Black Friday is one of the biggest opportunities of the year for e-commerce brands. In 2024 alone, U.S. shoppers spent $39 billion during the “Cyber Five” period (Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday), with email marketing driving a huge share of sales.
But here’s the catch: everyone is sending emails during Black Friday. Your customers’ inboxes will be overflowing with subject lines screaming “50% OFF!” and “BIGGEST SALE EVER!”
So how do you cut through the noise, get your emails opened, and turn subscribers into buyers? At AVMDEVS, we help businesses win Black Friday with proven strategies—and now, AI tools are giving email marketing a serious upgrade.
Here are our best tips, tricks, and AI-powered secrets to dominate this year’s Black Friday rush.
1. Start Building Hype Early
Black Friday is no longer a one-day event. Shoppers begin looking for deals weeks before, and brands that show up early get more sales.
- Send teaser emails two weeks out with subject lines like: “Something big is coming…”
- Use early access offers to reward your most loyal subscribers.
- Run “warm-up” campaigns to re-engage inactive subscribers before the big weekend.
AI Tip: Tools like Phrasee and Copy.ai can help you generate multiple subject line variations and test which ones get the highest open rates.
2. Nail Your Subject Lines & Preheaders
Your subject line is your first (and sometimes only) chance to get noticed. During Black Friday, boring lines get buried.
- Keep it short (under 40 characters works best on mobile).
- Add urgency: “Ends Tonight”, “Only 12 Hours Left”.
- Use personalization: “John, your Black Friday deal is inside”.
Don’t forget your preheader text—it’s like a second subject line and can double your chances of getting opened.
AI Tip: Use AI tools like ChatGPT or Jasper to create 10–15 subject line ideas, then A/B test them with your audience.
3. Segment Your Audience
Not every subscriber wants the same thing. A first-time visitor may be interested in free shipping, while a loyal customer might want VIP discounts.
- Segment by purchase history, browsing behavior, and engagement level.
- Create special lists: “loyal customers,” “holiday shoppers,” “last year’s buyers.”
- Tailor deals to each group (higher discounts for new customers, early access for VIPs).
AI Tip: Platforms like Klaviyo and Brevo (Sendinblue) use AI to analyze customer behavior and automatically create smart segments for you.
4. Personalize Beyond First Names
“Hi Sarah” isn’t enough anymore. True personalization is about showing the right products to the right people at the right time.
- Recommend products based on past purchases.
- Highlight items shoppers viewed but didn’t buy.
- Show dynamic discounts (like 10% for browsers, 20% for cart abandoners).
AI Tip: AI-driven product recommendation engines (like Nosto or Dynamic Yield) plug into your emails to showcase personalized product grids.
5. Time Your Emails Strategically
Most brands blast emails on Thursday night or Friday morning, but inboxes are already flooded by then.
- Try early bird campaigns the week before.
- Send midday reminders when inboxes clear.
- Don’t forget last chance emails on Sunday/Monday.
AI Tip: Many platforms now use AI to analyze when each subscriber typically opens emails and send messages at their personal “best time.”
6. Automate Key Journeys
Automation ensures you don’t miss sales opportunities when traffic is high.
- Abandoned cart flows: Recover shoppers who left items behind.
- Browse abandonment flows: Follow up when someone views products but doesn’t buy.
- Post-purchase thank yous: Turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.
AI Tip: Use AI to optimize email frequency so you don’t overwhelm customers (and risk unsubscribes).
7. Design for Mobile First
With nearly 60% of Black Friday purchases happening on mobile, your emails must load fast and look great on small screens.
- Keep layouts simple and scannable.
- Use big CTA buttons that are thumb-friendly.
- Compress images for faster load times.
AI Tip: AI design tools like Canva’s Magic Design can auto-adapt graphics and banners for different screen sizes.
8. Use Urgency & Scarcity (But Be Honest)
FOMO (fear of missing out) still works—if you do it right.
- Add countdown timers to emails.
- Highlight “Only X items left” for popular products.
- Use words like “Today Only” or “Last Chance.”
But don’t fake scarcity—customers can tell, and it kills trust.
9. Combine Email with SMS & Social
The best Black Friday strategies are multi-channel. Email gets attention, but SMS reminders and social ads close the deal.
- Send “cart abandoners” an email, then follow up with an SMS reminder.
- Sync with Meta Advantage+ campaigns to show shoppers products they already viewed or searched for.
- Retarget with personalized offers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
10. Analyze & Learn Fast
Black Friday moves fast—you can’t wait until December to analyze results.
- Track open rates, click-throughs, and conversions daily.
- Use A/B testing on subject lines, offers, and designs.
- Adjust campaigns in real-time for the weekend rush.
AI Tip: AI-driven analytics tools can predict which segments are most likely to buy again, helping you turn Black Friday shoppers into loyal customers.
Final Word
Black Friday is the busiest time of the year, and email remains one of the most powerful tools to capture sales. But success comes from more than blasting discounts, it’s about timing, personalization, automation, and using AI to stay ahead of the competition.
With the right email marketing strategy, your Black Friday campaign won’t just stand out—it will dominate.
Ready to take your Black Friday emails to the next level? AVMDEVS can help.
