Ever consider running a flash sale but totally unsure of where to start? Well, it's an idea worth pursuing, because according to this Experian article, 56 percent of businesses have higher click-to-open rates on flash sale emails than "regular" emails and they enjoy 35 percent more transactions.

Want to give it a try? Here is how to set up a successful flash sale:

Keep it really short

As the name implies, a flash sale is super short - here in a flash, gone in a flash. Try offering a one, two, or three hour flash sale, as that sense of urgency can really push engagement levels higher.

Highlight the discount and time limit     

These two pieces of information are the most attention grabbing. Imagine having the opportunity to save 50% off a room at the Four Seasons - but you only have one hour to act! Mention this information in the email subject line and body of the email.

Make it easy to take action

In the body of your email, have a prominent call-to-action button with a clear directive, like "Buy Now." Also, make sure the link from the button to your website works!

Send your email in the evening

Believe it or not, flash sales sent after 3 p.m. perform better than those sent in the morning or at lunchtime (according to the above-mentioned Experian article). In fact, transaction rates and revenue per email are higher in the evening.

Prepare for a spike in Web traffic

Talk to your website hosting company about moving your website to its own server or setting up a second server to handle the expected spike in Web traffic you will get. There is nothing worse than having your website go down during a sale!

Send out a reminder email

Send an email reminder to those who did not make a purchase yet to give them a chance to get in on the flash sale as well.

Get ready for next time

Look at your stats and take notes on what worked and what didn't this time around so you can exceed your goals during your next flash sale.

Got any additional tips to share - or questions about flash sales?

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