16 Black Friday Ideas for Small Businesses That Want Big Gains

Nikolett Lorincz
September 25, 2025
Marketing
6 min read

Black Friday isn’t just for big retailers. As a small business owner, you can absolutely win during the busiest shopping season of the year, you just need the right strategy.

It’s not about having the biggest budget. It’s about using smart, creative marketing that connects with your audience.

With the right approach, you can:

Attract new customers
Boost your revenue
Strengthen loyalty with existing buyers

This article shares 16 Black Friday marketing ideas to help small online stores stand out, boost sales, and turn shoppers into loyal customers.

Let’s dive in.

16 Black Friday marketing ideas for small businesses

Let’s dive into 16 powerful Black Friday ideas that can drive significant gains for your small business.

1. Create exclusive Black Friday bundles

Offering exclusive bundles is a tried-and-true way to increase the average order value (AOV) during Black Friday. Bundling allows you to pair complementary products or services together at a special price, which customers perceive as added value.

For example, Waterdrop creates bundles that pair different microdrinks with hydration accessories. Their starter set includes a reusable bottle, a pack of popular microdrink flavors, and a stylish carrying sleeve.

These bundles not only give customers more value but also introduce them to products they might not have tried otherwise. By packaging items together at a discounted price, you increase the likelihood of larger purchases and can move more inventory during the holiday rush.

For service-based businesses, bundling works just as well. You could offer multi-service packages or discounted subscriptions. A fitness studio might create a Black Friday bundle that includes personal training sessions, nutritional consultations, and a free class.

The idea is to combine items that your customers would naturally buy together while offering a deal too good to pass up.

2. Leverage social media for maximum exposure

Social media platforms are one of the most powerful tools in your Black Friday marketing strategy.

You can create buzz well before Black Friday even arrives by using teaser posts, countdowns, and engaging videos.

Create a sense of anticipation by showing behind-the-scenes glimpses of your Black Friday preparations or highlighting what exclusive Black Friday deals your followers can expect.

Don’t stop at just posting engage with your audience through interactive content. Run polls about what deals they’d like to see or set up a challenge where users share your posts for a chance to win an early discount.

Offer social-only exclusive deals to reward engagement and boost visibility.

These tactics can:

Expand your reach
Build excitement
Attract new customers

Be sure to take full advantage of these opportunities.

3. Offer early access to loyal customers

Rewarding your most loyal customers with early access to your Black Friday deals can make them feel special and appreciated. This simple gesture builds loyalty and encourages word-of-mouth marketing as happy customers share their special deals with friends and family.

To offer early access, you can send personalized emails to your best customers or to members of your loyalty program, giving them a first look at your discounts.

Offering this perk not only boosts customer retention but also drives sales before the competition heats up.

4. Run a flash sale with limited-time offers

Flash sales are an excellent way to create urgency and drive impulse buys. Offering significant discounts for a short period, like just a few hours, encourages customers to act quickly.

This tactic works especially well during the holiday shopping season, when competition is high and shoppers are eager to snag the best deals.

Flash sales are a proven strategy for a successful Black Friday, helping small businesses capture attention and boost sales in a short time.

Promote these flash sales across all your marketing channels:

Email
Social media
Your website

Make sure customers know the exact times when the deals go live.

For an even bigger impact, announce specific time slots when you’ll drop your best deals. For example, “50% off from 8 AM to 10 AM” or “Limited stock flash sale at noon!” These time-sensitive offers encourage quick decisions and can lead to a major sales boost in a short period.

5. Host a Black Friday event (online or in-store)

Turn your Black Friday promotion into an event that customers can’t wait to attend.

If you have a physical location, hosting a special early-morning event with doorbuster deals, free coffee, and snacks can draw in eager shoppers.

For online businesses, consider hosting a live shopping event where you demo products, answer questions, and drop exclusive, real-time deals.

A live event, whether in-person or virtual, creates a sense of community and excitement. It also provides a chance to interact directly with your customers, making the shopping experience feel more personal.

This kind of engagement is especially important for small businesses, as it can foster stronger customer relationships and differentiate you from larger, more impersonal retailers.

6. Collaborate with other small businesses

Teaming up with other local businesses for Black Friday is a win-win. Partner with small businesses that complement your offerings to create cross-promotions or bundled deals that expand your customer base and provide additional value.

For example, a bakery could collaborate with a local coffee shop to create a “Black Friday Breakfast Bundle,” or a boutique might team up with a jeweler for a fashion and accessories combo deal.

Cross-promotion benefits everyone involved by increasing exposure and giving customers a reason to shop locally. This collaborative approach can also help your business stand out by offering something truly unique that customers won’t find elsewhere.

7. Optimize your email marketing campaign

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for driving Black Friday sales.

To make the most of it, craft a series of campaigns leading up to Black Friday. Start by:

Teasing your deals to build anticipation
Offering early access to subscribers
Creating excitement as the big day approaches

Segment your email list to send tailored offers to different customer groups. For example, new customers might receive exclusive discounts, while loyal shoppers get special deals.

Add a sense of urgency with limited-time offers, and don’t forget to send follow-up emails during and after Black Friday to remind customers who haven’t yet taken advantage of your deals.

8. Use scarcity tactics like “while supplies last”

Scarcity is a powerful motivator. When customers know there’s a limited quantity of a product, they’re more likely to act quickly to avoid missing out.

Incorporate scarcity tactics into your Black Friday promotions by emphasizing limited stock or one-time-only deals. Use phrases like “While Supplies Last” or “Limited Quantities Available” to create urgency and push customers toward faster buying decisions.

This taps into customers’ fear of missing out (FOMO), a key driver in Black Friday sales, and can help clear out old inventory or sell out popular products faster.

9. Create a Black Friday gift guide

Make the shopping experience easier for your customers by offering a Black Friday gift guide.

Organize your products into categories based on your target audience’s needs, such as “Gifts for Her,” “Gifts for Him,” or “Gifts Under $50.” This not only simplifies decision-making but also helps customers discover products they might not have considered.

Promote your gift guides through email, social media, and your website. Offering curated collections for different types of shoppers adds value, especially for those looking for holiday gift ideas, and can increase the likelihood of conversions.

10. Offer buy one, get one Black Friday deals

BOGO deals are a tried-and-true method to increase sales and move inventory. Whether you’re offering “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Buy One, Get One 50% Off,” these deals incentivize customers to purchase more than they might have initially planned.

Promote your BOGO offers heavily across social media, email, and on-site banners to ensure your customers know they’re getting extra value.

These deals are particularly effective for products where you want to boost volume or clear out seasonal inventory.

11. Gamify the user experience with lucky wheel popups

Gamification is a fun and engaging way to increase customer interaction and conversions.

Consider adding a “lucky wheel” popup on your website, where customers can spin to win discounts, free shipping, or other perks. This not only adds excitement to the shopping experience but also encourages customers to stay longer on your site and explore your offerings.

Make sure the rewards are enticing enough to motivate customers to make a purchase. For example, offering a significant discount or free gift with purchase can make the difference between a casual browser and a buyer.

12. Launch a quiz to segment your audience

Quizzes are an interactive and personalized way to engage your audience while gathering valuable insights.

For example, a beauty brand could create a quiz titled “What’s Your Perfect Skincare Routine?” Based on their answers, you can segment your audience and send them targeted Black Friday offers that are tailored to their preferences.

Quizzes are a fun way for customers to engage with your brand, and they also provide data that can inform future marketing efforts. By recommending personalized products, you increase the chances of conversion and improve the overall shopping experience.

13. Use a countdown timer

Want to create a sense of urgency and boost sales? During the week leading up to Black Friday, incorporate a countdown timer pop-up on your site.

This reminds customers of the time running out and builds anticipation for the event.

A well-timed countdown can heighten the FOMO effect, pushing customers to act quickly and complete their purchase before the clock runs out.

14. Use progress bars to increase cart value

Progress bars are a great visual tool to motivate customers to spend a bit more. For example, display a progress bar that fills up as they add items:

“You’re just $12 away from Free Shipping”
“Add $20 more to unlock an exclusive Black Friday gift”

This approach encourages upsells and nudges customers to increase their cart value naturally, without feeling like they’re being pressured. It’s a subtle but effective way to increase your average order value (AOV).

15. Promote your top products on a popup

Showcasing your best-sellers in a pop-up is an effective way to attract customers during the busy holiday season.

Highlighting popular products that other shoppers love can encourage hesitant buyers to stay longer and explore your offerings.

This targeted approach captures the attention of customers who might not have initially found what they wanted but are open to discovering new favorites.

16. Ask for post-purchase feedback

After the sale, ask your customers for feedback. This gives you direct insight into their experience, revealing what worked well and what could be improved.

Use popups on your website to collect feedback from customers after they’ve made a purchase. These popups can appear on the order confirmation page. Keep the questions simple and straightforward, focusing on key aspects of the shopping experience.

FAQ

How can small businesses effectively use SMS marketing to boost Black Friday sales?

SMS marketing offers a direct line to customers, boasting high open rates. Sending timely Black Friday promotions via text can prompt immediate action, increasing sales and customer engagement during the holiday shopping season.

What role do influencer partnerships play in enhancing Black Friday sales for small businesses?

Collaborating with influencers can amplify your Black Friday marketing strategy by reaching a broader audience. Influencers can showcase your products to their followers, driving traffic and increasing conversions during the biggest shopping weekend, the Black Friday sales period.

How can small businesses effectively extend their Black Friday sales into Cyber Monday to maximize revenue?

Extending Black Friday promotions into Cyber Monday can help small businesses maintain momentum and capture additional sales. This approach allows businesses to reach customers who may have missed the initial Black Friday deals. By offering exclusive Cyber Monday discounts or bundling products, small businesses can attract a broader audience and increase overall sales during the extended shopping period.

Wrapping up

Black Friday is a golden opportunity for small business owners to boost sales, clear out inventory, and attract new customers.

By using these 16 Black Friday marketing ideas, you can create a standout Black Friday campaign that drives significant revenue while building customer loyalty.

Get creative, plan ahead, and most importantly—have fun with it!

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