Black Friday 2021 is almost here! (November 26, 2021). With indoor shopping blockbusters all but extinct in the age of Coronavirus, projections suggest that Black Friday this year will be an “online shopping bonanza” and that online sales could hit $17 billion.
In order to take advantage of the spending spree, your business might want to consider starting your “Black Friday Sales” in advance of the big day before customers decide to start spending their money elsewhere.
Here are 9 special sales your online business could offer for Black Friday in order to make the most of the holiday season:
1. Offer a 24-Hour Flash Sale
This is an extraordinarily effective sale-upon-a-sale that has been proven to bring in over 50% of sales when implemented on Black Friday.
The idea is to offer a special discount for those who sign up for your email newsletter before Black Friday. Starting now, you’ll want to let everyone know across social media and all your channels that there will be extra discounts on Black Friday for everyone who signs up to your email list before midnight November 26.
Once Black Friday arrives, you simply email your contacts a code that will give them extra savings for just the first 24-hours. For example, if you have a regular Black Friday sale of 50% off, everyone with the code gets 55%.
This is a great incentive to encourage people to start shopping right away and gets your company holiday sales off to a booming start!
2. Incentivize Sales from Abandoned Carts
Instead of spending your time trying to hunt down fresh leads, you might find you get more sales by incentivizing those who have already gone through part of your sales process.
Send a reminder to those who have abandoned a cart and offer them an extra incentive, like an additional 5-10% off, to finish their order.
3. Make Sure to Update Your Product Descriptions 
In order to entice people to check out your offers in the first place, you want to be sure to optimize your product descriptions.
Make sure all your product descriptions are optimized for SEO so they will appear at the top when your ideal customers are searching. And don’t forget that you’re not just writing for algorithms but for people – be sure to use power words in order to evoke emotion and inspire action.
Lastly, don’t forget that the online environment is primarily visual. You want to be sure to include high-quality, attractive images accompanying all your products.
4. Encourage Your Customers to Share Online About Their Purchase
Referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations are still the gold standards for generating trust and new sales. Digital tools make it easy for your best customers to become your champions and ambassadors.
Give your best previous customers a discount code they can share with their audiences on social media, on blogs, and in digital newsletters. You might even want to offer them a special reward to encourage them to share.
5. Offer Discounts to Increase the Average Order Value (AOV)
Offering a bulk rate deal for your products is a great way to increase the overall average order value (AOV) of your sales.
By giving your customers a special discount for buying more than one of a certain type of product, they will be encouraged to buy more by saving more. For example, you could sell one premium candle for $40 or a set of 4 for $120 (Buy 3 Get 1 Free). You’ll help your customers save on the gifts they’re buying while you’ll make more money in the sale.
6. Bundle Products to Create a Special Deal 
Another way to increase your AOV is to bundle items that customers often buy together and offer a discount. Or, consider bundling your top products and selling them at a lower group rate.
For example, if a customer buys the matching hat and gloves in addition to the warm winter coat, the overall price can be cheaper than if they bought those items individually.
7. Making Shipping Free for Orders Over a Certain Cost
Free shipping and/or expedited shipping always sweetens a deal and can be the reason a customer will ultimately choose your online offer over a competitor. However, you have to make sure that your company can profitably absorb the cost of offering shipping for free.
One excellent incentive that can also raise the AOV is to offer free shipping only if and when a customer spends over a certain threshold, perhaps $99+. Your customers will appreciate the savings and convenience and your company will get more 3-figure orders.
8. Give an Experiential Bonus Rather Than a Monetary Discount
On Black Friday, most companies are thinking about discounts. One way your company can stand out from your competitors is by offering a special unique experience instead of cash savings.
This is an especially effective strategy for high-end and premium brands that don’t want to dilute their brand positioning with “cheap sales”. For example, your premium brand might want to create an invite-only Black Friday special event that gives your loyal customers an exclusive opportunity to purchase special products and get access to designers, experts, or celebrities.
9. Donate a Portion of the Sales to Charity 
The holidays are the season of giving, and customers generally love when a portion of money they would have spent anyway goes to help a worthwhile cause. Consider choosing a cause with special relevance for the holidays, like helping suffering children.
You’ll make your customers feel good about buying with you as you partner together to do some good in this crazy world.
Are you ready to optimize your digital sales strategies for Black Friday 2021? To find out more about a customized, integrated digital marketing campaign for your business, schedule a quick chat with our team of experts here at JXT Group. Just give us 718-690-730 or submit our online form with your inquiry.
