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Sales flow through the month

by Anonymous Affiliate
6 replies
Hey warriors,

It's been quite a few months that I've noticed a recurring pattern in my sales flow through the month:
  • Week #1 of the month is the weakest by far. In fact, I seriously fall behind my income average during week #1 to the point that I always think to myself "oh damn, this is going to be a crappy month!".
  • Week #2 and #3: sales seriously pick up to the point where I actually end up above my average. All in all, I easily make over 70% of my monthly income during weeks #2 and #3.
  • Week #4: sales slow down again and I end my month just around my average.
I understand that most people don't get paid until the end of the month so it's totally normal that week #4 is pretty weak. However, if that was the case, week #1 should be the best of the lot because everyone would have a fresh stack of cash in their bank account. But, like I said, week #1 is also very poor in sales, being week #2 and #3 the ones to save the month.

Has anyone experienced this phenomenon? and if so, do you have any idea why it happens?
#flow #month #sales
  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    do you have any idea why it happens?
    I've noticed a broadly similar pattern.

    I'd say most people pay their big bills (eg mortgage) just after payday which could explain lowish sales in week #1 and by week #4 they're gearing up again for the monthly outflow of cash.

    Weeks #2 and #3 they're feeling a bit more flush - big bills paid and a couple of weeks to go until the next outflow.

    Just my thoughts.

    Cheers,

    Neil
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  • Profile picture of the author bretski
    Rent/mortgage is usually due at the beginning of the month, or at least this is how I always looked at it. The first week and last week of the month are often lame and there are also yearly trends that I notice. It's always a good idea to look at the big picture and celebrate those incremental upward ticks in traffic and sales over longer periods of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
    So, if this was a proven and measurable pattern, wouldn't it make sense to concentrate our monthly advertising and traffic-generation budget around week #2 and week #3 of the month?
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  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    So, if this was a proven and measurable pattern, wouldn't it make sense to concentrate our monthly advertising and traffic-generation budget around week #2 and week #3 of the month?
    Maybe, maybe not.

    If you're already making sales in weeks #2 and #3, it might be more sensible to try to flatten the curve a little by trying to boost sales in weeks #1 and #4.

    The only way of knowing is to test it out and see what gives you the greatest ROI.

    Cheers,

    Neil
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    • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
      Originally Posted by Neil Morgan View Post

      If you're already making sales in weeks #2 and #3, it might be more sensible to try to flatten the curve a little by trying to boost sales in weeks #1 and #4.
      I am not sure I agree with that approach.

      I mean, if the reason as of why most sales come through week #2 and #3 is indeed because of macroeconomic reasons (mortgage payments, wages being paid, etc), then I as an individual vendor cannot fight against that.

      Therefore, why would I want to swim against the flow by trying to revamp my sales from week #1 and week #4? wouldn't it make much more sense to milk the week #2 & #3 cow, which has proven to be the most profitable one?
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  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    The whys and wherefores are irrelevant.

    Whatever gives the biggest bang for your promotional buck is what matters. Testing will tell you. Guesswork and opinion on here won't.

    In other words, you're asking a question that no-one knows the answer to.

    Cheers,

    Neil
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