{"id":53364,"date":"2022-11-23T05:11:26","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T10:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kinexmedia.com\/?p=53364"},"modified":"2025-01-15T02:59:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T07:59:31","slug":"effective-promotional-ideas-for-black-friday-cyber-monday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kinexmedia.com\/blog\/effective-promotional-ideas-for-black-friday-cyber-monday\/","title":{"rendered":"Effective Promotional Ideas For BFCM"},"content":{"rendered":"

As eCommerce unlocks immense opportunities during \u2018BFCM,\u2019 the internet becomes a battlefield for winners and losers. Customers sit back and browse the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday \u2018BFCM\u2019 deals as promotional emails flood their inboxes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each year, e-merchants devise means to cut advertisement costs without offering less to their customers. But this time round, there is much to evaluate than just advertising costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the previous guns targeted customer experience, the present ones are aimed at customer outreach. Thanks to the pandemic that has altered customers\u2019 shopping approaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, it all calls for a strategically and articulately planned BFCM Promotion idea to achieve business goals and outweigh the competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plan your BFCM Campaign\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

First of all, build up your customer base. The easiest way to do this is by reaching out to wider audience. For this, you will need to encourage your social media<\/a> followers and website visitors to subscribe to your mailing list.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure joining your mailing list is as simple as directing visitors to a standalone webpage rather than a complex path. This step collects the key contact information. In addition to asking for basic information such as name, email, and address, you can ask visitors for their preferences or suggestions about the product\/services. Using this information, you can generate targeted messaging. After all these steps, create a plan about when to shoot these promotional messages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare Email Marketing that clicks<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you have gathered the details about your customers, you can use the information to send them personalized emails<\/a> and prompt them to take action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Neil Patel suggests building a permission-based list rather than purchasing one. He further explains that purchased lists often contain uninterested recipients or invalid addresses, hurting your sender’s reputation and potentially landing you in spam folders. He also recommends building an email list organically through signup forms and lead magnets.<\/span><\/p>\n

To increase engagement, avoid sending generic emails, as they are less likely to resonate and will eventually land in the spam folder. Experts suggest segmentation is effective in creating and directing content based on interests, demographics, or purchase history. People only open emails when they are genuinely interesting and relevant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your email consists of some crucial elements that you should curate perfectly. Let\u2019s discuss what are some best practices you can follow to get everything right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the Subject lines. These are the first impressions, so they need to be clear, concise, and pique the reader’s curiosity, as given in the following example.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Email<\/span><\/p>\n

The fundamental rule for writing the subject line is to write it while keeping the readers\u2019 concerns in mind. For example, if you help your dietician, you can send this kind of email with the subject line: 5 Natural Weight Gain Superfoods to Include in Your Diet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next is the Sender’s Name. It helps you build trust with your audience. The name will help the reader decide whether to open your email or not. The more number of times they encounter your name, the more likely they are to find you authentic and an expert in your field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another essential element is personalization. Now, you may wonder how to personalize an email. This tip is so often recommended but not well defined that marketers sometimes don\u2019t understand what personalization actually means. In fact, personalization has become generic, as many believe it\u2019s just adding the recipient’s name. Well, there is more to it. If you have acquired any information from your users, such as whether they are freelancers or the concerns they often face, you can use that information. However, you don\u2019t have to be creepy at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a perfect example you can draw inspiration from;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Personalized<\/span><\/p>\n

Coming to Body Copy, this is one of the most important parts of email. Make sure to use fine tone and layout. Keep your copy concise and interesting. It should not be visually dense. This will increase the likelihood that your readers will click through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then comes the image. It grabs the viewer\u2019s attention the most. It also plays a role in conveying the message. Make your images relevant. A random stock photo won’t tell the reader what your email is about or what you’re offering. It\u2019s much more effective to have the image match your offer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Easy enough, right? Besides being relevant, pick an eye-catching image to grab the reader\u2019s attention immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the Call to Action (CTA). You want your readers to click and convert. The call-to-action<\/a> (CTA) is the most important part of your emails because the main goal is to get readers to click on it and take action. You’re optimizing your emails to get more readers to click the CTA and go to your landing page, where they can become leads. This is where the transition from a click to a conversion happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

At last, keep your emails mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of emails are opened on mobile devices. Your emails need to be responsive and display well on smaller screens.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ecommerce<\/span><\/h2>\n

Landing page\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

A landing page is a standalone web page which is specifically designed for a marketing or advertising campaign. It’s where a user “lands” after clicking a link in your email. Unlike a website’s homepage, which offers a general overview, landing pages are focused and have a single goal, also known as a Call to Action (CTA).<\/span><\/p>\n

Your email\u2019s goal is to capture the recipient’s attention with a compelling message and a clear call to action (CTA) that typically includes a link or button. Clicking the CTA\/button in your email takes the user to a specific landing page designed to convert that interest into a desired action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This action could be signing up for a free trial, downloading a PDF, or making a purchase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Landing pages are entirely focused on driving conversions. They typically have minimal distractions, clear messaging that aligns with the email content, and a prominent CTA button that’s easy to find and click.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some most recommended practices to follow during BFCM to make landing pages:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. <\/b> Don’t wait till the last minute! Review past sales data to identify top-selling products and customer segments for targeted promotions.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. <\/b>Go beyond just discounts. Try out other promotional options like limited-time offers, bundle deals, or early access for VIP customers to create a sense of urgency and exclusivity.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. <\/b>Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, can handle increased traffic, and has a smooth checkout process to avoid cart abandonment.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. <\/b>A strong email list is crucial for reaching your target audience. Run contests or offer lead magnets to incentivize signups.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. <\/b> Social media promotions and targeted ads. Consider starting early to build anticipation.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Show appreciation to your existing customer base with exclusive offers or early access to sales.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Showcase customer reviews, testimonials, and social media mentions to build trust and encourage buying decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Free shipping is a major incentive for online shoppers. Consider offering it as a minimum purchase threshold or for specific product categories.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Many shoppers start looking for deals early. Consider extending your BFCM promotions to capture early birds and last-minute shoppers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Create Gift Guide<\/span><\/h2>\n

    During the holidays, shoppers are always on the lookout for gifts they can give to family and friends. By putting together gift guides for different types of customers based on their interests, personalities, or hobbies, you can help them find the perfect gifts without all the hassle. This way, you’re showing off more of what you’ve got in store.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"CreateTo make it even more appealing, think about throwing in some deals on items or bundles. It’s a great way to boost sales and make the most of the holiday shopping frenzy.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Offer Early Access to VIPs<\/span><\/h2>\n

    You can learn this from POPFLEX. They offer a tiered approach where the standard discounts are available for everyone on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, they also made exclusive access to sale items at extra discounts before running the public sale. The latter offer was offered to the customer in the highest tiers (VIP tiers) of their loyalty program and those who signed up for their email list or SMS. Some of them were among those who were engaging with POPFLEX on social media platforms and unlocked early access codes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This helped purchases buy their favourite stuff before stock ran out, leading to higher sales. VIP treatment boosted a sense of value and appreciation among the customer base of the brand. POPFLEX also countered the risk of inventory holding costs very well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Here is another great example of a tiered discount offer:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"tiered<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Run contests or giveaways specifically for wishlist users<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Target’s approach with its “Black Friday Sneak Peek” is a textbook example of leveraging exclusivity to drive both short-term sales and long-term customer loyalty. They smartly introduced the sale, which granted early access to discounts exclusively to members of their loyalty program, Target Circle. This move not only enticed shoppers to sign up for the program to access these special deals but also built a stronger bond with existing members as it rewarded their loyalty with early access.<\/span><\/p>\n

    By offering this sneak peek, Target also created a buzz and excitement among shoppers, drawing them in before the Black Friday rush. This strategy not only boosts sales during the preview period but also sets the stage for increased engagement and repeat visits throughout the year. It’s a total blast where customers felt valued and rewarded, while Target saw increased sales.<\/span><\/p>\n

    So, whether you’re a retail giant or a smaller business, there’s a lot to learn from Target’s playbook. Creating exclusivity, rewarding loyalty, and timing promotions strategically can all contribute to a successful sales strategy, not just during peak seasons but year-round.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Make Creative Countdown Emails\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    You know those emails that come in clutch right when you’re on the hunt for something special? Countdown emails are like that. They’re all about creating that “gotta act now” urgency. Take your own example when it\u2019s nearing Christmas, and you’re browsing for gifts and Ding! You get an email with a ticking timer telling you exactly how long you’ve got to order if you want those gifts to arrive by the big day.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let’s take Greetabl\u2019s example, a website selling thoughtful gifts. Their email marketing campaign<\/a> uses a simple yet effective countdown timer to drive holiday sales. They placed the countdown timer prominently above the fold at the top of the email. This ensured that as soon as customers opened the email, their attention was immediately drawn to the countdown timer. It became the focal point of the message, compelling customers to take action right away. They also used impactful words like “last day” in bold and all caps. Customers instantly understood that if they didn’t act promptly, they risked missing the opportunity to have their gifts delivered in time for Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Creative<\/span><\/p>\n

    Next time you see that countdown email in your inbox, think of it as a friendly reminder to snag what you need quickly, without stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Leverage Hybrid Abandonment Flows<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Running hybrid abandonment flows, plural, means setting up multiple automated processes to bring back customers who ditched their browsing, cart, or checkout without buying.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In this case, as well POPFLEX serves as a great example. Before Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM), POPFLEX levelled up their game by adding SMS notifications to three of their abandonment flows for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n