7 Engaging Black Friday Ecommerce Tips to Drive Sales in 2024

The holiday shopping season is on the horizon. And the big occasions on every savvy retailer’s mind are Black Friday, Thanksgiving Day, and Cyber Monday.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping season of the year. According to reports, Black Friday online sales reached a record high of $9.12 billion in 2022.

It is crucial for sellers to hire top eCommerce SEO agencies or prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year to maximize their benefits from this annual event. If not, then you’re missing a golden opportunity.

Why is Black Friday Crucial for eCommerce? 

Black Friday is crucial for the e-commerce industry because it’s a major sales day, meaning you drive many sales. The event can boost your organic traffic and bring new customers. According to reports, Black Friday online sales reached a record high of $9.12 billion in 2022. 

• Many retailers run ads touting deep sales discount prices and opening early, sometimes as early as midnight or beginning on Thanksgiving Day.  
• Some retailers’ sales continue through Monday (“Cyber Monday”) or for a week (“Cyber Week”).  

Let’s dig into seven engaging Black Friday ecommerce tips to drive sales in 2024. Typically, you should start preparing as soon as possible.

Attractive Discounts:

Shoppers always expect excellent Black Friday deals, and you must deliver as they expect. You have to be very strategic about discounts and sales.

• Offer 35%, 45%, or even 50% off. Display the original and discounted prices to focus on savings.
• Create packages or bundles where your customers can purchase related products at a lower price. For example, “Buy a laptop and get a free backpack and screen protector this Black Friday.”
• Give extra discounts to customers who shop during specific hours of the day. This can be like, “Get an extra 15% off between 7 AM and 9 AM.”

A Sense of Urgency

Black Friday offers room for eCommerce businesses to capitalize on their sales prospects. It creates a sense of urgency among the shoppers. Go through the below-mentioned ways of reaching new customers with mobile devices:

Strategies for creating a sense of urgency:

• Send immediate alerts for exclusive giveaways or flash sales, piquing consumer interest in an irresistible opportunity.
• Roll out a series of SMS messages. Generate anticipation by kicking down the days until the arrival of Black Friday.
• Keep subscribers updated on time-sensitive deals, including expiring offers, free gifts, and remaining inventory for popular items.

Note that customers make purchases when presented with time-sensitive offers. Utilize Holiday marketing strategies such as countdown timers, time-limited discounts, and other scarcity tactics to instill a sense of urgency.

See in the image below where consumers spent their money in 2022:

NIQ survey data

Customized Marketing Approach:

Remember that consumers make purchases from brands they recognize and appreciate. You should customize your marketing strategy by directing your email and social media advertisements to distinct customer segments.

Also, you should provide personalized discounts and recommendations for an enhanced customer experience. Strategies for a customized marketing approach:

• Divide your customer base into segments based on behavior, demographics, or purchase history. Then, customize your marketing messages for each group.
• Use customer data to customize shopping experiences. Recommend products to customers based on their purchase and browsing history.
• Create high-quality content that entertains, educates, or solves issues related to your products. Create videos, blog posts, infographics, and guides that appeal to your target audience.

Share this content on your website and social media to attract and engage potential customers.

Sales Promotion:

Inform your customers about your Black Friday sale with ample notice, allowing them the time to strategize their purchases and manage their budgets effectively. Utilize channels like your website, social media platforms, and email marketing campaigns to promote the upcoming sale.

Image: Namogoo

Sales promotion strategies:

• Buy One, Get One (BOGO):  Offer a “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Buy One, Get One 50% Off” deal.
• Early Bird Discounts: Offer discounts to buyers who make a purchase before a specific date or in the early hours of the day.
• Loyalty Programs: Execute a loyalty program where customers earn points for each purchase and then redeem those points for discounts or free products.
• Limited Stock Promotions: Promote items as limited stock products. The goal should be to create a sense of scarcity and drive faster purchasing decisions.
• Referral Programs: Encourage customers to refer family or friends by offering rewards or discounts for successful referrals.

User-friendly Website:

As an eCommerce SEO agency, make sure the website is user-friendly.

• Add a clear and organized menu structure so users can find products and categories.
• Ensure mobile-friendliness, optimize images, reduce HTTP requests, and use content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure fast loading speeds.
• Implement a search bar with auto-suggestions and filters to help users quickly find products.
• Include detailed descriptions, high-quality images, prices, and availability status in your product listings.
• Create an easily accessible shopping cart that can display the number of items added.
• Allow users to estimate shipping costs, edit cart contents, and proceed to checkout without friction.
• Ensure the site has secure payment methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment options.

In addition, you should display trust badges, ensure customers can create accounts for easy order tracking, create wishlists, or save favorite items for later. Plus, use clear CTA buttons like “Add to Cart,” “Checkout,” and “Buy Now. Optimize the website for search engines to improve organic traffic. Conduct keyword research, create high-quality content, and optimize on-page elements. Use tools like Google Analytics(GA4) to monitor your site’s performance.

Automated Marketing Efforts:

Leveraging the power of marketing automation is crucial and can significantly boost your Black Friday sales.

Let’s see how:

• Adequate Promotions:

Schedule and automate email campaigns to announce the Savior deals. It reminds subscribers of ongoing sales and the latest ongoing offers.

• Personalized Recommendations: 

Use automated marketing tools like “HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Marketo, MailChimp, and Keap” to segment your customer base. Send tailored messages based on browsing and purchase history.

• Strong Social Media Presence:

Start planning your Black Friday social media campaign well in advance. Create a content calendar with specific posts, promotions, and ad dates.  Post teaser content and countdowns to Black Friday. Share sneak peeks of your deals and products.

Streamline Your Checkout Process 

1. Provide the guest with a checkout

According to dotdigital research in the global ecommerce report Hitting the Mark, 20% of brands still need to offer a guest checkout. This isn’t very pleasant for consumers because they usually have to create a customer account.  

At this time, the patience of the consumers is at its lowest while running up to Black Friday; thus, convincing them to create an account may sometimes prove counterproductive.  

With a few other avenues left, the customers may be prevented from falling off by offering a faster guest checkout facility. 

2. Suggest flexible payment options

Yet, another great way to make it easy for customers to shop online is by offering them easy payment options.  

Many payment options in the market can help your customers get what they want today but pay later. Then there is an Afterpay feature too.  

Customers may have to pay in lump sums after some time or may pay installments at their convenience. 

3. Help out with live chat

Live chat is a no-brainer when talking about seamless online shopping experiences. Having your agents ready to answer any customer query helps to maximize customer experience.  

• You can talk to live site visitors, market your products, and upsell.  

• You can even prompt users to sign up for your email newsletter.  

Related: How to Optimize Forms and Checkout Process for CRO

Bottom Line:

Black Friday is a golden opportunity for eCommerce businesses to drive their sales and revenue prospects in 2024. But businesses must implement the above strategies during this sneak peak holiday season to tap the opportunity for great revenue generation.

Related: 8 Dangerous eCommerce Marketing Mistakes You Need to Avoid this Holiday Season

Unlock the secrets of Black Friday success: supercharge your ecommerce sales in 2024 with ResulFirst SEO services! Act now and make your business shine!”

Also Read: Top ChatGPT Prompts to Increase E-Commerce Sales in Holiday Season