Black Friday Marketing Ideas to Reach Your Sales Goals in 2025 + EXAMPLES + TIPS

Black Friday has practically become a national holiday at this point. 

If you’re a business owner or a marketer, it’s a no-brainer to include Black Friday deals in your marketing strategy. But where to begin, where to begin… 

Don’t worry – we’ve got your back. 

In this post, we’ll share some (23, to be exact) creative ideas to help you with your next Black Friday campaign – examples and tips included! 

So, skipping the lengthy intro, let’s get right into it!

1. Optimize Your Offers for Mobile 

Did you know that 56% of all online sales in 2023 were made using a mobile device? 

That’s more than half – so optimizing your online store for the holiday is a non-negotiable. Most people spend over five hours a day on their mobile devices, so if your offers aren’t mobile-optimized, you risk traffic and sales. 

So, what can you do to make it easier for your customers? 

Here’s what: 

• Make sure your product pages, landing pages, and checkout are responsive and fast-loading on mobile devices,
• Test your website’s usability on mobile platforms,
• Use mobile-specific promotions, like app-only discounts or push notifications,

2. Partner With Influencers and Creators 

Influencer marketing has become a go-to strategy for building brand awareness and driving sales. Collaborating with influencers during Black Friday can really boost your reach and make your offers more relatable since people are hearing about them from influencers they love rather than brands.

 Example:

When Amazon launched its Fire TV Cube, they timed it to Black Friday. They also partnered with influencers to share content and gifted free devices to local creators in exchange for the content.

 https://www.instagram.com/p/BqYZG0mFDpQ/?hl=en

 Some extra tips: 

• Choose influencers who align with your brand and target audience,
• Offer incentives like free products, exclusive discounts, or commission-based deals,
• Ask your influencers to talk about how the product fits into their everyday lives so it’s more relatable.

3. Advertize Your Promotions on Social Media 

Social media is one of the most effective channels for Black Friday promotions. There are over 5 billion active users worldwide, so it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll make a sale this way. 

Running paid ads on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook can: 

• Increase your brand’s visibility,
• Drive traffic to your website or physical store,
• Generate engagement around your deals.

Example:

The Little Avocado, a small business known for its quirky crafts, used Instagram to promote its Cyber Week deals. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIBjAhfsQzD/ 

Pro tip: Experiment with various ad formats and platforms – you won’t know what your audience responds best to until you’ve tried it!

4. Organize Flash Sales 

Flash sales are a tried-and-true way to create urgency and encourage immediate purchases. These short-term promotions work by tapping into customers’ FOMO and motivating them to act fast to secure the deal. 

Example:

BrandCrowd, a custom logo maker, used email marketing to offer users a 66% discount on new logos during a three-day flash sale. They emphasized the limited nature of the offer, which motivated users to take action. 

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8eea_639d389d88734f0abf16554e_13.png Source: https://insense.pro/blog/black-friday-marketing-ideas 

Some extra tips: 

• Create visual urgency by using countdown timers on your website or emails,
• Keep the same tone in your copy with phrases like Hurry! or Offer Ends Soon!

5. Offer Minimum Spend Rewards 

You can motivate your customers to spend more by offering rewards when they hit a certain spending threshold. For example, you could offer gift cards, discounts on future purchases, or exclusive freebies for orders over $50, $100, or whatever other amount you choose.
This approach motivates customers to increase their cart value while leaving them feeling appreciated for their loyalty. That’s a win-win strategy in our book!

6. Provide Free Shipping 

Free shipping is one of the most effective ways to attract customers. In fact, 90% of consumers cite free shipping as a top reason to shop online. Even if you don’t usually offer this perk, what better time to add it than during the Black Friday hype? 

Example:

Sephora combined discounts with free shipping during Black Friday, announcing the offer on social media. The result? Over 14,000 engagements on a single post. 

https://www.instagram.com/todayshow/p/CIHDUvohhfj/ 

Some extra tips: 

• Combine free shipping with upselling or cross-selling,
• Make sure that the free shipping offer is prominently displayed in your ads and on your website.

7. Create Discount Coupons and Codes 

Discount coupons and promo codes are classic Black Friday tools that are considered classics for good reason. They’re a great way to motivate customers while simultaneously reducing cart abandonment rates. 

Pro tip: Add exit-intent popups on your website to offer discounts or other incentives to customers who are about to leave without purchasing.

8. Set Up a Black Friday Email Campaign 

Email marketing remains one of the most profitable digital marketing strategies, with an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent. Black Friday, a holiday that comes with built-in shopper hype, is the perfect time to try this strategy out! 

Example:

Classic Football Shirts is a UK-based store that sells – you guessed it – classic football shirts. They send annual Black Friday emails to inform their customers of exclusive deals. 

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8f44_639d38bf3c2d582a79683c80_11.png

Source: https://insense.pro/blog/black-friday-marketing-ideas 

Some extra tips: 

• Make sure your subject lines are top-notch if you want to increase your open rates,
• Personalize your emails with customer names or previous purchase data,
• Include a countdown timer in your email to create urgency.

9. Create a Black Friday Referral Program 

Referral marketing can be a great way to grow your customer base, with businesses reporting an 86% revenue increase from successful referral programs. Again – Black Friday is a good time to test this strategy since people are already in a shopping mood. 

You can offer rewards like gift cards, discount codes, free trials, or giveaway entries to customers who refer their friends and family. 

Example:

Feelunique, before it was Sephora, launched a two-sided referral program: existing customers earned discounts for referring friends, who also received special deals for signing up. 

Pro tip: Don’t complicate things – make it as simple as possible for users to share referral links.

10. Offer Social Media Exclusive Discounts 

Offering platform-specific discounts makes followers feel valued and motivates them to share your brand with their own followers. 

So, if you reward your social media followers with exclusive Black Friday deals, sales won’t be the only thing feeling the difference! This is also a great strategy to boost engagement and attract new followers.‍

Pro Tip: Use different formats (stories, reels, posts) to reach a wider audience.

11. Live Stream Your Black Friday Event 

Live streaming is a fantastic way to connect with your audience in real-time. It builds trust and creates excitement around your brand simply because it’s more interactive than the standard online shopping experience. 

Example:

During China’s Singles Day, Alibaba generated $3.1 billion (7.5% of total sales) through live streaming. 

Some extra tips: 

• This live stream can be in the format of a Q&A session to answer customer questions,
• Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time deals exclusively during the live stream.

12. Use Black Friday Hashtags 

Hashtags help your posts reach a broader audience and improve organic discovery

on social media platforms. So, when people go out looking for Black Friday deals, your post should be among them! 

Example:

Fashion brand PrettyLittleThing collaborated with a TikTok creator to promote Black Friday deals using #PLTBlackFriday. As you can see, this hashtag combines the name of the brand and the name of the holiday, so it’s easy to find. 

Their content appeared in top search results, which got them an increase in both visibility and traffic. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@eve.whelan123/video/7442261171484331296?q=pretty%20little%20thing%20black%20friday&t=1736906494934 

Some extra tips: 

• Combine general and niche-specific hashtags to maximize reach,
• Invest some extra time in the design of your post so that your offer stands out from similar posts.

13. Offer a Flexible Return Policy

With over $640 billion worth of goods returned annually, providing clear and simple return options can improve customer satisfaction and retention. 

A flexible return policy builds trust, yes, but it also encourages customers to make a purchase, knowing they can return items if needed.

 Some extra tips: 

• Allow returns for a sensible time – at least 30 days after purchase,
• Make the policy easy to understand and accessible on your website,
• Promote it in your Black Friday marketing to reassure shoppers.

14. Launch New Products or Services 

Like we said, Black Friday is the perfect time to introduce new products and capitalize on the heightened shopping activity. 

Example:

In 2020, IKEA launched their #BuybackFriday campaign. The idea was to encourage customers to sell back unwanted furniture for resale, combining sustainability with their Black Friday event. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=429sSl8RN7c&t=2s

 Pro tip: Offer these new items as part of discounted bundles to drive sales.

15. Send Gift Cards 

Gift cards are a simple yet effective way to attract new customers and motivate existing ones. Their main advantage is that they’re super versatile and can be paired with other ofers. 

Example:

Themify, a WordPress theme provider, ran a Black Friday event in 2019 where they offered Amazon gift cards alongside discounts of up to 75%. 

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8ee2_639d38f9e553bf231e846c79_7.jpeg Source: https://insense.pro/blog/black-friday-marketing-ideas 

Pro Tip: The gift cards you give out can be redeemable in other stores, too, but if you make them redeemable in your shop, you’ll get some repeat customers out of the deal!

16. Create a Black Friday Gift Guide 

We’ve all been there, feeling super overwhelmed by the sheer volume of deals during Black Friday. You can help your shoppers deal with this by giving them a curated gift guide. 

Example:

The Verge created Cyber Monday gift guides featuring popular categories like laptops and phones so their customers could find deals easily.

 https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8eed_639d390c406f2f72ec86352e_6.png Source: https://insense.pro/blog/black-friday-marketing-ideas

 Pro tip: Highlight your top-selling products or bundle them into themed categories.

17. Host Black Friday Facebook Events

 Building community connections is the most important thing you can do to gain customer loyalty. Facebook, with its 3 billion users, is a great way to get in touch with your audience. And their handy features, like Events, are the perfect spot to engage directly with them.

 How to do it: 

• Create a Facebook event showcasing your Black Friday deals,
• Notify attendees with updates and exclusive offers,
• Sprinkle in some event-exclusive discounts.

18. Organize Social Media Contests 

Social media contests are a great holiday strategy – they have a shocking conversion rate of 34%! They work so well because they actively encourage user participation, generate excitement, and boost brand visibility. 

To make the offer irresistible, you can include prizes like discounts, gift cards, or free products to participants who engage with your contest by liking, sharing, or commenting. (Which also means more engagement for you, yay!) 

Pro tip: Get creative! Most people see social media as a source of entertainment, so it’s okay to get a little cheeky here.

19. Create Offers with a Sense of Urgency 

We said it before, and we’ll say it again: urgency is a powerful motivator, and Black Friday is the perfect time to use it to your advantage. This works on a psychological basis, so results are practically guaranteed. 

Example:

Superdrug used a discount on Instagram to create FOMO and prompt their potential to act quickly. Notice how the phrase Today Only is highlighted? 

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8eff_639d3920e9b47443e214d0a4_5.png Source: https://insense.pro/blog/black-friday-marketing-ideas

‍20. Extend Deals Beyond Cyber Monday

Don’t limit your sales to just one or two days. Extend your deals to create a Cyber Week or similar event so your shoppers have more time to make their decisions.

 Plus, this will undoubtedly earn the attention of those who missed out on the initial Black Friday sales.

 Example:

Walmart reminded customers about its Cyber Monday deals with an Instagram post. They combined this with the online only strategy, which evoked feelings of exclusivity on top of urgency with the happening now part.

 https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8f17_639d393da44941d4938f938c_4.png Source: https://www.instagram.com/walmart/

 Pro Tip: You can also send follow-up emails to re-engage customers who shopped with you during Black Friday and let them know the sale is still going.

21. Tackle Abandoned Carts

 Did you know that the average cart abandonment rate is nearly 70%?! With that in mind, we really don’t need to emphasize how important it is to find ways to recover these lost sales. 

What to do: 

• Use exit-intent popups to offer discounts when customers are about to leave,
• Send abandoned cart emails to remind shoppers of what they left behind and offer a special incentive to complete their purchase.

22. Offer Free Gifts with Purchases 

Customers love freebies – who doesn’t? Offering a gift with a purchase can entice them to buy more and check out other products you have. 

Example:

SHEFIT, an online fitness retailer, gave customers a free gift with purchases over a specific amount during their Black Friday campaign. This not only increased sales but also encouraged higher cart values. 

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63343441a1da9b07cf060122/677d220a6674252c6c3e8ee5_639d396584d8d46d2e724bd9_2.png Source: https://insense.pro/blog/black-friday-marketing-ideas 

Pro tip: You can combine this with minimum spend rewards for a double incentive.

23. Create a Catchy Black Friday Slogan 

Let’s face it – you’re not the only brand doing a Black Friday deal. And, if you want to stand out, you need to put some extra effort in. On top of cool designs and clever copy, a memorable slogan can make your campaign a real thumb-stopper. 

Example:

Patagonia wrote a whole reversible poem to bring attention to their brand. 

https://www.instagram.com/undercoverosh/p/CVyHwHfFdA1/ Source: https://www.instagram.com/undercoverosh/ 

Some extra tips: 

• Make sure your slogan reflects your brand’s values,
• Use it consistently across all your marketing materials.

When Should You Start Promoting Black Friday? 

There’s no set rule, but we recommend kicking off your prep in early October. 

Why? Because studies have shown that over half of holiday shoppers begin their buying spree in October, making it a prime time to start grabbing their attention. 

For a full marketing strategy, though, starting even earlier – even as early as the summer – can help you build awareness and stay ahead of the competition.

To Recap… 

In this article, we covered 23 Black Friday marketing ideas. Here’s what they were: 

1. Optimizing your offers for mobile users,
2. Partnering with influencers and creators,
3. Advertizing your promotions on social media,
4. Organizing flash sales,
5. Offering minimum spend rewards,
6. Providing free shipping,
7. Creating discount coupons and codes,
8. Setting up an email campaign,
9. Creating a referral program,
10. Offering social media-exclusive discounts,
11. Live streaming your Black Friday event,
12. Using themed hashtags,
13. Offering a flexible return policy,
14. Using this time to launch new products or services,
15. Sending gift cards,
16. Creating a gift guide,
17. Hosting Facebook events,
18. Organizing social media contests,
19. Creating offers with a sense of urgency,
20. Extending deals beyond Black Friday and Cyber Monday,
21. Tackling abandoned carts,
22. Offering free gifts with purchases,
23. Creating a catchy, themed slogan. 

So, if you want to stay ahead of the curve, pick your favorites from the list and get strategizing – it’s never too early to start!‍