Whether you're gearing up for your brand’s first Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) or you’re a seasoned pro looking to level up, you’re in the right place. BFCM is like the World Cup of e-commerce—it’s intense, competitive, and absolutely thrilling. If you want to crush it this year, you need a solid game plan, creative flair, and a whole lot of fun!

As TikTok's first UK marketing partner and the leading UGC platform connecting 20,000+ creators with innovative brands, SHOUT knows a thing or two about crushing the biggest shopping event of the year.

Plus, sign up now to enjoy an exclusive 30% off BFCM discount—forever.

🎯 1. Set the Stage: What’s the Plan?

Before diving into the BFCM madness, you need a clear, actionable strategy. Flying blind during this critical sales period can lead to missed opportunities and chaotic execution. So, let’s start with the basics: planning.

Pick Your BFCM Theme

Your brand needs to stand out, and a unique theme can help you grab attention. Sure, discounts and deals are crucial, but pairing them with a compelling theme adds personality to your campaign. Consider ideas like:

• “Cosy Winter Wonderland” for brands selling home goods, clothing, or gifts.
• “Tech Gadgets Gone Wild!” for electronics or digital tools.
  

Check out more inspiration from Brands on SHOUT like Adobe, Printful, Amazon and more here.

A theme ties everything together—from emails to social media posts—and creates a cohesive experience for your customers. With SHOUT, selecting and customising a theme is easier than ever. We conveniently offer free consultations and advice throughout your subscription with us.

Set Your Goals

Instead of simply aiming to "sell more," set clear, measurable goals using the SMART framework:

• Specific: "We want to increase sales by 20%."
• Measurable: Track conversions, average order value, and new customers.
• Achievable: Based on last year’s performance, a 20% boost is realistic.
• Relevant: Helps clear out inventory and build brand loyalty.
• Time-bound: Hit your target between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Create Your Offers

Everyone offers discounts, but how can you spice it up? Consider:

• Exclusive Bundles: Group products for a better deal, like a “Self-Care Spa Set” for beauty brands or a “Winter Gadget Bundle” for tech.
• Mystery Discounts: Surprise discounts at checkout boost clicks and excitement.
• VIP Early Access: Let your most loyal customers shop first—people love feeling special.

With SHOUT’s tools, you can easily set up and tailor these offers. And don't forget that user-generated content (UGC), like customer reviews and unboxings, is invaluable for showing real-time product satisfaction and creating trust, especially when promoting these exclusive deals.

🛠️ 2. Build the Buzz: Pre-BFCM Prep

The excitement doesn’t start on Black Friday; it starts weeks ahead. Building anticipation is key to drawing in traffic when the big day hits. So, how do you whip your audience into a frenzy?

Tease, Don’t Tell

Use your social media channels, email campaigns, and website banners to drop hints about your BFCM event. Keep things a little mysterious to stir up curiosity. Share sneak peeks with lines like:

• “Something BIG is coming…”
• “Our biggest sale of the year is almost here. Can you guess what it is?”

Create a Countdown

People love a good countdown. Use countdown timers on your website, social media, and in emails to show the days, hours, and minutes until your sale goes live.

Warm Up Your Email List

If you haven’t been engaging with your audience regularly, now’s the time. Send out a few value-driven emails to prime subscribers so they’re excited when the BFCM announcements hit their inbox. At SHOUT, with our free consultations, we're able to advice you on exactly what emails will drive conversions.

📱 3. Optimise Your Website: Make It a BFCM Powerhouse

Your website is the star of the show during BFCM, but nothing kills the shopping spirit faster than a slow-loading, hard-to-navigate site. Here’s how to make sure yours is in peak form:

Stress-Test Your Website

BFCM means traffic—lots of traffic. Ensure your website is ready to handle it by checking its speed, responsiveness, and scalability:

• Load Test: Simulate high traffic and ensure your site can handle it without crashing.
• Mobile Optimisation: Shoppers are scrolling on their phones. Ensure mobile-friendliness with fast loading and simple navigation.
• Checkout Experience: The fewer steps, the better. Enable guest checkout, streamline form fields, and add one-click payment options like PayPal or Apple Pay.

Use FOMO Tactics

Fear of missing out (FOMO) drives urgency. Use FOMO on product pages to encourage quicker decisions:

• Low-stock indicators like “Only 5 left!”
• Timers for flash deals or limited-time offers

💌 4. Craft Killer Campaigns: Email, Social & Ads

Once your site is prepped, it’s time to drive traffic with eye-catching, engaging campaigns across email, social media, and paid ads.

Email Campaigns That Stand Out

Email marketing is one of your most powerful tools for BFCM. Plan a series of emails, from teasers to exclusive offers, and even cart abandonment follow-ups:

• Subject Lines: Short, fun, and direct. Examples:
  • “Early Access: Get 50% Off Before Anyone Else!”
  • “Black Friday Starts NOW! Deals Inside 🎉”

Go Big on Social Media

Social media is where you can build hype, interact with your audience, and even run live events:

• Countdown posts: Daily reminders that the sale is approaching.
• Influencer Partnerships: Work with content creators on SHOUT to promote your products and brand.
• Live Shopping Events: Show product demos or unboxings live to build excitement.

UGC is incredibly valuable here —encourage customers to share their purchases or use branded hashtags, creating an authentic buzz around your brand.

📦 5. Logistics Time: Stock & Shipping Gameplan

Logistics can make or break your BFCM success. The last thing you want is to run out of stock halfway through the weekend or have orders delayed due to overwhelmed shipping.

Stock Up & Prep for High Demand

Analyse last year’s sales data to estimate this year’s inventory needs, prioritising best-sellers and high-margin products.

Streamline Shipping

Shipping delays can cause headaches for you and your customers. Make sure to:

• Communicate Expected Delivery Times: Manage expectations upfront.
• Offer Expedited Shipping Options: A great incentive for higher-order values.
• Have a Returns Plan: Happy customers are more likely to return even after an exchange or refund.

🎉 6. Game Time: The Big Days

You’ve done all the prep work; now it’s showtime! Here’s how to manage the BFCM frenzy:

Monitor & Adjust in Real-Time

Keep an eye on what’s working and adjust quickly. If a product is flying off the shelves, give it more visibility by creating a campaign for that specific product. If something isn’t moving, consider adding a flash discount or bundling it with a more popular item. In order to effectively track which campaigns are performing best, we have a results tracker built right into our platform for your convenience!

Engage with Customers Live

Share customer photos, run polls, and offer real-time updates about deals. Engaging with customers keeps momentum high, and UGC can be a powerful tool for showcasing customer satisfaction in real time.

Surprise Flash Sales

Amp up the excitement by introducing flash sales that last just a few hours. It’s a great way to keep customers checking back on your site throughout the weekend.

📊 7. Post-BFCM: Review, Replenish, and Retain

Once the madness is over, don’t rest just yet. Post-BFCM is crucial for long-term growth.

Analyse Your Performance

Dive into your data and see what worked:

• Which products sold the most?
• How did email open rates and conversions compare to expectations?
• Which ad campaigns performed best?

This analysis helps you refine next year’s BFCM strategy and reveals what resonated with your audience. You can track which campaigns performed best with our results tracker in the platform!

Follow Up With New Customers

BFCM often brings a flood of new customers. Don’t let them slip away! Send follow-up emails, thank them for shopping, and offer a special discount for their next purchase to turn those one-time buyers into loyal customers.

🎈 Bonus Ideas: How to Stand Out During BFCM

• Virtual Pop-Up Shops: Host live shopping events where you show off products in real-time and offer exclusive discounts.
• Charity Tie-In: Partner with a charity and donate a portion of your BFCM sales, creating a positive angle to your promotion.
• Bundle With Personality: Offer quirky, themed bundles like a “Holiday Chill Kit” or a “Tech Junkie’s Dream Package.”

🚀 Time to Crush BFCM 2024!

With the right planning, creativity, and a little bit of fun, you’ll stand out from the crowd and create a BFCM experience your customers won’t forget.

Ready to transform your BFCM strategy with creator content that converts? SHOUT's UGC Studio connects you with 20,000+ creators ready to amplify your brand.

Book your demo today and let's make BFCM 2024 your biggest success yet!