What Is Cyber Monday? Definition, History & 2025 Trends

It’s one of the most profitable shopping days on the calendar, followed by the day that still reigns supreme: Black Friday.

I’m talking about the one and only Cyber Monday, a holiday hot on the heels of Black Friday that could one day usurp it in terms of popularity and profitability, especially as we move toward a continually digital lifestyle.

Cyber Monday has become a sales touchstone for businesses across the world.

In 2024, U.S. consumers spent $13.3 billion on Cyber Monday — a 7.3 % increase year over year.

That’s right, but it’s not only celebrated in the United States.

Although it’s a Thanksgiving-related holiday and other parts of the world don’t observe Turkey Day, Japan, the UK, and Canada have all gotten in on Cyber Monday, among other countries.

In this blog post, let’s explore what Cyber Monday is, and the strategies businesses can employ to make better profits.

 

Key Takeaways

• Cyber Monday is one of the most anticipated shopping holidays of the year, meaning businesses of all sizes must be ready to promote their products and earn sales.
• Planning early is one of the biggest keys to success, as is understanding what your competition brings and what you can offer that’s different and better.
• Long-term promotional strategies such as building hype, offering valuable sales and discounts, and strengthening your customer service will serve your small business well, leading into the holiday season and beyond.

Understanding Cyber Monday

Before the 2000s, shopping on Thanksgiving weekend happened exclusively on Black Friday.

It wasn’t until 2005 that Ellen Davis, the Consumer Brands Association executive vice president of industry engagement, created the term, although some say “Cyber Monday” as a concept existed even earlier.

Cyber Monday, celebrated on the Monday after Thanksgiving, came about by itself.

Retailers studying consumer trends had noticed the same thing: despite being back at work, more people were spending the Monday after a long, four-day Thanksgiving break shopping than they were working.

This wasn’t only some people doing it; it was millions. At the time, this trend was studied exclusively in America, as they celebrated Thanksgiving that week and enjoyed a long four days off work.

And being back in the office was an important facet. In the early 2000s, household computers weren’t commonplace, and high-speed internet was far from the norm.

However, businesses had to pay for high-speed internet at work to keep productivity up.

Americans had a much easier time shopping at work than at home in those days, so that’s what they did.

Cyber Monday did not take long to blast off on American soil, raking in $608 million by 2006. That number continually increased, hitting $887 million by 2009.

Read also: The Ultimate Sales Page Guide for Beginners (2024)

History & Origins of Cyber Monday

Of course, with Cyber Monday achieving such huge sales numbers, it didn’t take long for other parts of the world to introduce their shopping occasion.

Here is when these countries caught on and began offering extended holiday sales:

• UK – 2009
• Sweden – 2010
• Portugal – 2009
• New Zealand – 2010
• The Netherlands – 2012
• Japan – 2012
• India – 2012
• Germany – 2010
• Colombia – 2012
• Chile – 2011
• Canada – 2008
• Belgium – 2016
• Australia – 2012
• France – 2008

As you can see, Cyber Monday only took a few years to become a global phenomenon.

Be advised that despite the fact that these countries have adopted the concept of Cyber Monday, they don’t always refer to it by the same name or celebrate it at the same time.

For example, Australia debuted its version of Cyber Monday in 2012 called Click Frenzy.

Also, Germany has a Cyber Monday week that begins the week before Thanksgiving and lasts eight days.

That’s also becoming more of a trend in other parts of the world.

Going back to where it all began, the US, that country, has been pushing the boundaries of Cyber Monday for years.

 Sometimes, the holiday is acknowledged before Thanksgiving even comes.

However, that can be seen as stepping on the figurative toes of what is still perceived as the top day for online shopping, Black Friday.

That’s why extending Cyber Monday for the entire week after Thanksgiving is becoming increasingly common.

This extra-long Cyber Monday even has a name, Cyber Week.

Cyber Week is more convenient for consumers who don’t always have the time, energy, desire, or money to shop right after Thanksgiving.

Stretching the deals for another week gives them more opportunities to get their holiday shopping done.

Beyond benefitting audiences, Cyber Week also has plenty of perks for your business, such as a longer period of sales and more website traffic.

Impact.com presented some interesting Cyber Week trends. They surveyed over 1,000 brands across America and reported that clicks increased by 23% before Cyber Week as customers began preparing their wish lists.

Affiliate marketing is also especially advantageous around this time, with commission payouts 16% higher.

Read more: Affiliate Marketing — A Complete Guide for SaaS Businesses

Cyber Monday 2025 Outlook & Trends

Cyber Monday has come a long way from being just another day of online discounts.

In 2025, it’s evolving into a personalized, AI-powered, mobile-first retail event that spans an entire week.

For ecommerce brands, understanding the latest trends isn’t just about staying current — it’s about staying competitive.

Here’s what’s shaping Cyber Monday 2025 and how you can make the most of it.

Market Forecasts and Spending Projections

Cyber Monday 2025 is forecasted to generate record-breaking sales, with total online spending expected to reach $14.2 billion—a 6% increase from last year.

Across the full 2025 holiday shopping season, ecommerce sales in the U.S. are expected to exceed $250 billion, driven by stronger discounts, improved logistics, and growing mobile transactions.

The National Retail Federation projects overall holiday retail sales to rise between 2.5% and 3.5%, while PwC data shows that nearly 80% of consumer holiday budgets will be spent by the end of Cyber Monday.

The event remains the centerpiece of holiday ecommerce.

Key Trends to Watch

1. Mobile Takes the Lead

More than half of all ecommerce purchases in 2025 are expected to happen on mobile devices.

Mobile-first design, one-tap checkouts, and wallet integrations (like Apple Pay or Google Pay) will be essential.

Retailers investing in faster, seamless mobile experiences are poised to capture the majority of Cyber Monday sales.

2. Extended Deals and Deeper Discounts

The “Cyber Monday” window is getting longer.

Many retailers now launch “early access” promotions days before Thanksgiving and continue deals through the first week of December.

In 2024, categories like electronics, toys, and apparel saw discounts of up to 30%.

Expect a similar or greater depth of discounts this year, but spread out strategically to maintain momentum across Cyber Week.

3. AI and Chatbots Transform the Customer Journey

AI is transforming how consumers shop. From smart recommendations to instant customer support, AI-powered tools are making shopping more efficient and personalized.

Brands are increasingly adopting AI chatbots, predictive analytics, and automated pricing tools to drive conversions and enhance customer engagement.

For many ecommerce businesses, this will be the first truly AI-driven holiday season.

4. The Rise of Influencer and Social Commerce

Influencer marketing and social commerce will play a major role in Cyber Monday 2025.

More consumers are discovering and purchasing products directly through social media, guided by creators they trust.

Live shopping events, affiliate deals, and limited-time “creator drops” will become key drivers of Cyber Monday traffic and revenue.

5. Flexible Payments Gain Ground

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) continues its upward trend, especially among younger shoppers.

During Cyber Monday 2024, BNPL transactions grew by more than 5% year over year, and that growth is expected to continue in 2025.

Offering flexible payment options—like installment plans and zero-interest financing—can significantly reduce cart abandonment and increase average order value.

6. Shifting Consumer Behavior and Economic Realities

While inflation and economic uncertainty continue to shape consumer habits, shoppers remain highly deal-driven.

Many are more cautious with spending but still plan to take advantage of Cyber Monday offers.

Transparent pricing, clear shipping timelines, and easy returns are now non-negotiable.

Shoppers are looking for brands that combine value with trust.

What This Means for Marketers and Ecommerce Brands

Cyber Monday 2025 will reward brands that prepare early, personalize every interaction, and build customer trust at scale.

Here’s what to prioritize this year:

Focus Area	Strategic Move
Mobile-first UX	Optimize for speed, simplicity, and conversion-focused design
AI and automation	Personalize offers, automate support, and optimize pricing dynamically
Flexible payments	Add BNPL, digital wallets, and installment options
Influencer partnerships	Leverage creator campaigns, live shopping, and affiliate loops
Extended promotions	Launch early access and post-Monday flash deals
Trust and transparency	Strengthen credibility with reviews, guarantees, and smooth returns

The Bottom Line

Cyber Monday 2025 is more than a single-day sale—it’s the peak of a digitally connected, AI-enhanced shopping season.

Brands that combine personalization, convenience, and authenticity will not only see higher conversions but also build stronger relationships with their customers.

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9 Key Strategies for Businesses During Cyber Monday

 

Marketers’ Playbook: How to Prepare for Cyber Monday

• Start early: begin planning and teasing at least several weeks before the event.

• Use email marketing: deploy a series of campaign emails to announce, tease, and remind.

• Leverage social media: build anticipation via posts, stories, countdowns, and social ads.

• Optimize your site: ensure fast load speeds, intuitive navigation, and mobile readiness.

• Prepare customer support: staff up, create FAQs, and have chat or ticket response ready.

• Design seasonal landing pages: create Cyber Monday–themed landing pages with focused messaging.

• Plan cart abandonment flows: trigger follow-ups or retargeting campaigns to recover lost carts.

With Cyber Monday the next big shopping day that could someday surpass Black Friday, every business and brand, big and small, wants a piece of the pie.

I’m sure that includes your company, so how do you effectively promote yourself around the holidays?

Let’s take a look at some winning tactics.

1. Start early

Your Cyber Monday plan should be cemented long before October.

You might be thinking, “Well, when does that leave me time to plan my Halloween marketing campaign?” The answer to that question is late in the summer.

You should always be at least a month ahead of whatever holiday is coming up so you have time to tease out your promotions and schedule your emails and social media posts in a timely manner.

Getting the hype train rolling out of the station earlier than your competitors will mean all eyes on your business, which should result in more Cyber Monday sales.

2. Use email marketing

Email marketing is your best friend for promoting your business any other time of the year, but it’s especially critical around Cyber Monday.

According to Mailgun, the amount of emails sent out on Cyber Monday versus Black Friday is quite similar, with Cyber Monday only trailing slightly behind.

Yet the open rate for Cyber Monday is just that bit higher, they report, 14% versus 12%.

That tracks with other data that reports that open rates can swell up to 20% higher on Cyber Monday than any other day ending with Y. The click-through rates are up to 15% more.

Again, being early will behoove you here. You can send an automated email the week before Cyber Monday announcing and hyping your deals and what kinds of products you’ll have on sale.

Then, follow up the night before Cyber Monday before dropping your deals the next day.

3. Get on social media

Hopefully, you’ve built a strong social media presence for your business before the holidays, as you’ll need it to rally your thousands of followers to shop.

You can start getting your readers excited for Cyber Monday as early as the first week of November.

Of course, you should send semi-regular reminders of what’s coming up, especially as you draw nearer to the big day.

If you’re using social commerce, where your customers can shop online within social media platforms, then focus your promotions exclusively on social media.

However, if you’re announcing your deals via email, use your social media campaign to drive more people to your website and email list.

Read also: Cyber Monday Email Templates that Guarantee Sales (2024)

4. Optimize your website

One of the simplest yet biggest mistakes you can make is failing to optimize your website in time for Cyber Monday.

An unoptimized site takes longer than eight seconds to load, lacks clear navigation, doesn’t have calls to action above the fold, and is just a nightmare.

So, what do you think people do when they’re eager to shop and capitalize on deals when they find an unoptimized website? That’s right, they bail.

And good luck getting that traffic back until you improve your site design.

Don’t just trust that a few improvements are enough. Test your site before publishing it.

5. Enhance customer service

Now is a great time to bolster your support staff and hire more people for the holidays.

After all, with more activity on your website and more first-time online shoppers will come an influx of questions, concerns, and comments.

If your support staff is stretched too thin, they will struggle to provide ample assistance, hurting your business reputation among your new audience when you want them to see you positively.

6. Build seasonal landing pages

Another handy piece of advice is to revamp and update your landing pages.

If you haven’t yet published unique landing pages for each of your products and services, now is a great time to sit down and write those (or ping your copywriter).

Make the landing pages seasonal, posting them for Thanksgiving weekend until right before the holidays.

The copy can be holiday-centric in describing the benefits, which will help you close more deals.

7. Offer a great deal

Speaking of, one of the most surefire ways to drive more sales is by offering a killer deal your audience can’t find anywhere else.

Maybe you have free shipping if the customer spends $25 when your competitors don’t traditionally do free shipping, or perhaps you slash prices lower than anyone else.

Whatever benefit you choose, run some numbers before you announce your deal to ensure you can afford the incentive.

8. Hype up your products

All aboard the hype train! It’s your responsibility to get people excited about your Cyber Monday sale.

You have so many fun ways to do this, whether it’s a teaser video or photo, a countdown timer, or a gradual rollout of details.

9. Have a cart abandonment plan

Although you’re more likely to make a sale around Cyber Monday, cart abandonment still happens.

People will change their minds for one of a million reasons, and you probably will never know which one inspired their decision.

Now is a great time to evaluate how you handle abandoned carts, whether through a tracking pixel reproducing your ads across the internet or a targeted email campaign.

Cyber Monday’s Impact on E-Commerce

While the success of Cyber Monday has had a global impact, it’s affected specific industries differently.

Let’s look at several industries, what kind of change Cyber Monday has caused, and how these businesses tailor their strategies.

Electronics

Cyber Monday continued its dominant reign into 2022, where it cracked $11.3 billion in sales.

That same year, electronics had a field day, with sales up 391%, says Exploding Topics. Computer sales were up 372%.

Electronics were 2022’s biggest Cyber Monday shopping category. 2023 data from Fit Small Business reports that sales reduced electronics prices by up to 31%, which could explain why everyone has eagerly shopped.

Think about it from the consumer’s perspective. Electronics are usually quite expensive.

Any chance to save, whether buying a gift for a loved one or even treating themselves, is usually appreciated.

Fashion

And who could imagine Cyber Monday without apparel sales galore?

Fit Small Business says the rate of clothing sales between October and November jumped by 189%.

Black Friday is typically the day known for shopping for bigger items, with Cyber Monday becoming a sales occasion for apparel and smaller tech, so that’s probably why sales for fashion jumped so appropriately.

Toys

In 2022, toys were the biggest-selling Cyber Monday category, with sales in November 684% higher than in October.

That barely changed in 2023, notes Fit Small Business.

Specifically, video game consoles and toys were the biggest sellers, along with televisions, small kitchen appliances, and skincare sets.

The rate of toy sales between October and November 2023 shot up by 140%, likely since the average discount for toys was almost 30%.

Jewelry

Jewelry is a perfect gift to discover under one’s holiday tree, so it makes sense that Fit Small Business noted a 99% increase in daily sales averages between October and November 2023 for necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry.

Travel and software

I know these seem like strange bedfellows, and on their own, they are.

However, many businesses have begun bundling their Cyber Monday offers to make them more appealing and profitable.

For example, they might include a software bundle rather than offering only a traditional product.

If not software, it will be a travel bundle to maximize the overall value.

Read more: 103 Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines for High-Impact Campaigns

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday

You can’t talk about Cyber Monday without uttering Black Friday in the same breath.

The two are synonymous with each other and may always be, but that doesn’t make them the same.

There are enough differences between them that your business should use both holidays to harness more sales over the long holiday weekend.

Let’s take a look at where Black Friday and Cyber Monday diverge.

Days celebrated

Okay, let’s get the most obvious difference out of the way first. Black Friday is always celebrated the day after Thanksgiving, whereas Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Can the two days sometimes bleed into one another during a long sales weekend?

Yes, but most companies will still distinguish between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

In-person vs online shopping

Black Friday has been around since the 1950s, predating the internet.

Back then, in-store shopping was your only option. As technology evolved, Cyber Monday became the counterpoint to Black Friday, serving as the primary online shopping day versus in-store shopping for Black Friday.

While Black Friday deals were still available in stores in 2024, many sales migrated online.

It’s safer (how many Black Friday kerfuffles have you seen online?

I know I’ve seen my fair share!) for consumers and easier for companies.

Types of items sold

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday emerged as two separate occasions, the types of goods sold for each day similarly diverged.

Since Black Friday was primarily about shopping in stores, many big-ticket items went on sale that day. Smaller tech items were usually saved for Cyber Monday.

Nowadays, the lines have blurred. Companies will sell all items on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, whatever will make them the most money.

How to maximize earnings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

One of the biggest areas where businesses will struggle with four or five days of sales is keeping the momentum going.

If you make all your big announcements on Black Friday, how do you keep up the interest in Cyber Monday?

Well, you shouldn’t make all your announcements too early.

Save something for the Monday crowd, launching a whole new crop of deals and deep discounts for those who waited a little later to shop.

Read also: 10 Examples of Black Friday & Cyber Monday Email Campaigns

Innovative Cyber Monday Campaigns

Before wrapping up, I have a collection of case studies from businesses that successfully utilized Cyber Monday marketing measures to take their companies to the next level.

EngageBay

Yes, okay, we’re starting with our brand, but hey, we know a thing or two about Cyber Monday marketing!

The EngageBay site gets decked out for the holidays between Black Friday and Christmas. Beyond the Christmas emblems like Santa Claus and candy canes are specialized holiday landing pages.

All holiday deals are combined under one header—so there’s no need to update the landing pages and website until after Christmas.

Besides that, EngageBay discounted its services by 40% for this campaign, a hugely steep discount audiences paid attention to.

Huskybeard

Paul Lee of Huskybeard, a beard care brand, had a new store and was gearing up for his first-ever Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2018, which meant deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The Huskybeard brand was only six months old but doing well with sales, so these two holidays should have been a cinch, right?

Yet Paul was concerned that beard companies larger than his would steal the spotlight.

He decided to plan 45 days before Thanksgiving weekend to ensure his brand could capitalize.

First, he did in-depth competitor research, especially the companies that had succeeded in sales between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Once he had that information, he could determine what was unique about Huskybeard and position his brand so that he had a banner first on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Here is a peak of his sales:

See our post on Black Friday marketing strategies for tips you can apply to Cyber Monday too

Conclusion

It’s hard to believe that Cyber Monday isn’t even 20 years old yet and has already greatly impacted how we do our holiday shopping.

It will only become a more important holiday as we usher deeper into the digital age.

Businesses must be ready to innovate and adapt to maximize returns from this global shopping event.

Finding what makes your business unique and harnessing it will inspire your audience to choose you over your competitors.

Oh, and above all else, start early! The more time you have, the better your campaign will be, producing more of the desired results.

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