Singles’ Day, first observed in China in 1993 as an unofficial holiday, has now amassed popularity in many other parts of the world. Those not in a romantic relationship in the UAE & Jordan celebrate it every year too, and shopping is an integral and fun part of the day. Singles tend to pamper themselves generously and even send gifts to single friends! And that translates to a massive opportunity for you as an ecommerce business owner. So, with 11^th November knocking on the door, go through some effective tips on how you can sell and earn more on Singles’ Day 2024.

8 Strategies to Boost Ecommerce Sales on Singles’ Day

Last year, the total global sales recorded on Singles’ Day or Double Eleven was a staggering USD 156.4 billion. So, it makes complete sense to cash in on the shopping frenzy associated with the occasion. Here is what you can do:

1. Consider Exclusive Deals and Limited-Time Offers: Bundle deals, big discounts, and buy-one-get-one offers can get you a lot more traffic on National Singles’ Day, just like any other holiday. You can also introduce a tiered discount system, where the customer gets a higher discount when they spend more. Limited-time offers are also a great way to create a sense of urgency and FOMO. You can alert shoppers about low stock or use countdown timers for that. Free shipping and free gift on certain purchases can also reel in more customers.
2. Make the Site Mobile-Friendly: By optimizing your website or e-store for mobile devices, you can draw young, single, and tech-savvy shoppers in droves. So, make your site rich in visuals, easy to navigate, and all elements responsive. Go easy on text and only showcase crucial product details to drive easy decision-making. Make sure the site loads fast and pop-ups are not interruptive.
3. Promote the Right Products: On Singles’ Day 2024, highlighting products that align with the single lifestyle is a smart way to augment your sales. You can also have a special landing page for the same. From self-care kits, headphones, tees and cushions with fun messages, to massagers, organizers, quirky mugs, candles, hobby kits, and robes, there are many things to promote on the special occasion to entice singles.
4. Lend a Personal Touch: Leverage analytics tools to study past customer data on their navigation and shopping behaviors. Look into metrics like order frequency and volume, payment modes, time spent on website, pages visited, and products ordered. You can then personalize product recommendations and boost conversions. Shoppers will also feel ‘seen’ and might end up ordering more than they had planned.
5. Produce Useful Content: Churning out interesting and informative blog posts on shopping or gift ideas for singles can position your brand as an industry expert. It is a great way to promote Singles’ Day and inspire those looking to pamper themselves without waiting for a partner. You can also create posts on ways to use certain products and plug in high-quality images. Emails or newsletters listing your top items for singles can also do the trick.
6. Leverage Social Media: Promote your products on social media platforms in the form of light-hearted and engaging posts that allow followers to click on a button and land right on the shopping page. You can also host polls, contests, and giveaways to get your target audience excited about your offerings and deals. For instance, ask singles to share pictures or videos of them using a specific product you sell for the chance to win a gift voucher or discount on the next purchase. Or ask them to leave comments on a post or share the same to win freebies.
7. Join Hands with Influencers: To sell more on National Singles’ Day, partner with influencers who are aligned with your brand image and the products you sell. It will work better if they are single too! Get them to promote your items through images or videos or host a launch, as it can win customer trust easily and nudge them towards an actual purchase.
8. Ease Payment: Partner with a reliable payment solutions provider like PayTabs in the UAE & Jordan to simplify your payment ecosystem and speed up the checkout process. Offer shoppers multiple modes of payment and get ready to accept different currencies from all corners of the world. This will help expand your customer base. Strengthen cybersecurity with PayTabs’ advanced encryption and authentication mechanisms as well, so that shoppers can go through transactions without worries.

Singles’ Day 2024: Gear Up to Ace Your Ecommerce Game

So, are you all set to crush it in your ecommerce business this Singles’ Day? Optimize your website for mobile devices, offer exciting discounts and deals, promote relevant products, and personalize recommendations to see a major uptick in traffic and sales. Remember to create engaging content, capitalize on social media, partner with influencers, and simplify payment with PayTabs too.

As an eminent payments infrastructure company in the MENA region, PayTabs aims to drive every digital transaction with cutting-edge solutions. We hope to facilitate and power local commerce and financial inclusion with our simple, secure, and scalable solutions.

Home to around 4.75 million Indians currently, the UAE observes the vibrant and joyous festival of Diwali every year. Indian expats and even locals shop enthusiastically for clothes, fashion accessories, jewelry, appliances, and decorative items during the Diwali festival of lights. In fact, despite a 40% increase in the price of gold, jewelry stores in the country are expecting a decent spike in the total sales value around this time. Moreover, most consumers are likely to go online for a quick and hassle-free shopping experience as they will be busy with other festive preparations at home.

So, as a merchant in the UAE, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to boost e-commerce sales by leveraging a few smart marketing strategies. Go through this guide before getting started.

Marketing Tactics to Boost E-Commerce Sales during Diwali  

Whether you sell everyday essentials or high-end and big-ticket items, here are 9 ways in which you can score better sales and revenue numbers during Diwali in UAE:

1. Lend a Festive Touch to the Website: Infuse the Diwali spirit into your landing page with colors like bold red, golden yellow and bright orange. Showcase limited-time deals, best-selling festive products, and gift combos in an eye-catching manner on the festive-themed homepage. You can also have a special tab that says ‘Special Diwali Collection’ or ‘Buy Diwali Gifts’ to engage with customers quickly. Highlight discounts, deals, or freebies prominently. Make sure shoppers can seamlessly navigate the landing page and add products to the cart without any glitch.
2. Optimize for Mobile Devices: Diwali in UAE is a super busy time for everyone celebrating, what with cleaning the house, preparing delectable dishes, and getting the lamps ready. So, most people use their mobile devices to shop for everything they need instead of cracking open laptops or sitting down at a desktop. This helps especially when they are on the go. So, make your website easy to view and navigate on smartphones and tablets. It should load fast and be rich in visuals rather than text. To boost e-commerce sales, ensure that shoppers can spot important information, enter payment details, and checkout smoothly.
3. Ace the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Game: To boost e-commerce sales during Diwali, your website must rank high on search results. So, you need to optimize all festive content accordingly. Weave in keywords related to Diwali, Diwali shopping, Diwali gifts, Diwali deals, etc. into your web content, product descriptions, meta tags, alt texts, and blogs. Churn out original, informative, and interesting articles and guides on how to decorate homes and workspaces, what gifts to choose for loved ones, how to throw a Diwali party, and so on. Remember that search engines assign a better rank to sites that not only have relevant keywords but also valuable content.
4. Personalize Shopping: Offering every customer a personalized shopping experience that resonates with their taste, budget, and need can help you strike better engagement and drive more conversions. So, based on past purchase behaviors, interests, gender, age, and usual transaction values, offer customized product recommendations. This positions your brand as a thoughtful entity and the shopper can place an order easily and quickly.
5. Host Social Media Contests: During the Diwali festival, social media platforms are the key to engaging with your target audience. For instance, you can ask followers to share your Diwali Giveaway post or tag their friends in order to win a special festive hamper. This way, your brand will also enjoy more visibility. Or host contests that require followers to share their Diwali-special look or home décor to win attractive products or gift vouchers. Such user-generated content can also build trust in other potential customers and increase sales.
6. Collaborate with Influencers: A smart way to boost e-commerce sales is by joining hands with influencers who are in alignment with your brand image, vision, or values. They can promote your business and products through Diwali-themed décor or personal styling tips, unboxing videos, or special launches. They can upload content showcasing how they use your products or why they find them useful. Influencer marketing can enhance your brand’s credibility, attract more website traffic, and boost conversions.
7. Send Themed Emails: During Diwali festival, send out themed emails and newsletters that include warm, festive greetings and enticing visuals. Use crisp but attractive subject lines that nudge recipients to open the emails. Also mention words like ‘offers’ and ‘deals’ and include discount codes inside the email. You can tailor the emails to suit different kinds of customers too – first-timers, loyalists, and those who haven’t made a purchase for some time.
8. Simplify Payment: To improve e-commerce sales during Diwali, focus on easing the payment experience. Partner with a payment gateway solution provider like PayTabs to offer customers multiple modes of payment for increased flexibility. They can choose from cards, digital wallets, apps, payment links etc., which means there will be fewer instances of cart abandonment. The checkout process will be smooth. You can accept payments in various currencies too, which means shoppers in other countries will be confident about purchasing from you. The fast payment processing speed will boost customer satisfaction and encourage more order volumes and repeat purchases.
9. Strengthen Security: Security against frauds is a key concern during Diwali in UAE when the transaction volume shoots up significantly. With PayTabs, you can rest assured that your payment ecosystem will be PCI DSS compliant and the authentication and encryption measures will be advanced. And when you promote the same, shoppers will trust you easily and buy more.

Get Ready to Sell and Earn More during Diwali in UAE

By now, you have a fair idea about the marketing strategies to employ to boost e-commerce sales during the festival of lights in the UAE. From transforming your website, making it mobile-friendly, leveraging SEO, personalizing shopping, and simplifying payment to sending themed emails, hosting social media contests, and partnering with influencers, there is much to do this Diwali for higher sales and revenue figures. So, connect with the experts at PayTabs without delay and embark on a prosperous journey.

As MENA’s leading payments infrastructure company, PayTabs brings you avant-garde solutions and hopes to power all digital transactions. Our safe, simple, and scalable solutions are perfect for driving financial inclusion and local commerce in the region. So, embrace the future today.

In 2023, freelance registrations in the MENA region shot up by 142% vis-à-vis 2022, with more and more companies leaning towards a flexible workforce model. An increased demand was especially observed in sectors like banking, IT, real estate, finance, energy, hospitality, and construction. In the UAE, by 2030, a shortage of skills related to business and finance services is likely to leave 85.2 million jobs unfilled. And this is expected to boost the freelance landscape   and open up opportunities for those with special skills. Hence, if you are planning to shift away from the 9 to 5 grind, the time is right. However, you must know how to get paid as a freelancer punctually, efficiently, and securely.

So, let’s find out what the best payment platforms for freelancers offer and why joining hands with PayTabs can help you establish a successful business.

Features of an Ideal Freelancers’ Payment Gateway

Long gone are those days when freelancers accepted cash or checks for their services or products. The methods were cumbersome and often prone to delays and errors. Though bank and wire transfers are still used in many situations, more and more freelancers are moving towards digital payment methods that are faster, more flexible, simpler, and more transparent. Adopting the right payment solution can also help you enhance the client experience and ensure a steady flow of cash.

Now, let’s see how top payment solutions make life easy for freelancers: 

1. Offer Multiple Payment Modes:

When you pick the right solution, your clients or customers get to choose from multiple online payment options for freelancers. This means, they can pay via cards, payment links, digital wallets, or even QR codes. By offering this flexibility, you can reach out to different kinds of clients, ease their overall experience, and attract repeat assignments or orders.

2. Ensure Timely Fund Settlement:

As a freelancer, you need to receive payments on time to maintain a healthy cash reserve and protect yourself against periods of lull. And the best payment gateways or solutions ensure that by processing payments quickly.

3. Accept Multiple Currencies:

The best payment platforms for freelancers help you to easily accept payments from foreign clients. While they get to pay in their local currency, you receive the funds in your base currency. This helps expand your client base beyond geographical borders.

4. Automate Invoicing:

Leading payment solutions in the UAE automate invoice generation, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on any dues. The invoices also look professional and create a positive impression on clients. You can even automate payment reminders through such solutions and save time and energy.

5. Ensure Security:

The best solutions or gateways ensure secure payment processing for freelancers as they follow the latest standards in cybersecurity and are PCI DSS compliant. They employ advanced authentication and encryption techniques to protect sensitive information against a variety of frauds.

Allow Easy Integration: Top payment solutions for freelancers are easy to integrate with websites and apps and don’t require you to have coding skills. In fact, some allow you to get started from scratch even if you don’t have a site.

Why PayTabs’ Paymes Is the Solution You Need

Whether you are a consultant, coach, micro merchant, home baker, tailor, artisan, or vendor, Paymes is the perfect social commerce platform for you to initiate your freelance business. Here are its key benefits:

• Simple Registration: All you have to do is select your country of business, preferred mode of payment, methods of delivery, membership type, and personal details. By downloading the Paymes app, you can also track your account anytime and from anywhere.
• Easy Digital Store Setup: Even if you don’t have a website, you can set up a digital storefront and personalize the same in minutes. You can then list products along with images, descriptions, and prices to start selling.
• Fast and Hassle-Free Payments: With Paymes, you can offer customers freelance payment methods like payment link and QR code. They can simply click on the link and complete the payment via cards or internet banking or scan the code and pay through their preferred mode. Both options are superfast, secure, and simple. Also, you can send payment links via email, SMS, chat, and social media channels.
• Sales Boost with Instagram Reels: When it comes to mobile payments for freelancers, Paymes offers a ReelsPay feature to help you sell the products on your Instagram reels. How? Just go to the Paymes dashboard, tap on ReelsPay, and add the reel video link from Instagram. List the products for sale and share the link on your profile or with followers.
• Improved Profitability: Signing up with Paymes is cost-effective and the documentation required is also minimal (Passport or ID, bank account details, and freelancer certificate). However, you get to sell more than ever and receive payments almost instantly. This translates to a stronger bottom line and increased profit margin.
• Data-Backed Insights: Paymes enables you to track and analyze consumer behavior, purchase patterns, sales, product demand, revenue, and other parameters from a single dashboard. You can add, change, or remove products easily too and track orders using any device. These insights help you make better and more informed decisions in the future.

Also Read: Payment Processing for Freelancers: A Complete Guide

Kick-Start and Grow Your Freelance Business with the Right Payment Solution

By now, you have a fair idea of what to expect from the best freelancers’ payment gateways and why Paymes is a great fit for your needs. So, all you need to do is get in touch with PayTabs, request a demo, understand the nitty-gritties of this unique social commerce platform , register, and start selling. There is no better way to monetize your talent, set up a business without stress or even a website, and get paid immediately. Since clients or customers will also be able to make payments without any hassle, you will win their confidence, boost their satisfaction, and attract repeat business.

Also Read: 10 Amazing Ideas For Managing a Team of Freelancers

As a leading payments infrastructure company in the MENA region, PayTabs intends to power every digital transaction with solutions that promote local commerce and financial inclusion. Hence, it’s time to leverage our secure, simple, and scalable solutions to take your freelancing venture to new heights.

Saudi National Day is right around the corner and the patriotic fervor associated with it is already palpable everywhere in the country. Just like the previous years, this time too, green and white national flags, parades, happy people in traditional outfits, fireworks, and music will liven up the special day. And it will give everyone a chance to appreciate the significant strides made by the KSA towards achieving the ambitious Vision 2030 goal of increased economic, social, and cultural diversification.

Besides opening up to tourists from far and wide and investing in sports, the nation has been empowering women, fighting climate crisis, and promoting sustainability initiatives. To diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil, Saudi Arabia has been investing in entertainment, technology, and renewable energy sectors too. In 2022, the nation was also recognized as the G20 economy with the fastest growth rate (8.7%). Hence, Saudi Arabian financial progress will be under laser focus this year.

So, this Saudi Arabia National Day, let’s delve into the milestones achieved recently in the financial sector and understand how the payments landscape is changing to drive success for businesses of all sizes.

Quick Look at Saudi Financial Sector Developments

As the Saudi National Day approaches, it is important to note that the country is investing in innovative technology as well as talent to build a resilient and dynamic financial environment. Advanced technologies like big data and artificial intelligence are being leveraged to help businesses of all kinds and sizes (especially small and medium enterprises and startups) to thrive.

Currently, 216 Fintech companies are active in KSA and there are over 6500 direct jobs in the sector. Moreover, venture capital investment in Fintech has exceeded SAR 6.9 billion. SAR 10 billion has been allocated to support SMEs across the country.

This Saudi National Day, payments-related innovations will be in the spotlight too as regulations and supervisory frameworks are being put in place to match international standards and trends. The country is also taking effective measures against financial frauds.

So, as a merchant, this Saudi Arabia National Day, it can help you to understand how the kingdom’s payments landscape is evolving.

KSA’s Digital Payments Landscape is Getting Smarter

One of the key Saudi financial sector developments in recent times is the advent of payment gateways. These help you to accept online payments safely, quickly, and efficiently. Payment gateway providers like PayTabs also offer orchestration services if you need to manage multiple processors, gateways, banks, and acquirers on a single platform and automate your payment ecosystem further. Since the transaction value in Saudi’s digital payments market is set to grow at a 8.06% annual rate by 2028, you need to be aware of what advanced payment gateways bring to the table and how you can capitalize on the same:

• Secure: This National Day, Saudi Arabia will spend enthusiastically for sure but only on those ecommerce sites that are secure against cyberattacks. Luckily, top payment gateways are PCI DSS compliant and come with avant-garde authentication and encryption measures to protect sensitive data. And when customers trust your site, they order more and keep coming back for repeat purchases. Your brand image improves as well.
• Easy to Integrate: You can integrate payment gateways easily with your online store and other applications or software solutions. And this can be done across different devices. You don’t need any technical knowledge or coding skills for the same.
• Simplify Invoicing: Payment gateways in KSA have evolved to make invoice generation and sharing hassle-free. You can send digital invoices and reminders now via WhatsApp, email, SMS, social media channels, and even QR codes.
• Offer Multiple Payment Modes: The best gateways allow you to offer various payment methods to shoppers, so they can choose easily and go through with the transaction instead of abandoning their carts. This means you can accept National Day Saudi payments via multiple channels and earn more than ever.
• Support Multiple Currencies: Since leading payment gateways support a variety of currencies from around the world, you can conduct business with foreign customers or nationals located in foreign geographies easily. They can pay in their local currencies while you will be able to accept the payment in the home currency. This Saudi National Day, this gateway feature can help you sell and earn more.
• Facilitate Repeat Billing: In case you offer subscription-based services, you can set up a recurrent payment process with modern gateways. This way, repeat billings and payments will be handled automatically.
• Provide Data Analytics: Gateways in Saudi help you to analyze your entire payment ecosystem and derive actionable insights on consumer behavior, order volume, transaction frequency, payment mode, and other performance parameters. These data-backed insights allow you to make more informed decisions in the future.
• Offer Technical Support: Accepting Saudi National Day payments or handling transactions on any other day for that matter is a breeze with the right gateway. In case of any technical glitch, you can reach out to the provider’s customer support team easily and solve the problem quickly. This way, you won’t have to worry about losing out on potential customers or sales due to downtime.

Gear Up for a Promising Saudi Arabia National Day

Now that you have a fair idea about the recent Saudi Arabian financial progress made, it is time to make the most of the various government initiatives, digital innovations, and investments available. As a business owner in KSA, the upcoming Saudi National Day is the perfect opportunity for you to join hands with a payment gateway provider like PayTabs and enjoy myriad services at attractive fees. A top payments infrastructure company in MENA, PayTabs is driven by the vision to power every digital transaction in the region and offer simple, secure, and scalable solutions for local commerce growth and financial inclusion. So, your time to shine is now!

Initiated by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in 2015, Emirati Women’s Day is observed on 28^th August every year to celebrate and encourage female trailblazers who are accomplishing wonders in various sectors and contributing to the UAE’s development. By recognizing Emirati women in business, the day’s events inspire ambition and leadership, promote gender equality, and drive female empowerment. And it has been working. In fact, as per Nama Women Advancement, 25,000 women entrepreneurs in the UAE owned around 50,000 businesses with a total value of USD 16.3 billion in 2022. A recent survey conducted on 1000 women business owners also revealed that 61.4% are sole proprietors while 48.8% are CEOs.

So, let’s take a look at those who have earned a special name for themselves when it comes to women in business growth, UAE, and the factors driving more Emirati ladies to pursue lofty dreams and achieve impressive milestones.

Top Women Entrepreneurs in UAE

While baby ecommerce shops, fine jewelry, cafes, and home salon services are popular female-owned businesses, Emirati women are making waves in many other sectors. Here are some top names:

• Hana Al Rostamani: Among UAE women in finance, Hana Al Rostamani is a famous name. Backed by over two decades of experience in finance and banking, she is First Abu Dhabi Bank’s first female CEO.
• Aisha Bin Bishr: She is Smart Dubai’s Director General and at the helm of UAE’s digital transformation and brings 20 years of experience in innovation and technology to the table.
• Alia Al-Serkal: She founded the prestigious Al-Serkal Group that has a formidable presence in construction, real estate, and logistics. Alia Al-Serkal is known for her focus on innovation and growth.
• Sara Al Madani: The Founder and CEO of E-Net Systems, Sara Al Madani offers cutting-edge tech services and solutions across the UAE and inspires women to pursue fulfilling careers in STEM.
• Manal Alaryani: As the Director at Little Helpers Nursery, Manal Alaryani is not just a businesswoman but also someone who intends to raise awareness about the needs of children with physical and mental disabilities. She aims to help them reach their full potential with the best support and opportunities.
• Jumana Al Darwish: A decade ago, Jumana Al Darwish founded The Happy Box, a brand that sells educational activity packages for children and ensures happy and productive family time. Happy Hearts Global and The Happy Studio are her brainchild too.
• Perihan Abouzeid: PeriCare’s Founder and CEO, Perihan Abouzeid’s motto is to boost postpartum recovery in women and support the wellbeing of working mothers through FemTech products.

Now, let’s understand what is driving the emergence and growth of female-led businesses in UAE.

Factors Helping Women to Succeed in Business across the UAE

Every year, Emirati Women’s Day is a reminder of how inclusive and supportive the business environment is in the UAE. The country not only leads in gender equality in the MENA region, but also devotes strategic effort to bridge the gender gap across industries. Government initiatives, free zones, company partnerships, and digital solutions (including payment solutions for women entrepreneurs) are the other drivers:

• Government-Led Initiatives: The UAE government has multiple initiatives to train and educate women as well as provide them with the necessary resources to start their own ventures and enjoy the same opportunities as men. The Dubai Business Women Council, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, and Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development are among the entities that offer networking, training, financing, mentorship, and innovative environments.
• Free Zones: These special zones in the UAE support those who are new to the world of business, especially women. Female entrepreneurs receive guidance on acing legal documentation, navigating a competitive landscape, acquiring essential resources, and capitalizing on opportunities.
• Partnerships with Government Agencies: Women entrepreneurs UAE can join hands with government agencies to obtain the resources and training needed for operating businesses smoothly and successfully. The partnership between the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and JP Morgan Chase Foundation is a great example of the same.
• Digital Solutions: Advanced digital tools are helping women business owners to save time, increase operational efficiencies, improve logistics, save costs, and derive data-backed insights to make informed decisions. The use of digital payment gateways UAE is especially helping businesswomen to enhance customer experience and boost the bottom line.

By partnering with an online payment gateway provider like PayTabs, women entrepreneurs can accept payments via different modes, safely, efficiently, and quickly. They can sell more, grow the customer base, and minimize transaction costs. Plus, they can expand to other countries with multi-currency support, ensure robust cybersecurity, gain consumer trust, and drive long-term loyalty.

Realize Your Dreams this Emirati Women’s Day

To reiterate what this write-up has already covered, the UAE is a promising place for ambitious women entrepreneurs to realize dreams. Aided by government support, company partnerships, free zones, inclusivity, and advanced digital solutions, women can go the extra mile in business, compete with male counterparts, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development like never before. So, if you are a woman entrepreneur in the UAE, make the most of training, financing, and other initiatives to grow faster. And don’t forget to partner with a reliable payment gateways provider like PayTabs to establish a seamless and efficient payment ecosystem.