Black Friday Checklist: 10 Expert Tips to Prepare for BFCM (2024)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) can feel like a huge wave that many people have to face. As the clock ticks down, you’re faced with a mountain of tasks: managing inventory, crafting marketing campaigns, and optimizing your website. The pressure is on, and every minute counts. What if, in the chaos, you miss an opportunity to connect with eager shoppers?

Don’t let the stress of BFCM get the best of you! We’ve created the ultimate Black Friday checklist, packed with 10 expert tips designed to help you navigate this busy season with ease.

These proven strategies will ensure you’re not just prepared but promised to dominate the biggest shopping event of the year. From practical actions you can take now to last-minute adjustments, this guide has everything you need to make BFCM 2024 your most successful yet.

Let’s start.

10 Point Black Friday Checklist

1. Gamify Your BFCM Discounts and Deals
2. Make Your Loyalty Program the Star of BFCM
3. Launch Augmented Reality Product Try-Ons
4. Implement “Black Friday Insider” Program to Loyal Customers
5. Curate Mystery Boxes with Black Friday Cyber Monday Themes
6. Create a Robust Email Marketing Strategy
7. Adjust Prices in Real-Time Based on Demand and Inventory
8. Offer Custom BFCM Bundle Discounts
9. Optimize Site Speed and Server Capacity
10. Streamline Your Checkout Process

1. Gamify Your BFCM Discounts and Deals

Engage customers with fun puzzles and games to unlock special discounts. This approach entertains customers and increases time spent on your site.

How to Do It:

• Design simple yet fun puzzles or quizzes related to your products.
• Create a dedicated landing page for the game.
• Offer tiered discounts based on puzzle difficulty.
• Use pop-ups or banners to promote the game across your site.
• Implement a countdown timer to add urgency.
• Promote the game on social media or email campaigns to attract participants.

Here is an example of a “Guess & Win” puzzle with a discount code of 20% off hidden in the crossword.

2. Make Your Loyalty Program the Star of BFCM

Offer points and rewards through your loyalty program to your customers. Encourage them to earn these for every action they take on your store during the Black Friday season.

It drives higher sales, increases customer acquisition and retention. This BFCM strategy can increase average order value by up to 30% and improve customer lifetime value significantly.

How to do it:

• Reward customers for purchases, sign ups, social shares, etc.
• Offer extra loyalty points on BFCM purchases
• Allow members to redeem points for special BFCM discounts
• Set up your referral program with extra BFCM perks
• Create a tiered discount system (e.g., 10% off for silver level, 20% for gold level)

Here is an example of “The Good Chocolate” with an effective loyalty program providing loyalty points for sign ups, purchases, product reviews.

3. Launch Augmented Reality Product Try-Ons

Let your customers virtually test your black friday and cyber monday products before buying. They reduce return rates. By letting shoppers see how products look on them before buying, you’re providing more customer engagement that can set you apart during BFCM sales.

Here is an example of DeepAR product try-ons.

How to do it:

• Choose an AR platform compatible with your e-commerce setup.
• Start with your best-selling items for AR implementation.
• Ensure high-quality 3D models of your products.
• Test thoroughly across different devices and browsers.
• Train your customer service team to assist with AR-related queries.

4. Implement “Black Friday Insider” Program to Loyal Customers

Reward your loyal customers and create buzz by giving them a head start on BFCM deals. This exclusivity spreads word-of-mouth marketing. Plus, it helps manage the rush by distributing some sales before the main event.

How to do it:

• Segment your customer base to identify top spenders and frequent buyers.
• Send personalized emails with unique early access codes.
• Offer a mix of exclusive deals and early bird access to main BFCM offers.
• Use social media plugins to easily spread the FOMO among non-insiders.

Here is an example of Sephora’s beauty insider program with a clear cut insider benefits which is a great boon during black friday sales.

5. Curate Mystery Boxes with Black Friday Cyber Monday Themes

Attract customers with BFCM themed mystery boxes filled with surprise items. It aligns to the popular unboxing trend and customer satisfaction. They’re great for clearing inventory while offering high perceived value.

How to Do It:

• Design attractive packaging that’s “unboxing-worthy”
• Analyze your inventory to identify suitable products for mystery boxes
• Create boxes at different price points to appeal to various budgets
• Ensure the total value of items exceeds the box price significantly

Here is an example template of a personalized mystery box along with a black friday discount coupon code.

6. Create a Robust Email Marketing Strategy

Email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for BFCM sales. A well-planned email campaigns can significantly engage customers at the right time during this period.

How to do it:

• Segment your email list based on customer behavior and preferences.
• Design a series of teaser emails leading up to BFCM
• Plan for abandoned cart recovery emails
• Craft compelling subject lines and content for high open rates
• Schedule emails strategically, considering timing and frequency

Here is an example of an abandoned cart recovery email of Javy.

7. Adjust Prices in Real-Time Based on Demand and Inventory

Dynamic pricing lets you maximize profits by automatically adjusting prices based on various factors. It’s particularly useful during BFCM when demand fluctuates rapidly. This strategy helps you prevent running out of stock too quickly.

How to do it:

• Set up rules for price adjustments based on inventory levels, time, and competitor prices
• Establish price floors and ceilings to maintain profitability and brand perception
• Monitor changes in real-time and be ready to manually intervene if needed
• Communicate the limited-time nature of prices to encourage quick purchases

8. Offer Custom BFCM Bundle Discounts

Custom bundles increase average order value while giving customers exactly what they want. It adds an interactive element to your BFCM offerings and can help move slower-selling inventory.

How to do it:

• Create a user-friendly interface for bundle creation
• Set rules for bundle composition (e.g., pick 3 items from category A and 2 from B)
• Offer increasing discounts for larger bundles to incentivize bigger purchases
• Highlight bundle options on product pages or upsells during checkout.
• Ensure your inventory management system can handle custom bundles.

Below is an example template of black Friday Cyber Monday “Create your own bundle.”

9. Optimize Site Speed and Server Capacity

Slow loading times can kill conversions, especially during high-traffic events like BFCM. Ensure your site can handle the surge without crashing or slowing down.

How to do it:

• Run thorough speed tests and optimize images, code, and plugins
• Upgrade your hosting plan or use cloud-based solutions for scalability
• Implement caching and content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Conduct load testing to simulate heavy traffic
• Have a contingency plan for unexpected technical issues

10. Streamline Your Checkout Process

A complicated checkout leads to cart abandonment. Simplify the process to maximize conversions during the BFCM rush.

How to do it:

• Enable upsells and cross-sells options during checkout.
• Offer various payment methods, including popular digital wallets
• Minimize form fields to only essential information
• Display security badges prominently to build trust
• Implement address autocomplete to speed up the checkout process

Here is an Amazon’s example of cross-sell and upsell products during checkout.

Final Words

And there you have it – your ultimate Black Friday checklist. While most Black Friday shopping tips are directed toward the customer, these strategies will be custom-made to help store owners like you.

Remember, preparation is key. Don’t feel like you need to implement everything at once. Start with the areas where you feel you need the most improvement, and work your way through the list. Every step you take is a step towards a smoother, more profitable BFCM experience.