Black Friday is just around the corner, and it’s a golden opportunity for online shop owners to boost sales and attract new customers. But to make the most of this shopping frenzy, you need to be prepared. Our ultimate guide has everything you need to ensure your EKM shop is ready, with tips, strategies, and links to our support guides to help you maximise every sale.
1. Set Goals and Plan Ahead
Before diving in, set clear goals for your Black Friday. Do you want to increase revenue, move stock, or attract new customers? Use your shop analytics to review what worked in previous years, which products sold best, and the peak shopping times. This data will help you set targets, optimise your stock, and plan impactful promotions that are grounded in what your customers love.
2. Create Compelling Offers
Great deals attract customers, but it’s how you structure those deals that really makes a difference. Consider using our Discount Management feature to set up promotions like Mix N Match Categories, Buy One Get One Free, and 3 For 2 offers. These are classic offers that drive conversions and help increase your average order value. Add eye-catching Promo Stickers to make these deals stand out on product listings, grabbing your customers’ attention and making your Black Friday promotions unmissable. Learn more about setting up Discount Management and Promo Stickers.
3. Build Urgency
Create a sense of urgency to encourage faster buying decisions. You can use Product Urgency to show stock levels or highlight popular items, adding those little nudges that make customers feel the pressure to buy now. Our Quick Announcement feature is perfect for displaying banners with countdowns or last-chance alerts across your site, making sure customers know they’re up against the clock. Find out how to create Product Urgency and add Quick Announcements.
4. Boost Your Marketing and Communications
Image source: https://www.mailercloud.com/blog/black-friday-email-examples-2023
A great Black Friday needs great marketing. Start planning your email campaigns early with targeted messaging for different customer segments. Include teasers for VIPs or loyal customers, exclusive early access, or “sneak peeks” of your best deals. Our Email Marketing guide can help you get the most out of your email strategy, and don’t forget to create Custom URLs for each promotion, so customers can click straight through from emails or social media posts to specific deals. Email Marketing Guide | How to create Custom URLs.
5. Optimise the Shopping Experience
Make the journey from browsing to buying as seamless as possible. Enabling Quick View lets customers see products and add them to their cart without leaving the listing page, which keeps their buying experience smooth and frustration-free. Use Cart Upsell to recommend complementary products at checkout, encouraging customers to add a little extra to their cart. These subtle upsell techniques are highly effective for increasing average order values. Enable Quick View | Set Up Cart Upsell.
6. Highlight Product Value
Customers love seeing what they’re saving! Displaying the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) alongside your discounted price clearly shows the deal’s value, encouraging purchases. Set up Related Products to suggest complementary items on each product page, increasing the likelihood of additional purchases. Enable RRP | Set Up Related Products.
7. Ensure Your Stock Is Ready
Inventory management is crucial for Black Friday. Make sure you have enough stock for high-demand items, especially if they’re part of a promoted deal. If you anticipate certain products selling out, consider enabling pre-orders to secure sales in advance. Customers will appreciate the option to buy items ahead of time, especially for popular products.
8. Leverage Post-Sale Opportunities
The customer journey doesn’t end with the sale. Build loyalty by sending thank-you emails and inviting customers to join your mailing list. Encourage them to leave reviews and consider promoting a referral program to turn happy customers into advocates. These follow-ups add value, boost customer retention, and make a lasting impression that keeps shoppers coming back.
