Black Friday is coming up fast, and you know what that means - it's time to start planning your big holiday email campaign! A well-executed Black Friday promo strategy can bring in major revenue. But sending a generic "SALE" email and calling it a day? Let's not treat our customers like mindless shoppers lining up for mediocre deals. This is 2023, and we need a thoughtful, strategic approach to really move the needle!
In this post, we'll break down the ingredients for email marketing success on one of the biggest shopping days of the year. We'll look at timing, email sequences, subject line tips, promotion ideas, and list segmentation strategies. Take a look at these pro tips to make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday without annoying your customers!
Timing Is Everything (No, Seriously)
Let's start with the basics - timing. With Black Friday on November 24 this year, when should you hit send on those promotional emails? Get this right, and you'll have customers eagerly anticipating your sales. Mess it up, and you'll get nothing but quick deletes to your "Promotions" tab.
Here's a timeline that works:
Early November: Give subscribers a little teaser! Send a "Sneak Peek" email highlighting your top offers and announcing your Black Friday sale dates. Building anticipation is key.
Week Before: Share more details! Send a preview of the specific products that will be discounted so customers can plan their shopping.
Day Before: Final reminder! Build urgency with a "Last Chance to Save!" email. Emphasize that this is the final opportunity to get these prices.
Black Friday: It's go time! Send an email on the morning of Black Friday, ideally between 7-10 AM local time. Give them a rallying cry to shop.
Cyber Monday: Don't forget about the other big day! Send a Cyber Monday-specific email Sunday night or Monday morning. Maybe throw in some funny gifs about online shopping to change it up.
Getting your timing right ensures you're spreading out messages without overwhelming inboxes. Now let's look at structuring effective email sequences...
Send Sequences, Not Random One-Offs
Blasting subscribers with a barrage of disconnected one-off promo emails is so last year. You'll get better results by sending sequences - a series of coordinated messages with a start and end date.
Here are two schedule examples that work well:
1 Week Sequence
Day 1: Sneak Peek (build that anticipation!)
Day 3: Deal Reminder (keep momentum going)
Day 5: Last Chance coupon code (urgency sparks action)
Day 7: Black Friday! (time to shop)
2 Week Sequence
Day 1: Black Friday Teaser (get their attention)
Day 5: Cyber Monday Teaser (keep them hooked)
Day 7: Black Friday Preview (share the details)
Day 10: Cyber Monday Preview (overview of upcoming deals)
Day 12: Last Chance Reminder (now or never!)
Day 14: Black Friday Blowout (let the shopping begin)
Day 16: Cyber Monday Super Sale (one more day of hot deals)
You can get creative within these examples and add more emails as needed. Just keep each sequence 3-5 messages so you don't overwhelm inboxes.
Now let's dive into the most critical part of your sequences - compelling subject lines.
Subject Line Secrets (aka the "You Had Me at Hello" of Emails)
Your open and click rates live or die based on those small subject lines. Craft ones that grab attention without being overly sales-y. Think of it like a great opening line on a dating app - you want to spark interest without being cringey.
Here are 5 subject line formulas that work:
Exclusivity - "Reserved for [Company] VIPs: Black Friday Prices"
Urgency - "Hurry! Black Friday Doorbusters End in 24 Hours"
Personalization - "Sarah, Your Exclusive Black Friday Coupon is Here!"
Curiosity - "Sneak Peek: Inside Our Biggest Sale of the Year..."
Reader Benefit - "Save 50% or More This Black Friday at [Company]"
Test different options and see which style resonates most with your audience. Keep it short, clear and compelling above all else.
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Now let's get into the fun part - irresistible deals!
Creative Promos = More Clicks
The specific promos and discounts you offer make or break your results. You need deals so good that customers can't wait to click and shop. Some promotion ideas that work:
Bundle Deals: Offer savings on product packages, like "Get our smart speaker + two smart plugs for 50% off!"
BOGOs: A classic "buy one get one free" still excites customers. Make it a limited-time Black Friday deal.
Gift with Purchase: "Spend $100, get a free $25 gift card!" This sense of getting something "extra" is very enticing.
Free Shipping: Offer free shipping with a minimum purchase to help justify bigger orders.
Coupon Codes: A tactile "CYBER20" code makes discounts feel more real. Set expiration dates to create urgency.
Lightning Deals: Spotlight flash super sales on social and email to generate buzz.
Get creative with your deals and discounts during peak times like Black Friday. Just be sure you've optimized profit margins beforehand!
Let's wrap up with segmentation strategies...
Segment Lists for Maximum Relevance
Avoid sending one mass generic email blast to your entire list - talk about being unpersonalized! You need to divide and target subscribers based on their behaviors and preferences.
Here are 3 list segmentation best practices:
Purchase History: Create groups based on past purchases like "bought recently" or "inactive longtime" to tailor messaging.
Browsing Behavior: Segment by the product categories people browse on your site to send relevant deals.
Demographics: Dividing by gender, age and location allows personalized messaging.
Segmenting your list takes some effort upfront but the payoff of higher open and click rates is worth it!
Putting It All Together
There you have it - the ingredients for Black Friday email success. With smart timing, compelling sequences, attention-grabbing subject lines, strategic promotions and targeted outreach, you're set up for record sales.
As the big day approaches, just remember these email dos and don'ts:
DO:
Get to the point fast
Clearly explain promo details
Close with a strong CTA
DON'T:
Use overly sales-y language
Send too many emails
Forget mobile optimization
Now you're ready to start planning that winning Black Friday campaign!
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