Black Friday marketing: Top 15 promotion ideas to boost your sales [2024]

Source: Petco on Instagram

2. Release a new product

Want an effective way to attract attention and drive excitement for your ecommerce business this holiday season? Launch a new product for your customers to enjoy! 

By releasing a new item for Black Friday, you'll combine the thrill of holiday discounts with the allure of something fresh and exclusive. Shoppers love the idea of snagging the latest item at a great price, making it a win-win for both sales and brand visibility. Plus, a new release adds an extra "wow" factor, giving customers a reason to prioritize your online store on Black Friday.

For a successful launch campaign, aim to create a buzz early on by teasing the item on social media and in emails. Use phrases like "exclusive Black Friday release" to heighten anticipation.

Remember to highlight key features and benefits without giving everything away, creating a sense of mystery. You might also consider offering an early-bird discount or bundle with other popular goods for a short period. This approach can not only drive Black Friday traffic but also introduce new fans to your business!

Source: LEGO

3. Create gift guides for inspiration

Although some consumers enjoy holiday shopping for their loved ones, others find it to be an overwhelming task, one that they dread every year. To help alleviate some of the pressure for your current and potential customers alike, consider creating free holiday gift guides to share for Black Friday. 

Shoppers appreciate convenience, and a curated guide simplifies their search for the perfect gifts, positioning your brand as a helpful holiday resource. Gift guides let you list and highlight products for different interests, budgets, and age groups, making it easier for people to find exactly what they need.

Your gift guide content should include high-quality images, clear product descriptions, and categories like “Gifts for Him/Her,” “Stocking Stuffers,” or “Gifts Under $50.” Add personal touches, like "Staff Favorites" or "Best-Sellers," to make it feel curated and special.

You can then promote your guides through email, social media, and your homepage, ensuring that they’re easy to find. Use holiday-themed graphics to catch customers' attention and add links directly to featured items, so shoppers can instantly add them to their carts. 

4. Add a virtual spin wheel to your ecommerce site

A virtual spin wheel is a fun, interactive pop-up feature on ecommerce sites where shoppers “spin” a digital wheel to win discounts, prizes, or exclusive offers.

Adding a spin wheel to your site for Black Friday is an excellent marketing strategy for utilizing gamification in order to engage visitors and make their shopping experience memorable. It brings an element of fun, transforming each customer visit into something exciting and rewarding!

If you wish to avail of this marketing tactic, think of offering diverse prizes like percentage markdowns, free shipping, or even a free gift with purchase. You can also vary entry methods: allow spins for email sign-ups or as a reward for loyal customers.

Set it to pop up after a few seconds on-site or when a visitor is about to leave for a chance to win them back. This playful twist boosts conversions, builds customer loyalty, and adds a festive touch to your Black Friday marketing campaign!

5. Send a Black Friday email newsletter

Email marketing is known for its already high return on investment (ROI), but many businesses around the world are even reporting their ROI rates in this area to be getting better and better in recent years. According to Statista data, 78.5% of marketers stated that the ROI rates of their 2023 email marketing campaigns at least doubled compared to 2022, with just over 22% of participants reporting ROI rates that were at least three times better during that time period.

And while email marketing is a worthwhile activity at any moment of the year, if you have an ecommerce business, you definitely won't want to miss out on taking advantage of this powerful marketing tactic for Black Friday!

When crafting your Black Friday email newsletter to send, keep in mind that its content should grab attention and make it easy for subscribers to dive into your deals. Start with a catchy subject line that creates urgency, like “Black Friday Starts Now—Deals Inside!”

Within the email, highlight your biggest markdowns and any exclusive offers, with clear, bold calls to action like “Shop Now” or “Limited Time Only.” In addition, you'll want to share high-quality images and brief, compelling descriptions of top products, focusing on best-sellers and new arrivals.

If possible, add a countdown timer to build excitement. Lastly, make sure it’s mobile-friendly—most people will read it on their phones!

Source: Really Good Emails

6. Collaborate with an influencer

Influencer collaborations for Black Friday can help you to boost visibility and reach more consumers this holiday season. Influencers already have a loyal following that trusts their recommendations, so their endorsement can make your business’s deals even more enticing.

By teaming up with an influencer, you can build buzz around your products, showcase them authentically, and drive traffic to your site!

To get the most out of this Black Friday marketing strategy, you'll want to be sure to choose an influencer whose audience aligns with your brand. Plan content that feels natural, such as unboxings, styling tips, or exclusive discount codes for their followers.

Note that it's best to have the influencer post in advance to build anticipation and encourage early engagement. Furthermore, consider a live session or countdown with the influencer for real-time excitement. 

7. Include a free gift with orders

Everyone loves a bonus, and the promise of an extra treat can make your deals stand out in a sea of discounts. A free gift not only adds value but also makes customers feel they’re getting something special, enhancing their overall shopping experience and encouraging larger orders.

For maximum effectiveness with this marketing tactic, choose a gift that’s useful and aligns with your brand—think travel-sized products, exclusive samples, or seasonal items. Advertise the free gift prominently on your website, email newsletters, and social media to draw attention. 

To create urgency and play on FOMO, you can add a “while supplies last” note. You might even opt to tailor the gift to order size to increase cart value, e.g., including a gift for all purchases but a gift plus a gift card to use on a future purchase for orders over $100.

Source: Farmacy Beauty

8. Offer product bundle deals

Offering product bundles on Black Friday is a savvy way to increase sales and make your deals stand out. Bundles create a sense of added value, encouraging customers to buy multiple items instead of just one. By combining complementary products at a special price, you can showcase lesser-known items and move excess inventory while enhancing the customer experience.

When bundling products to sell for Black Friday, be sure to pair items that naturally go together. For example, if you have pet supplies for sale, you might create a bundle that features different cat toys or one that includes both dry and wet food for dogs.

Whatever your collections offer, it's advantageous to clearly highlight the savings on each bundle to drive home the value. Limited-time bundles add urgency, so customers feel they’re getting an exclusive deal. You'll want to aim to keep bundles simple and easy to understand—too many options can overwhelm buyers.

9. Entice shoppers with an early-bird discount

Early discounts appeal to shoppers eager to secure deals without the hassle of last-minute crowds, creating a sense of exclusivity and rewarding loyal customers who plan ahead. It also helps you stagger demand, reducing website traffic surges and inventory pressure on the big day.

To make the most of an early-bird discount, announce it a few days before Black Friday to generate buzz and consider making it accessible to newsletter subscribers or app users for a VIP feel.

In addition, promote it with countdowns and eye-catching visuals, and keep the discount window limited to encourage immediate action. Early birds get the best deals—and so does your company!

Source: Adidas

10. Create targeted promo offers

Though your website visitors will probably appreciate any kind of sale or deal you offer for Black Friday, you aren't limited to featuring just one promotion. Going beyond a one-size-fits-all approaching for your Black Friday marketing allows you to appeal to a greater number of consumers.

Creating targeted promos is a smart way to cater to different customer segments and make your deals feel personalized and relevant. By tailoring offers—whether by item category, spending habits, or customer loyalty level—you can boost engagement and encourage higher conversions.

For instance, you might offer a special discount to repeat buyers as a “thank you” for their loyalty, or create an exclusive deal for email subscribers, rewarding them for staying connected. Another effective approach is to target specific product categories, like discounts on bestsellers or bundles for holiday gift shoppers.

Make your promo messaging clear and highlight the exclusivity of each offer, ensuring customers feel valued. You can also use tools like customer data and purchase history to refine your offers, and create targeted ads to reach the right audience. 

11. Share a Black Friday social media post

A well-crafted social media post is a fantastic way to spread the word about your Black Friday deals, build excitement, and engage customers right where they’re already scrolling. With so many businesses vying for attention on this day, a standout post can capture interest and drive traffic to your store.

Use captivating visuals and bold text to showcase your top discounts, exclusive offers, or product bundles. A countdown post leading up to Black Friday builds anticipation, while real-time updates keep followers informed on flash sales or stock levels.

To boost your post's effectiveness, include a clear CTA—like “Shop Now” or “Swipe Up”—to make it easy for customers to jump straight to your site. Interactive posts, like polls or a “sneak peek” video, can add fun and keep customers coming back for more!

Source: Sephora on TikTok

12. Give a membership or subscription discount

If your online store features memberships or subscriptions, Black Friday is the perfect moment to promote them by reducing their prices, helping you to attract long-term customers while delivering exceptional value.

By discounting memberships or subscriptions, you’re not only giving shoppers an enticing reason to join but also securing steady, recurring revenue. This type of deal works perfectly for businesses with subscription boxes, streaming services, or loyalty memberships, as it encourages one-time Black Friday buyers to stay engaged well beyond the holiday season.

If this Black Friday marketing strategy appeals to you, be sure to highlight the exclusive perks members will enjoy—like early access, discounts, or special gifts. Then, you'll want to promote this deal across your social media, email campaigns, and website, showing customers why signing up now is a decision they won’t regret!

13. Instill a sense of urgency with flash sales

Flash sales create urgency, driving customers to make quick decisions to “buy now” rather than wait. These short-term sales tap into the excitement of the day and encourage spontaneous purchases, especially when promoted with countdowns and appealing graphics.

By rotating deals throughout Black Friday, you can showcase a variety of products, helping clear out inventory and giving different customers something new to look forward to each hour. To achieve the most success possible with your flash sales, remember to start by choosing products with broad appeal and promote each flash deal a few hours in advance to build anticipation.

Using clear, bold messaging can help highlight the limited-time nature and countdown to the next offer. Time-limited discounts keep customers engaged and checking back frequently—making your online store their Black Friday destination!

14. Launch a fun social media contest

Contests create a sense of community and anticipation, turning shoppers into active participants rather than passive browsers. For Black Friday, consider a "tag-a-friend" giveaway, a photo contest with your products, or a "guess-the-discount" game to encourage sharing and interaction. And you'll of course want to delight the winner with an amazing prize!

When done well, your contest will not just boost your brand's visibility on social media but also drive more traffic to your online store, where consumers can avail of your other Black Friday campaigns. To boost your chances of success with your contest, here's a list of helpful tips:

• Set clear, easy-to-follow rules: Make your contest simple to understand to avoid confusion, ensure fair participation, and create a smooth, enjoyable experience for all participants.
• Use an enticing prize: By offering a prize that your target market will enjoy, you'll motivate more people to participate, increasing engagement and expanding your brand’s reach.
• Add relevant Black Friday hashtags: Incorporating relevant hashtags to your social media contest can help boost visibility, allowing you to reach a broader audience beyond your followers and increasing the chances of attracting new participants.
• Keep the contest short: Offering a brief window for participating in your contest will create a sense of urgency, encouraging quick participation and maintaining excitement without losing audience interest.
• Measure your contest's success with analytics: Monitoring analytics for your social media contest can offer you data that's crucial for understanding what worked, optimizing future campaigns, and ensuring a good return on your marketing efforts.

Source: MyProtein on Instagram

15. Be strategic about paid advertising

Investing in paid ads when Black Friday rolls around can be a powerful tactic for boosting your visibility quickly. However, keep in mind that many other businesses will likely be engaging in a similar strategy, which can lead to a higher advertising cost for your campaigns.

It's therefore essential to being strategic with paid advertising for Black Friday to stand out amidst fierce competition and optimize your ad budget. With so many brands promoting deals, a well-planned approach ensures your ads reach the right consumers at the right moment for maximum impact. 

Start by narrowing down your target market to focus on those most likely to engage with your products—whether it’s by age, interests, or shopping behavior. Consider launching ad campaigns a few days before Black Friday to build awareness and retarget visitors who’ve shown interest in your products. 

Highlight your best deals with engaging visuals, and use urgency-driven language, like “Limited Time Only,” to drive clicks. Monitor performance throughout the day, adjusting bids and budgets as needed, to keep your ads fresh and effective.