will help you deliver a seamless shopping experience to international customers. And to make it even sweeter, we provide a 5% discount on all our language services for Black Friday! Don’t miss out on this special offer and contact us today.
