Black Friday is almost upon us once again. The day that global sales skyrocket every single year with deals to make your eyes water. Christmas gifts, treats for ourselves, business gifts and much more will be purchased across this entire weekend.
As if that wasn’t enough, there’s more!
Cyber Monday
Equally crucial for retailers is Cyber Monday falling on the Monday afterwards. Last year, according to the Washington Post, 174 million Americans shopped between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. ARA is forecasting Australian consumers to spend $5.4 billion over the four-day sales period, no doubt the end of the lockdowns will attribute to the demand for shopping over this weekend.
So, how do business owners make the most out of these lucrative shopping days?
1: Create hype and excitement
In the 7-10 days leading up to Black Friday start to build some hype on social media. Create teasers, pre-launch your offers, create content that sparks curiosity and give your audience something to stand up and take notice of.
2: Offer exclusive discounts
This goes without saying.
Every business will differ, and this will depend on your bottom line and profitability but a discount is what draws the crowds, en masse.
Businesses around the world will discount anywhere from 10% to a massive 70% or more (depending on your business of course)
3: Beef up your email marketing
In the lead up to Black Friday be sure to connect with your current email subscribers. Stats show that this is where the majority of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales come from. Your newsletter subscribers are already ‘warm’.
A great way to keep your subscribers engaged is to send out some teasers throughout the month of November and even include an additional discount or gift with their purchase.
For tips on email marketing with Klaviyo, read our blog here.
4: Segment your email marketing list
Segment your email marketing list in advance and target your subscribers based on products they have purchased already. This not only personalises the experience, but it is far more effective than merely throwing discounts at everyone.
5: Product Bundles
Gift bundles, especially before Christmas, are a fantastic way to increase your revenue across this weekend.
6: Offer free shipping
Remember physical stores will be running crazy deals this weekend too. Free shipping will encourage customers to spend more at your online store.
7: Health check your website
No point in investing time and money in preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday if your website is underperforming. If shoppers find your site hard to navigate, how do you expect them to get to the shopping cart? Test site speed, optimisation, and functionality to ensure all is running smoothly.
If in doubt, ask an expert.
8: Remember we buy with our eyes
It goes without saying that professional photography is a must have for any business. An unappealing or poorly optimised photo of your product will get all the wrong kind of attention and rarely, if ever, end up making it all the way to checkout.
See some of the beautiful photography we captured for our clients at The Spa Blends and En Face Skincare.
9: Ensure your sale runs until Cyber Monday!
By extending your sale, you’ll be able to gain more customers and profits across this entire 4-day shopping extravaganza. Include this in all of your marketing so people know you have a 4 day mega sale happening.
10: Get Hashtag happy
Take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday focused hashtags. You’ll want to include hashtags such as #blackfriday #cybermonday #sale #blackfridaysale #blackfridaydeals. This will allow you reach a wider audience of people specifically shopping for deals across these 4 days.
Get ready to see sales soar
Whether you’re a large online retailer or a start-up business, these strategies will help you get a start on prepping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Don’t wait if you want to make the most of this year’s biggest retail weekend. Start implementing them now so you are ready to reap the rewards of these two massive online shopping dates.
Don't get left behind!
Genie O’Dowd
Director, Storyteller
About the Author
Genie is a passionate writer, soon to be author, and one of the cogs that keep the machine turning here at Flabbergast.
Hailing from Ireland, she opted for a backpack and round the world ticket in 2010 and managed to stumble across Melbourne on her adventures. She loves to create funny, upbeat content that brings the story of any brand to life before your very eyes. When she is not busy finding new and interesting ways to inject a little WOW into content, she can be found fan-girling on Brené Brown or spoiling her two dogs!