As Black Friday approaches, social media becomes one of the most powerful tools for building anticipation and driving traffic to your online store.
Whether you’re looking to engage existing customers or attract new ones, the tips in this article will ensure you’re fully prepared for this year’s Black Friday sales.
1. Plan and Schedule Ahead
Get a head start by updating your social media profile pictures, cover photos, and links to reflect your Black Friday theme. A cohesive look across all your platforms boosts recognition and consistency, making it easy for customers to engage with your brand wherever they find you.
The key to keeping your social channels active, even during the busiest periods, is scheduling posts and ads in advance. Platforms like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and HubSpot make this easy, and Facebook Ads Manager is perfect for managing paid social campaigns. Planning ahead keeps your feed fresh without the day-of scrambling.
2. Prepare Your Paid Ads
Your Paid Social Media strategy is equally as important as your Organic strategy. You want to ensure you have a budget set aside for Paid campaigns and we recommend you spend a good amount here due to the competition during this short period.
With Paid ads, you can retarget to previous website visitors and those that have previously purchased. You can also reach new audiences through look-a-likes and interest targeting which can be very beneficial for building that reach towards the right people for your business.
3. Offer Exclusive Social Media Deals
Give people a reason to follow your social media accounts with exclusive offers and discount codes just for them. Social-specific codes drive traffic to your platforms, giving followers a sense of special access and rewarding them for engaging with your content.
Create content that teases early access, sneak peeks, and limited-time deals to encourage followers to stay tuned for updates. Not only does this boost your social presence, but it also makes your followers feel like VIPs.
4. Build Buzz and Anticipation
Use the weeks leading up to Black Friday to create excitement around your brand. Countdown timers, sneak previews, and gradual reveals of upcoming deals are all excellent ways to engage your audience. This can be done organically and through paid ads.
Hashtags like #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday can help your posts reach a broader audience, so be sure to include them in your promotional content. The more visibility, the better!
5. Leverage Split Testing
Preparation is key, and that includes split testing your social media content. Try experimenting with different call-to-actions, visuals, and messaging in the lead-up to Black Friday to see what resonates most with your audience.
This will allow you to fine-tune your content for maximum impact once the big day hits.
Just be sure to leave enough time to gather meaningful results – last-minute testing may not give you the insights you need.
6. Don’t Forget Email Integration
Email campaigns are your secret weapon for building excitement ahead of Black Friday.
Use your email list to create personalised campaigns and pair them with your social media efforts. Those on your email list are likely to engage more during the sale, boosting your conversion rate.
Also, don’t overlook the power of lookalike audiences. By using your email marketing list to create these audiences, you can expand your prospecting efforts and drive even more revenue.
7. Encourage Reviews to Build Credibility
Nothing builds trust like genuine customer reviews. In the lead-up to Black Friday, encourage your shoppers to leave feedback.
Featuring positive reviews as part of your creative strategy helps build trust with new customers who may be discovering your brand for the first time during the Black Friday weekend.
Let us help with your Black Friday campaign
With these strategies in place, your social media platforms will be primed for Black Friday success.
Start early, stay consistent, and give your audience plenty of reasons to engage with your brand—and watch the results roll in!
Get in touch here to speak to our Paid Social media experts about your strategy for Black Friday and into the new year.
