It’s crunch time with Black Friday and Cyber Monday knocking at the door. Whether you’re juggling a mile-long checklist or realizing, oh no, you haven’t made one at all—don’t panic. There’s still time to optimize your campaigns, tweak, and turn up the conversion magic. Here are some last-minute tips to keep your holiday sales soaring (with a touch of humour to help you through the madness).
Email, But Don’t Spam
We all know email is a big deal this time of year, but let’s be honest—no one wants to be that brand blowing up inboxes every few hours. 78% of consumers will likely unsubscribe from email lists sent too frequently (Campaign Monitor, 2023). Send reminders, yes, but remember: frequency matters. Go with the Goldilocks approach: not too much, not too little, but just right. Keep your subject lines enticing and your offers clear, playful and seasonal subject lines, including puns, can increase open rates by up to 20% during the holiday season (HubSpot, 2023).
Pro tip: Puns like “Deals so good, they’re sleigh-ing it” are always in season.
Website Speed: Ain’t Nobody Got Time for Slow
Google states that 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than three seconds to load (Think With Google, 2024). A slow-loading page on Black Friday is the digital equivalent of a mall parking lot on the busiest shopping day of the year—shoppers will leave if it takes too long. Run a quick speed test, compress those images, and optimize whatever needs a boost. Your shoppers’ patience is in short supply—and frankly, so is their WiFi signal.
Cart Abandonment Emails: Be the Clingy Ex
According to Baymard Institute, the average cart abandonment rate is nearly 70%, making cart abandonment emails crucial for recovering lost sales (Baymard Institute, 2024). But that doesn’t mean you can’t win them back. Set up cart abandonment emails (if you haven’t already) and make them sweet, enticing, and maybe even a little witty. “Hey, looks like you left something behind. It’s cool, but that discount you wanted is getting kinda lonely… Come back?” Be persistent but charming, like that clingy ex who somehow knew when you were at your weakest (except this time, it’s about getting a great deal).
Double-Check Inventory: The Ultimate Oops Prevention
According to Statista, inventory management issues can cost retailers significant revenue, especially during major sales events (Statista, 2023). Avoid the dreaded oops, we oversold moment by double-checking your inventory now. Make sure your hot items are ready to go. Or else, cue the customer service nightmare…
Leverage Social Media: Everyone Loves a Hype Machine
Sprout Social found that brands that create a sense of urgency or provide behind-the-scenes content during BFCM see an average engagement rate increase of 23% (Sprout Social, 2023). Remind customers of what’s coming, post countdowns, and maybe even show a few behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team scrambling to get ready (bonus points if it’s a little chaotic, we’ve all been there). Authenticity is appealing, and a sense of humor—even if it’s your team joking about living on coffee for 48 hours—goes a long way to humanize your brand.
Test, Then Test Again
This is the final countdown, but there’s still time for a quick A/B test. Some tweaking can yield big results, whether it’s an ad, a landing page headline, or an email subject line (Conversion, 2023). Don’t go overboard, but test those elements that could make a difference—like which discount rate sounds better or whether emojis in subject lines make people want to click more.
Prepare for Customer Support… and Keep Snacks Handy
Zendesk reports that customer inquiries tend to double during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, making preparation essential (Zendesk, 2023). Make sure your customer service team (or that friend who agreed to help in exchange for pizza) is ready to handle the flood. Prepare FAQ pages, chatbots, or even templated responses to common questions. And most importantly, have snacks nearby—because no one can deal with endless customer inquiries on an empty stomach.
Embrace the FOMO… Wisely
Psychology Today notes that FOMO is a significant driver of impulse purchases, particularly during sales events (Psychology Today, 2024). Sprinkle some scarcity language in—“Only 24 hours left!” or “Limited stock remaining!”—to light a fire under those indecisive shoppers. But remember, balance is key. You want to be the fun coach who motivates, not the overbearing drill sergeant shouting in all caps.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Forget to Breathe
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are intense, but they’re also exhilarating. Remember to take breaks, laugh at the chaos, and enjoy the ride. Your customers are excited, and with these last-minute tweaks, you’ll be set to ride that wave to the checkout.
Now, get out there and crush it (but, you know, without crushing your soul).
If you’re still left wondering what to do, you can always contact our Marketing Consultants. They can help make your campaigns shine!
