Well, if you don't know what Cyber Monday is...you Need To!  I would think that most retailers know this term by now.  It was coined by the NRF in 2005 and many retailers held on to this term and started to use it for marketing and promotional purposes.

I looked up the actual definition of the term for everyone and according to Wikipedia - "The term Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas."

So, a couple of things apply here, #1 you need to have a web presence to participate in this; #2 you need to have an ecommerce portion to your website for customers to actually transact on Cyber Monday, which by the way is December 1st this year; and Finally #3 you need to promote your Cyber Monday deals online and in your store!

According to an ABC article from last year, "Shop.org said that 72 percent of online retailers are planning a special promotion for Cyber Monday this year, up from nearly 43 percent just two years ago."

And I am sure that this year that figure has grown exponentially even more!  So how can you capitalize on Cyber Monday this year if you don't have a website??  I say, play with it!  Advertise a "VIRTUAL CYBER MONDAY" Sale!  Offer a special discount for all customers who actually come into your store physically on Monday, something like 25% off everything!  Or maybe offer one hot item at an unbelievable price - 50% off or more!  Just to get them in the store.

Think of it, usually the internet creates "virtual" experiences for consumers, how about creating a "virtual" experience for the internet, making the internet come alive inside your store?

Well, no matter how you celebrate or capitalize on Cyber Monday this year, make sure you don't just let it pass you by!  I will leave you with some predictions for this year's Cyber Monday - http://www.cyber-monday-specials.com/?p=32.  Happy Planning!