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Your Guide for the Black Friday to Cyber Monday Weekend

by | Nov 8, 2023 | marketing, Newsletter, newsletters

Black Friday / Small Business Saturday / Cyber Monday / Cyber Week – The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas can make or break many business’s entire year.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. It’s often considered the start of the Christmas shopping season. The name “Black Friday” is believed to have originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s, referring to the heavy traffic on that day. Another theory is that it represents the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit or “go into the black”.

Small Business Saturday is an event that takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. It was first observed in 2010, introduced by American Express, with the goal of encouraging consumers to support local, small businesses during the holiday shopping season.

Cyber Monday is the Monday following Black Friday. It was coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation’s Shop.org to encourage online shopping, as retailers noticed a trend of increased online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Cyber Week extends the online shopping focus of Cyber Monday to span an entire week. It starts on Cyber Monday and runs for the next six days. It’s a relatively recent development, as retailers aim to capitalize on the momentum of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

This year these days fall between November 24th to November 30th. It is almost here! What are you doing this year to ensure that your holiday sales explode and keep you going for another year?

Let’s look at some ways you can truly engage with your customers and get more sales coming in during this crucial week. Specifically, I am going to give you ideas around product launches, email, and promotions & discounts. These are ideas that you can still implement before the Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend hits. I’m going to give you a specific example showing you what I am doing with the AI Money Machine.

But reading this post a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving requires that you take this seriously and start implementing right away!

Do a product launch.

Launching a new product during the Black Friday to Cyber Monday (BFCM) weekend can be a strategic move. The heightened consumer activity during this period can provide a favorable environment for new product introductions. Here’s how you can go about it:

1. Pre-Launch Buzz:

  • Start building anticipation for your new product before the BFCM weekend. Utilize email marketing, social media teasers, and influencer collaborations to create a buzz.

2. Exclusive Previews:

  • Offer sneak peeks or exclusive previews to your newsletter subscribers or loyal customers. This not only builds anticipation but also rewards loyalty.

3. Launch Offers:

  • Introduce special launch offers or discounts to incentivize purchases. Ensure these offers are time-bound to create urgency.

4. Bundle the New Product:

  • Bundle the new product with other popular items at a discounted rate. This can encourage customers to try the new product while purchasing other items they already love.

5. Engaging Product Listings:

  • Create engaging and informative product listings with clear images, compelling descriptions, and perhaps video demonstrations to highlight the benefits and features of the new product.

6. Social Proof:

  • If possible, gather and showcase early reviews or testimonials. Social proof can significantly influence purchasing decisions.

7. Leverage Social Media and Influencers:

  • Collaborate with influencers and utilize social media platforms to announce the launch and showcase the new product in use.

8. Live Launch Event:

  • Host a live launch event on platforms like Instagram or Facebook. Engage with the audience, answer questions, and showcase the new product’s features and benefits in real-time.

9. Post-Launch Follow-up:

  • Collect feedback from the first buyers, and if possible, showcase how they are enjoying the new product on your social channels or email marketing.

10. Retargeting Campaigns:

  • Launch retargeting campaigns to reach those who showed interest but didn’t make a purchase.

By meticulously planning and executing your product launch, you can capitalize on the heightened consumer activity during the BFCM weekend, creating a successful introduction for your new product.

For example, I have been offering my AI Money Machine Program for the past year. It started when OpenAI released ChatGPT last November and started the AI craze amongst the public. The AI Money Machine certainly capitalized on a current topic, but now I’ve got over 10 hours of recorded material that I can offer as an ongoing (evergreen) product in addition to the LIVE program. So, I am launching this as a new offering starting as a Black Friday Special. This might even be an incredible way for you to create custom presents for those on your list this year – and you will still have time to do this before Christmas! Check it our now at https://webstoresltd.com/aimm.

Email is still #1

Despite getting blasted with 100’s of emails daily and most of them being ignored, email is still the #1 driver to most online sales. Not ads, not social media, but good old-fashioned email. Which means you need to email your customers (hopefully you’ve spend the year growing your list, haven’t you?). Here are some specific ideas for you to implement BEFORE the Black Friday – Cyber Monday weekend hits:

1. Teaser Campaigns:

  • Launch a teaser email campaign a week or two before the big weekend. Showcase snippets of what’s to come without giving away the whole picture. This could include revealing parts of a product image, hinting at the discount percentages, or showcasing testimonials for the featured products.

2. Exclusive Previews:

  • Offer exclusive previews of your Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals to your loyal customers or those who have subscribed to your newsletter. This could be done a few days before the sales weekend, providing a sense of exclusivity and rewarding them for their loyalty.

3. Countdown Timers:

  • Incorporate countdown timers in your emails that tick down to the start of the sales event. This creates a sense of urgency and keeps the upcoming sale at the top of your customers’ minds.

4. Engaging Subject Lines and Content:

  • Craft compelling subject lines that spark curiosity and open rates. Combine this with captivating content within the email that holds the reader’s attention and builds the anticipation further.

5. Social Proof and Testimonials:

  • Share customer reviews and testimonials for the products that will be on sale. Social proof can help build trust and excitement around your deals.

6. Early Access:

  • Offer early access to some of your deals as part of the sneak peek. This could be an excellent way to reward your loyal customers and get some early sales rolling in.

7. Interactive Content:

  • Include interactive content like polls or quizzes that engage your audience and make the sneak peek memorable. For example, you could create a quiz that leads to a personalized sneak peek based on the customer’s preferences.

8. Clear Call to Actions (CTAs):

  • Ensure that your emails have clear CTAs urging customers to “Save the Date,” “Join the VIP List,” or “Get Early Access.”

9. Seasonal Banners:

  • Each year, I recommend that you create a new banner for your website, as this makes your content appear fresh and your website up-to-date (regardless of the season). You can (and should) do this for your email banners as well, which is simple to do with YayMail. Check out this post about designing Black Friday Banners.

By strategically employing these tactics, you can build considerable anticipation for your upcoming sales. Your audience will not only be eager to see what’s in store, but they’ll also be more likely to spread the word, creating a ripple effect that could significantly boost your eCommerce sales between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

 

Promotions & Discounts

Time-bound promotions are a crucial tactic to spur urgency and encourage customers to make quicker purchasing decisions during the Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend. Here’s how you can effectively implement time-bound promotions:

  1. Flash Sales:
    • Short, intense sale periods, often lasting only a few hours, featuring significantly discounted items. Promote these flash sales ahead of time and during the sale weekend through social media and email marketing to maximize reach and engagement.
  2. Hourly Deals:
    • Change deals every hour to keep customers checking back. This can encourage more visits and potentially more purchases as customers might find different appealing deals each time they check.
  3. Daily Specials:
    • Offer unique deals for each day of the sales weekend. This could also be themed, such as tech deals on Black Friday and lifestyle or home goods deals on Cyber Monday.
  4. Countdown Timers:
    • Display countdown timers next to the deals to add a sense of urgency. The ticking clock will remind customers of the fleeting nature of the promotions.

Bundle Deals:

Bundle deals can effectively increase the average order value and allow customers to feel like they’re getting more for their money. Here’s how to create enticing bundle deals:

  1. Complementary Products:
    • Bundle together products that complement each other, making it convenient for customers and increasing the perceived value of the offer.
  2. Discounted Bundle Pricing:
    • Offer the bundle at a discounted price compared to the total cost if purchased separately. Highlight the savings to reinforce the value.
  3. Limited-time Bundles:
    • Make some bundles available only for the sale weekend to encourage customers to make a purchase before it’s too late.
  4. Customizable Bundles:
    • Allow customers to create their own bundles from a selected range of products. This gives them a sense of control while still encouraging a higher order value.

By employing a mix of time-bound promotions and bundle deals, you can create a dynamic and engaging sales environment that encourages more purchases and enhances the customer experience during the crucial sales weekend.

 

 

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