• By Kiwi Commerce
  • 31 Oct, 2025
  • Marketing

10 Black Friday Strategies to Skyrocket Conversions

Alright, listen up this Black Friday is going to be a madhouse. Seriously. Everyone’s phone and laptop screens are already drowning in deals, discounts, and crazy offers from every brand imaginable. We’re all in this race for that seasonal fortune, right?

But here’s the thing: just doing what everyone else does? That’s a fast track to getting lost in the crowd. You need to make some noise, grab attention, and put your products front and centre. I’ve pulled together ten killer Black Friday marketing strategies that are perfect for e-commerce, including some fresh ideas to help your brand truly pop.

Why Black Friday Marketing Needs More Than Just Discounts

When we talk about Black Friday marketing, it’s really about the smart moves businesses make to push products and services during this huge shopping window. For most online brands, it’s the moment of the year to rake in revenue, boost traffic, and build real, lasting customer relationships.

In the UK, Black Friday is still massive studies show nearly 80% of us plan to get involved.
So yeah, the opportunity is huge. But so is the competition. Sticking a “20% off everything” sign up just won’t cut it anymore if you want to really perform.

Get the ball rolling before the big day even hits. It builds excitement and gets people ready to buy. Think of your teasers like movie trailers for your Black Friday sale engaging, a bit mysterious, and totally intriguing.

How to make it work:

  • Figure out your main goal (e.g., get emails, warm up your best customers, create buzz).
  • Split your audience: loyal buyers, email list, social followers.
  • Create teaser content: quick videos, “mystery” discounts, “save the date” messages.
  • Share everywhere: email, texts, social media, your site.
  • Watch what happens: check open rates, clicks, sign-ups, and pre-orders.
  • Timing is key: About 2–3 weeks before is usually spot on. Too early, you lose steam; too late, and you miss the build-up.

1. Start Dropping Early Teasers

Social media isn’t just for showing off it’s a direct sales machine, especially during sales. But blanket ads are a waste of money  you need to be precise.

Quick steps:

  • Pick the right platform: Instagram and TikTok are golden for fashion/beauty; Facebook and Pinterest can nail homeware, tech, or gifts.
  • Use your customer info to segment: who bought what, who looked at what, general demographics.
  • Make your ads personal: tailor the pictures and words for each group.
  • Retarget everyone who looked but didn’t buy: If someone viewed a product, hit them with an ad for a limited-time offer on it.
  • Don’t be annoying: you want to remind, not bombard.

Social ads are brilliant for finding new people and getting those who left your site to come back and finish their purchase.

2. Run Smart Social Media Ads (Targeted & Retargeted)

People buy from people they trust. Influencers have that genuine connection with their followers that brands often struggle to build. Getting the right influencers on board for Black Friday can seriously boost your message and introduce you to brand new audiences.

Best ways to do it:

  • Find influencers in your niche whose followers match your ideal customers.
  • Give them early access to your best deals or new products – “unboxing” or “first look” content works wonders.
  • Run joint social giveaways with them for double the exposure.
  • Let them announce flash deals or exclusive codes through their channels.

When done right, this isn’t just about traffic it’s about sales. Authenticity and good fit are everything.

3. Team Up with Influencers

Your most loyal customers are your gold mine they already love you and are likely to buy. Letting them in on Black Friday deals early does a few things: it rewards their loyalty, makes them feel special, and can even get them posting about your brand (UGC!).

Top tips:

  • Keep early access exclusive to a select group (e.g., your VIP list, big spenders, email subscribers).
  • Give them unique access codes they can’t easily share.
  • Make the early access time-limited to create a sense of urgency.
  • Encourage them to share: ask VIPs to talk about their experience, use your hashtags, and show off their haul.

This trick boosts sales and makes your best customers feel even more connected to your brand.

4. Give Your VIPs Early Access

FOMO is a super powerful psychological trigger  especially on Black Friday. Creating a feeling of scarcity, urgency, or exclusivity can gently nudge shoppers from “I’ll think about it” to “I need this NOW.”

Ways to use FOMO:

  • Limited-time offers (e.g., “Only 4 hours left!”).
  • Countdown timers on your site and in emails.
  • Stock indicators (“Only 5 left in stock!”).
  • Social proof: show live purchases, customer comments, or mentions of deals selling out.

Just be responsible: be clear about your offers and don’t get too aggressive; you don’t want to break trust.

5. Use Ethical FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

Instead of just cutting prices on single items, bundles increase how much people spend (Average Order Value) and get them to buy more. A well-put-together bundle feels like great value to the customer while still protecting your profits.

Bundling strategy:

  • Pair up complementary products (e.g., a main item plus its accessories).
  • Look at past purchases to see what items go well together.
  • Think about the season – what do your customers want now?
  • Test bundles beforehand to make sure they’re appealing.
  • Always ensure you’re still making money. Bundles should be attractive but not loss-making.

Bundles are especially effective on Black Friday because shoppers are actively looking for deals and are generally open to buying more.

6. Offer Tempting Product Bundles

Everyone loves a freebie! During busy times like Black Friday, giveaways or contests can generate huge excitement, get social shares, pull in new leads, and ultimately drive sales.

Tips for great giveaways/contests:

  • Pick prizes that really matter: top product bundles, big-ticket items, or exclusive experiences.
  • Limit winners and add a time limit to build urgency.
  • Keep entry simple: like/comment/share, tag a friend, follow your page. Getting user-generated content (a photo/story) can be even better.
  • Push it hard on social media, but also use email and your website.
  • Optional: Partner with an influencer or another brand for even wider reach.

Giving something valuable upfront gets people engaging and engaged people are much more likely to convert.

7. Make it Fun with Giveaways & Contests

Gamification turns shopping into an experience. When shoppers feel involved and rewarded, they’re more likely to buy and even become advocates for your brand. On Black Friday, this kind of difference can really make you stand out.

Gamification ideas:

  • “Spin-to-win” wheels: customers spin for an extra discount or a free gift.
  • Treasure hunts: hide clues around your site or social media leading to flash deals.
  • Loyalty point challenges: encourage customers to earn extra points for sharing or buying.
  • Mystery boxes: pay one price, get surprise items adds a thrill!
  • Interactive quizzes/polls: ask what deals they’d prefer, then show them tailored offers.

Adding fun and interactivity can boost your sales and leave shoppers with a positive, memorable experience.

8. Bring in Gamification

Mobile shopping isn’t just an option anymore – it’s crucial. With crazy high traffic and high stakes during Black Friday, your site must be fast, responsive, and super easy to use on phones.

Absolute must-dos:

  • Responsive design: Your site needs to look and work perfectly on any screen size.
  • Simple checkout: Offer guest checkout, minimal fields, and mobile-friendly payment options (Apple Pay, Google Pay, ‘buy now, pay later’ services).
  • Get rid of annoying pop-ups and heavy scripts that slow down your page.
  • Server capacity & speed: Test your site under heavy traffic to ensure it doesn’t crash or lag.
  • Strong search/filtering: Mobile users scroll less, so make finding products effortless.

If your mobile experience fails, you’re going to lose a ton of potential sales.

9. Mobile Optimisation & a Seamless Experience

Brand collaborations are often overlooked but incredibly effective. By teaming up with brands that complement yours (not competitors!), you can reach new audiences, share costs, and create offers that are far more compelling together.

Collaboration tactics:

  • Joint bundles: Your product + another brand’s product in one special offer.
  • Co-host giveaways or contests.
  • Run shared social campaigns: each brand promotes the other’s stuff.
  • Cross-audience outreach: tap into each other’s email lists and social followers.
  • Launch these collaborations early to build momentum before Black Friday hits.

This kind of synergy can massively boost your reach and conversions without blowing up your budget.

10. Partner Up with Other Brands

Black Friday only comes once a year (or once a season, if you count cyber week!), so being ready is key. Here’s a quick reminder:

  • Teasers first: Build that anticipation.
  • Smart ads: Use targeted social ads and retargeting.
  • Influencer power: Get partners to amplify your message.
  • VIP treatment: Give loyal customers early access.
  •  Ethical urgency: Use FOMO with credible, exclusive offers.
  • Bundle up: Increase average order value.
  • Engage with fun: Run giveaways and contests.
  • Game on: Incorporate gamification for an exciting experience.
  • Mobile matters: Optimise your site for phones above all.
  • Team up: Collaborate with complementary brands.

When you do all this well, Black Friday becomes so much more than just a sales rush. It’s a strategic opportunity to gain loyal customers, boost your brand’s standing, and set an awesome tone for the entire holiday season.

At Kiwi Commerce, we’re geared up to help you pull off these strategies with precision and flair. Let’s make this Black Friday your best one yet.

Your Black Friday Success Checklist & Wrap-Up

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