7 quick ways to maximize your BFCM revenue

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer just days of high-volume sales. They are critical moments that could make or break Shopify merchants. Because of the rising competition year after year, you need working strategies, not generic advice, that can positively impact your bottom line.

The merchants who win during BFCM don't just discount harder. They are more strategic, faster, and make sales that others do not.  Here are seven concrete ideas to help you maximize your sales before, during, and after the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

1. Start preorders with VIP teasers and loyalty perks

Most merchants wait until the BFCM weekend to launch their offers. Smart merchants begin weeks in advance with preorders and exclusive early access. Why does this work? Well, you capture the budget before your competitors even start promoting. 

When your buyers preorder, they are committed to your product. You use the cash collected from buyers to finance your inventory purchases.

How to do it:

• Launch VIP early-bird access 2-3 weeks before BFCM for email subscribers or loyalty members
• Provide unique bundles or limited-edition items offered exclusively as a preorder
• Use preorders to have confidence in the demand before investing heavily in new inventory.

If you're hesitant about tracking preorders at scale, apps like STOQ handle all the details for you, from variant inventory tracking to notifying customers automatically.

Thinking about preorders? Learn how to set up high-converting preorders on your Shopify store

2. Use segmentation for smarter promotions

Offering the same deal to everyone is like leaving money on the table. Segmented campaigns convert at a rate of 3-5x that of generic blasts because you're talking directly to what each customer wants.

Segments to prioritize:

• VIP customers: Provide early access or better discounts to your top customers
• New subscribers: Welcome them to your shopping experience with a first purchase incentive related to BFCM and current promotions
• High-intent browsers: Retarget customers who viewed products but did not buy one with suggested products that are personalized to their previously viewed items

Use your email platform (Klaviyo, Omnisend) and SMS tools to create these segments ahead of time. Then trigger automated campaigns based on behavior, purchase history, and engagement levels.

3. Create urgency with time-limited offers

BFCM shoppers expect deals, but they buy faster when they feel scarcity. Urgency transforms browsers into buyers. Limited-time discounts or countdown timers can push customers to act before the deal disappears.

Tactics that work:

• Countdown timers on product pages and in emails showing when the deal ends
• Flash sales that run for 2-6 hours, not all weekend
• Limited-quantity bundles that sell out and don't restock
• "Only X left in stock" messaging for high-demand items

The key is authenticity. Don't fake scarcity; customers notice, and it kills trust. Use real inventory levels and genuine time constraints to drive action.

4. Boost average order value with upsells and bundles

You've already paid to get customers to your store. Make every order count by increasing what they spend. Offer complementary products or bundle deals that add value while encouraging larger purchases.

Strategies to raise AOV:

• Product bundles: Offer complimentary products for a small savings (i.e., "Complete the set and save 15%")
• Checkout upsells: Suggest add-ons right pre-purchase ("Also bought..."
• Threshold incentives: Free shipping at 75+ or a gift at 75 to incentivize larger carts
• Post-purchase offer: One-click upsells immediately post-checkout when the intent to buy is highest

Calculations say that a 15% increase in AOV can mean thousands in additional revenue over BFCM weekend without spending more on ads.

5. Optimize your website for speed and mobile

A slow site doesn't just frustrate customers, it costs you sales. Every extra second of load time drops conversion rates by up to 7%. During BFCM traffic spikes, performance issues get magnified.

Quick wins:

• Compress all product images (use tools like TinyPNG or Shopify's built-in compression)
• Remove unused apps that add unnecessary scripts to your storefront
• Test your mobile checkout flow, most BFCM traffic comes from phones
• Use a simple, clean navigation structure so customers find products fast

Run a speed test now using Google PageSpeed Insights and fix the top 3-5 issues before BFCM hits.

6. Simplify the checkout experience

You've convinced someone to buy. Don't lose them at checkout because of friction.

Best practices for frictionless checkout:

• Enable guest checkout, don't force account creation
• Provide consumers with a range of payment options (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Shop Pay).
• Utilise auto-fill for both shipping information and payment information.
• Send a cart abandonment email 30 minutes after a shopper leaves their cart. Include a small incentive to encourage them to finish their purchase.
• Include signals of trust (secure checkout badges, return policy, shipping timeline).

Test your entire checkout flow on both mobile and desktop devices. Every extra click or confusing field is a place where you're losing revenue.

7. Retarget, re-engage, and resell after BFCM

BFCM isn't over when the weekend ends. The customers who bought from you (or almost bought) are your highest-value audience for the next 30-90 days.

Post-BFCM revenue tactics:

• Send follow-up emails seeking reviews and providing a discount for their next purchase
• Retarget your BFCM buyers with complementary product recommendations via email, SMS, and ads
• Re-engage customers who abandoned their cart or just viewed products with "Last chance" or "We saved your cart" messages 
• Launch a Cyber Week or extended sale for anyone who missed the main event

The revenue you generate in the weeks after BFCM often matches what you made during the weekend itself if you have a plan to capture it.

Also read: 16 Must have Shopify apps for BFCM 2025

Turn BFCM into your biggest revenue month

The key to BFCM success is not luck. It is about preparation, execution, and capitalizing on revenue at every step of the customer experience. 

Start early with preorders and VIP access. Segment your messaging so that all of your customers have an offer that feels relevant to them. Create real urgency, increase order values, and simplify the checkout process. Then keep the momentum going with smart post-purchase engagement.

If you're losing sales to stockouts or want to capture preorder revenue before your competition, STOQ helps you recover every missed sale without breaking at scale. Install once, and you're covered for BFCM and beyond.

Ready to make this your best BFCM yet? Start implementing these strategies today!

Try STOQ for free today!