Black Friday is almost here, and shoppers are ready to hit “buy now.” This is your chance to turn the holiday rush into something bigger—lasting customer loyalty. With every brand vying for attention, you need a strategy that helps you stand out and make an impression that sticks. Whether your goal is to boost sales, build brand awareness, or create a great shopping experience, these five Black Friday marketing tips will help you make the most of Black Friday and keep customers coming back.
1. Start the Hype Early with Teasers and Sneak Peeks
The first Black Friday marketing tip on our list is timing. Timing is everything, and Black Friday’s success often hinges on getting customers excited early. Building anticipation can make your brand top-of-mind when Black Friday rolls around. Instead of waiting until the last minute, start teasing your sales in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. Whether it’s through countdowns, sneak peeks on social media, or exclusive early-access deals for email subscribers, these teasers are key to standing out in a crowded season.b
Some simple ways to build pre-Black Friday hype include sharing “coming soon” posts, setting up countdowns on your website or social media, or giving VIP subscribers an early look at Black Friday deals. Email marketing can be powerful here too—by sending countdown emails, hinting at what’s to come, or sharing exciting details with your audience, you’ll keep them intrigued and ready to shop when the big day arrives.
🛒 Example: Many brands effectively use Black Friday sales popups to remind visitors of the upcoming deals. A simple “Mark your calendar!” popup can be all it takes to get them to sign up and stay engaged.
2. Create Urgency with Limited-Time Offers
Urgency is a powerful motivator, especially during Black Friday when competition for customers is fierce. Leveraging limited-time offers, flash sales, or hourly discounts can help create a sense of urgency that pushes customers to act fast. Studies show that time-sensitive deals can boost conversion rates by up to 50%, so it’s worth tapping into the FOMO effect.
Flash sales with time limits, such as 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. discounts or “first 100 buyers only” offers, add excitement and make customers feel like they’re getting something exclusive. A countdown timer on your website or email banners reinforces this urgency, giving customers that nudge to make a purchase before they miss out.
⏰ Example: Many top retailers use hourly “doorbusters” during Black Friday to create a rush and boost sales. Digital Remedy highlights these strategies in their guide to Cyber Five sales, where brands like Walmart saw increased customer engagement by offering different flash sales throughout the day.
3. Personalize Your Marketing Messages
Personalization is a game-changer in Black Friday marketing. Shoppers respond better to brands that feel relevant and tailored to them. With personalization, you can tailor product recommendations, offers, and messages based on each shopper’s past purchases or browsing habits. Personalized emails or ads targeting specific groups create a sense of VIP treatment, making customers more likely to engage with your brand.
Segment your audience into categories such as high-value customers, frequent browsers, or even one-time buyers. Send tailored emails with messages like, “We think you’ll love these Black Friday deals…” or “Here’s a bundle just for you!” Personalized marketing isn’t just a trend; it’s a proven tactic for engaging customers and driving conversions.
💌 Pro Tip: This season, segment your email list into VIPs, frequent shoppers, or new subscribers, and offer early access or personalized bundles to these groups. Learn more about these segmentation tactics for growing your customer base here.
4. Use Social Proof and Customer Reviews
Trust plays a huge role in Black Friday sales, especially with the influx of new visitors who might be unfamiliar with your brand. Shoppers are more likely to buy if they see that others have had positive experiences. Featuring user-generated content (UGC), like customer reviews, testimonials, or user photos, can make your brand more relatable and trustworthy.
Consider creating a carousel of five-star reviews on your website or even incorporating these reviews into social media posts. You could even use testimonials from satisfied customers in your email marketing. Social proof validates your brand and makes potential buyers feel more confident in their purchasing decision. Research shows that reviews can increase conversions by up to 20%, and it’s a simple yet powerful way to stand out on Black Friday.
📸 Example: Brands like Sephora and Glossier utilize UGC and reviews as part of their creative marketing campaigns. By showcasing reviews on their social media channels, they tap into their audience’s trust and boost customer confidence before purchase.
5. Make Checkout Seamless for a Stress-Free Shopping Experience
Picture this: a customer has eagerly added items to their cart, but they abandon it because the checkout process is too complicated or slow. Black Friday shoppers want deals fast, and even a minor checkout hiccup can make them leave your site. Simplify your checkout process by offering a guest checkout option, streamlining payment methods, and ensuring your site is optimized for mobile. A seamless checkout experience reduces friction and ensures customers complete their purchases without a second thought.
To improve the checkout experience, ensure that customers can quickly add items to their cart and pay without unnecessary steps. Mobile shopping is increasingly popular, especially during holiday sales, so check that your site runs smoothly on mobile and loads quickly. Adding options like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or even PayPal can make the checkout experience faster and easier.
📱 Example: TagShop’s Black Friday strategies focus on simplifying the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment, an essential move for Black Friday when every second counts.
Wrapping It All Up
By implementing these five Black Friday marketing tips, you’re setting your brand up for a successful, profitable, and memorable holiday season. From building early hype with teasers to personalizing customer experiences, these strategies can help create lasting impressions that keep customers coming back for more. The holiday season is competitive, but with these actionable tips, your brand can rise above the noise.
💡 Need more guidance on holiday marketing strategies? Check out our comprehensive Holiday Marketing Guide to make sure your brand’s campaigns are ready to rock this Black Friday!
Kylee is passionate about health and runs an online fitness and nutrition coaching business called Incinerate Training where she helps women to feel confident in their reflection again through lifestyle changes. She also runs a self development podcast called the Believing & Achieving podcast where she interviews experts and learns from their expertise.
