Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t just shopping holidays anymore; they’re email Olympics. Everyone’s hitting send, inboxes are overflowing, and the competition for clicks is fierce.
So how do you cut through the noise and make your brand the one your customers actually open, click, and shop from?
You don’t need to shout louder, you just need to be smarter (and more fun).
Here’s how to crush your BFCM email game this year.
1. Start Your Teasers Early
If you wait until Thanksgiving to announce your deals, you’re already late to the party.
Start teasing your sale at least a week ahead. Think of it like movie trailers, a little mystery, a little excitement.
🎯 Pro tip: Use curiosity to your advantage. Try a subject line like:
- “Something BIG is coming 👀”
- “We can’t spill all the tea… yet.”
- “It’s almost time to treat yourself.”
You’re not selling (yet), you’re building anticipation. And that’s half the magic.
2. Segment Your List
Your email list is not one-size-fits-all. Don’t send everyone the same thing!
Your VIPs, new customers, and one-time shoppers all deserve tailored messages.
Examples:
- VIPs: “You get early access because you’re kind of a big deal.”
- First-timers: “Your first Black Friday with us = extra 10% off.”
- Lapsed buyers: “We miss you. So we made this deal irresistible.”
Personalized emails can double your click rate. No AI magic needed, just smart targeting.
3. Optimize Subject Lines
You have 50 characters to earn a click. Make it count.
Skip the spammy ALL CAPS and endless exclamation points. Instead, go for clever, concise, and human.
Try These:
- “Your cart called, it’s ready for a discount.”
- “Deals hotter than your morning coffee ☕️”
- “Sale starts now. Blink and you’ll miss it.”
Subject lines that sound like a person wrote them (not a robot) perform way better.
4. Nail the Timing
Sending one big blast on Friday morning? Rookie move.
The best brands spread out their campaigns:
- Monday–Wednesday: Hype and sneak peeks
- Thursday–Friday: Main event emails
- Saturday–Monday: Cyber Monday + last-chance reminders
People shop on their lunch break, before bed, even at work (we see you 👀). Test a few time slots to find your sweet spot.
5. Keep Design Clean and Mobile-Friendly
Over 70% of Black Friday emails are opened on phones, not laptops.
If your email isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re leaving money on the table.
Design Checklist:
- Keep text short and scannable
- Use big, tappable buttons (no tiny links!)
- Use bright visuals and GIFs to grab attention
- Ditch clutter. Let your offer shine
If it takes more than a thumb scroll to find your CTA, you’ve lost them.
Some of our Favorite Email Designs:
6. Use Clear, Clickable CTAs
Your call-to-action should be bold, fun, and obvious.
Think of it like your “buy now” moment but with personality.
🚀 CTA examples that convert:
- “Get My Deal”
- “Let’s Do This”
- “Treat Yo’ Self”
- “Add to Cart Like a Boss”
And repeat it throughout the email, top, middle, and bottom. Don’t make your reader work for it.
7. Create Urgency (Without Stressing People Out)
Try this:
- “Doors close at midnight (and no, we’re not reopening them 😉)”
- “Tick-tock, this deal’s almost gone.”
- “Procrastinators welcome. You’ve got 3 hours left.”
Make your urgency fun, not stressful.
8. Test It Before You Blast It
A/B testing isn’t just for the data nerds; it’s your BFCM secret weapon.
Test your subject lines, visuals, and send times before you hit “launch.”
Try Testing:
- Emojis vs. no emojis
- “Black Friday” vs. “Early Access”
- Button color and placement
Sometimes, one tiny tweak can boost clicks by 20%. Don’t guess, test.
9. Don’t Ghost After the Sale
Once the sale ends, keep the good vibes going.
Follow up with a thank-you, a product recommendation, or even a post-sale surprise.
Ideas for follow-ups:
- “Thanks for shopping small. Here’s 10% off your next order.”
- “Still thinking about it? Here’s one last chance.”
- “Your order’s on the way (and we’re doing a happy dance 🕺)”
Retention is where real growth happens, not just the first click.
10. Automate Where You Can
You’re going to be busy. Let automation do the heavy lifting.
Set up workflows for:
- Abandoned carts
- Wishlist reminders
- Early-access invites
- Post-purchase thank-yous
Automation = more conversions with less chaos. (And more time to enjoy that leftover pie.)
Bonus Tip: Make Your Copy Human
Seriously.
Even in the biggest sales weekend of the year, people crave connection.
Your emails shouldn’t scream “BUY NOW!!!” They should feel like a friend saying, “Hey, don’t miss this awesome deal.”
✨ Tell a story.
✨ Use humor.
✨ Add some brand personality.
Because at the end of the day, people don’t just open emails, they open relationships.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, your Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails don’t have to scream louder; they just have to connect better.
When you mix creativity with strategy, you don’t just make sales, you make superfans.
So go ahead and craft those bold subject lines, drop that early teaser, and make your inbox the place your audience wants to be.
And if you need a hand designing scroll-stopping, click-worthy campaigns that bring serious ROI?
👉 Let ThrivePOP make your BFCM emails pop (and convert).
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