13 Proven ways to maximize Shopify sales this BFCM
Black Friday Cyber Monday isn’t just another sale; it’s the biggest shopping moment of the year. 76 million shoppers and $11.5 billion in Shopify sales–these were the numbers during Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) weekend last year!
Your customers are ready to spend, and your job is to make sure they spend with you. The competition will be fierce, inboxes will overflow, and ads will be everywhere. But with the right BFCM marketing strategies, you can cut through the noise and grab attention when it matters most.
In this guide, we’ll walk through 13 proven, easy-to-use implementation ideas that have helped Shopify merchants turn browsers into buyers, raise order values, and keep carts from being abandoned. These are practical tips you can start using right away to make this BFCM your most profitable yet.
13 proven BFCM marketing strategies every Shopify merchant should use
BFCM marketing requires more than just slashing prices. Here’s how to maximize Black Friday sales with smart, Shopify store sales tips and strategies:
- Launch VIP early access sales
Loyalty pays off (literally). Before the Black Friday rush begins, giving your best customers exclusive first dibs on deals is a solid BFCM promotion idea.
You can create a sense of exclusivity by sending a private link or password-protected store section to your top spenders or email subscribers. Highlight limited-quantity products they can grab before anyone else. A simple message like ‘Your early door is open!' can do the trick, driving early sales and giving you momentum before the real rush.
- Use countdown timers everywhere
Nothing pushes hesitant buyers like a ticking clock, but placement matters. Instead of generic ‘Sale Ends Soon!’ banners, you can integrate countdown timers where they’ll have the most impact.
For instance, you can try them on product pages (‘Only 3 left at this price!’), checkout (‘Complete your order in 8:00 for free shipping'), and even abandoned cart emails. Such strategic placements can turn urgency into action.
Real-life case study: En Gold ran a Black Friday campaign with a 20% discount, amplified by a ticking countdown clock. The urgency-driven approach paid off; orders jumped by 40%, proving that a simple timer can significantly push shoppers to buy faster.
- Segment your email list for personalized offers
Forget the plain ‘Dear [First Name]’ approach. In 2025, personalization means tailoring offers based on what customers actually want. If someone bought skincare last year, send them a curated routine with BFCM discounts. Cart abandoners get a gentle nudge with a bonus gift. Big spenders? Offer them early access to luxury bundles.
Reports show that segmented email campaigns generate 760% more revenue than generic blasts.
Write like you’re recommending deals to a friend–warm, direct, and helpful.
Real-life case study: During BFCM, Detox Market tempted shoppers with a full-size freebie on orders over $200. A clean, eye-catching email carried the message. This simple perk encouraged bigger carts, put more products in customers’ hands, and boosted overall sales.
- Bundle & upsell exclusive BFCM products
Customers love feeling like they’ve scored a deal. Bundling best-sellers with complementary items (‘Complete Your Routine: Shirt + Pant for 25% Off’) can help increase average order value.
Now, this can be done by highlighting limited-edition bundles to create FOMO, or even offering a slight discount to make the choice irresistible. To go a step further, at checkout, you can suggest a premium upgrade (‘Add this sock pair for just $10 more’).
The key is making bundles feel exclusive, not just a random mix of products.
- Retarget with urgency-driven ads
When shoppers leave without buying, don’t just remind them with generic ads. Instead, use real-time urgency to pull them back. For instance, show dynamic ads with live inventory updates (‘Only 3 left at this price!’) or countdown timers (‘Deal ends in 2 hours!’).
Here’s a simple black friday advertising tip: Target people who viewed high-value products but didn’t check out. A simple ‘Your cart is waiting, complete now before stock runs out!’ works better than a bland ‘Don’t miss out.’
Keep testing different messages because what works for luxury items may not work for everyday essentials.
- Turn sold-out products into sales via preorders & back-in-stock alerts
Running out of stock on Black Friday? That does not mean losing sales.
When a ‘hot’ product sells out, you can give your customers two great options: either pre-order for the next batch or join a priority waitlist. Add a small perk for patience (‘Reserve yours now and save 5%’) and create buzz by showing interest levels (‘237 customers have reserved theirs!’).
Keep the sign-up process quick, and follow up with personalized alerts when stock returns. This way, you turn disappointment into anticipation.
STOQ can help here, turning stockouts into sales. Over 18,000 Shopify merchants leverage its prowess, sending more than 13 million ‘Back in stock alerts ‘ and unlocking over $155 million in sales.
Plus, with smooth email and SMS notifications, customizable ‘Notify Me’ or preorder buttons, and demand analytics that highlight what shoppers are eyeing, STOQ keeps customers engaged even when inventory dips. It’s a smooth, effective way to recover lost opportunities and keep shopper anticipation high, all without lifting a finger once set up.
Sign up for free with STOQ now!
Read more: How to sell products on Shopify even when they’re out of stock?
- Collaborate with micro-influencers for social proof
In 2025, authentic recommendations from micro-influencers can drive 3x–10x more conversions than celebrity endorsements. When these creators share honest ‘unboxings’ or tutorials, their audience sees excitement, not ads.
Target influencers with 5K–50K followers who genuinely use products like yours. Send them your BFCM marketing bundle before the sale and request honest feedback. Offer their audience a special discount code to spark engagement.
Real-life case study: L’Occitane’s Black Friday push took a creative turn with influencer-curated gift guides. UK creator Robin James featured his personal picks in an Instagram Reel, blending an easygoing tone with premium visuals. The result? A campaign that felt both high-end and relatable, resonating strongly with shoppers.
- Optimize post-purchase upsells & retention
The moment after purchase is golden for building loyalty. Instead of just saying a simple ‘thank you,’ introduce loyalty programs and special offers. Stores that master post-purchase offers see higher repeat sales. This is because warm, friendly re-engagement can turn one-time buyers into regulars without feeling pushy.
Try a low-cost add-on (‘Want to add a matching case for $7?’), or a subscription option (‘Get 15% off when you join our monthly club'). Remember, the aim here is to make every customer feel like you're looking out for them, not just chasing another sale.
Real-life case study: Instead of stopping at Cyber Monday, Essential Jewellery kept the momentum alive with a three-phase email plan aimed at their most engaged audience. The payoff was huge; email drove 37% of November’s total revenue, more than doubling year-over-year performance. December sales also climbed 63%, proving that well-timed post-sale emails can extend the holiday revenue wave.
- Build anticipation with teaser campaigns
Start teasing your BFCM deals 10-14 days early to get shoppers excited. For instance, you can post Instagram stories with blurred product previews (‘Can you guess what's 50% off?’), send emails with subject lines like (‘Our biggest secret drops Friday…’), or create a sense of mystery with a countdown (‘3 days until everything changes’).
Stores that build anticipation are likely to see more traffic when the sale actually goes live. The real trick is revealing just enough to spark curiosity without giving everything away.
- Create SEO-optimized BFCM landing pages
A boring ‘/black-friday’ page in all probability won't cut it. It’s important that merchants create an engaging, info-packed landing page that answers all questions.
A good black friday advertising tip would be to include FAQs about shipping and returns, real customer photos, and clear ‘Shop Now’ buttons above the fold. Further, you can use phrases like ‘best Black Friday deals on [your product type]’ throughout the text.
Also, keep the design clean so mobile users can browse easily, and update it yearly so Google sees it as fresh content.
Real-life case study: Deal-finding hub Krazy Coupon Lady joined forces with Masthead Media to supercharge their BFCM landing pages. By packing them with search-friendly content, they achieved an 887% jump in top-3 keyword rankings, nearly 1,000 #1 positions, and a 64% boost in search traffic. Featured snippets also spiked 21%, cementing their visibility during the shopping rush.
- Utilize SMS marketing for instant reach
SMS marketing isn't just for alerts anymore. You can deploy it for instant reach and reminders (‘Sarah, your exclusive BFCM link is ready!’).
Ideally, keep your messages short and ultra-clear (‘Today only: 30% off on everything! Shop now [link]'). Write like you're texting a friend about a great find. You can, for instance, use emojis to make it fun, or highlight urgency through special coupon codes and one-time offers. The key is also making each message feel helpful, not spammy.
- Highlight trust signals & easy returns
A lesser discussed but super important BFCM marketing strategy is the management of returns.
To build trust right away, let shoppers know shipping cutoff dates and return windows clearly (‘Free returns until January 31.’). Also, today's shoppers rely highly on trust signals. So, instead of showing generic claims like ‘trusted by thousands, ’ show real-time proof: ‘1,283 orders placed today, 'recent customer photos with reviews, and clear return policies (‘90 days to decide’).
You may also highlight any awards or press features, but keep it genuine.
- Offer payment flexibility
High-ticket items can sometimes scare shoppers off, unless you remove the financial friction.
Luckily, Shopify offers many flexible payment options. Like for instance, Shop Pay Installments makes it easy to offer Buy Now, Pay Later options for both online and in-store shoppers. Buyers can choose to pay the full amount right away or split it into smaller, scheduled payments. During Black Friday sales, when deals are short-lived, this option can ease the hesitation and promote action.
Remember, it's not about pushing bigger spend, but making higher-value purchases feel manageable.
Wrap-Up: Your path to BFCM Shopify success
You now have 13 proven strategies to make this BFCM count. But one thing many merchants forget is planning for when best-sellers run out. It happens more often than you think: a product goes viral before Black Friday, sells out in hours, and potential buyers walk away.
That’s something you can’t afford during the biggest shopping weekend of the year. This is where STOQ rises. It lets customers place preorders or join a back-in-stock list the moment items sell out, so you keep orders coming in even without immediate stock. Many Shopify stores have turned ‘sold out’ into thousands of dollars in extra sales by setting this up before BFCM begins.
In the truest sense, the real path to BFCM marketing success isn’t just big discounts or deals; it’s meticulous preparation. Have your preorder system in place, your marketing ready, and your ‘Plan B’ active before the first customer even lands on your site.
That’s how you stay ahead.
FAQs about BFCM Marketing 2025
1. What types of BFCM offers drive the highest average order value on Shopify?
Using specific discount coupons, limited-time offers, bundling high-value products, and upselling are a few effective BFCM marketing strategies for increasing average order value.
2. What role do social media and influencer partnerships play in BFCM marketing?
Social platforms and influencers are arguably the most important part of BFCM marketing. A genuine influencer mention feels like a friend’s recommendation, and that can build more trust than a generic ad. That combo of focus and real voice can ensure your Black Friday sale efforts are a success.
A solid Shopify store sales tip is to pick one or two networks where your audience hangs out and build focused campaigns there.
3. What are the key trust signals to display on my Shopify store during BFCM?
Real customer reviews, clear return policies, and precise shipping deadlines are super important trust signals. Shoppers during BFCM look for assurance, so a ‘Free returns through January’ banner or verified star ratings can build confidence fast and boost sales.
4. How do I handle inventory and avoid stockouts during BFCM sales?
Shopify experienced massive spikes ($4.6 million per minute) at peak in the 2024 BFCM weekend, so keeping a buffer or flexible alerts is absolutely necessary.
Track fast-moving items and put backup plans in place, like preorder or ‘notify me’ options when stock runs dry. STOQ can help here with advanced AI-powered analytics, partial payment & inventory-based limits, and ‘back in stock alerts’ to ensure that you never lose customers even if you run out of stock last minute.
