How to Run a Black Friday Sale on Shopify: My Proven Tips for Crushing It

Black Friday is the biggest sales day of the year, and running a successful sale on Shopify requires careful preparation. Over the years, I’ve learned what works (and what doesn’t) to ensure my store thrives during this shopping frenzy. Let me share my tried-and-true tips so you can check off the right boxes and dominate this Black Friday.

1. Create a Dedicated Black Friday Theme

One of my go-to strategies is setting up a Black Friday-specific theme in advance. Here’s why:

• Visual cues: Customers need to know immediately that it’s Black Friday when they land on your store. Use bold headers like, "40% OFF All T-Shirts!" or "60% OFF These Products Today Only!" to grab attention.
• Highlight deals: Showcase the best deals front and center. Use a carousel to display rotating offers, and update it throughout the day as items sell out. For example, when a product is gone, swap it for the next deal.

Easy switching: Keep this Black Friday theme ready to publish on the day of the event. It saves time and ensures your store is optimized for conversions.

2. Prepare Your Products and Discounts

Not all products need to go on sale, but the ones that do should have compelling discounts. Here’s how to prepare:

• Plan your deals: Decide in advance which products will be discounted and by how much. Be aggressive with your discounts—customers expect unbeatable offers on Black Friday.
• Stock up: Ensure you have enough inventory or reliable fulfillment channels (print-on-demand, dropshipping, or warehousing). Nothing kills trust faster than overselling and failing to deliver.

Pro tip: If you’re working with dropshipping partners, confirm they can handle the increased order volume and shipping timelines for the holiday rush.

3. Use an Announcement Bar

An announcement bar is a simple yet powerful tool to communicate deals. Here’s what to include:

• A clear, concise message like: "Free Shipping on All Orders Today Only!" or "Black Friday: 50% Off Sitewide!"
• Make it sticky so it stays visible as customers browse your site.

I recommend using apps like Libautech Announcement Bar, which are easy to set up and customizable. You can rotate messages or keep a static announcement—whatever works best for your store.

4. Run Retargeting Ads

Black Friday is all about converting the audience you’ve already built. Retargeting ads work wonders here.

• Collect audience data year-round: Use Facebook and Instagram ads to build custom audiences of people who have visited your store or engaged with your brand.
• Set up retargeting campaigns: On Black Friday, focus solely on retargeting these audiences with irresistible deals. For example, remind them of products they viewed but didn’t buy, and offer a special discount to close the sale.

In my experience, retargeting on Black Friday often generates revenue equal to 2–3 months of regular sales.

5. Leverage Shopify Email Campaigns

Email marketing is a no-brainer for Black Friday. Shopify makes it easy with built-in email tools and pre-designed templates. Here’s my winning email strategy:

1. 24-Hour Teaser: Send an email the day before Black Friday announcing the upcoming sale. Create anticipation and include sneak peeks of the deals.
2. Sale Start Announcement: Send a second email at midnight or early morning when the sale begins. Use a bold subject line like "Black Friday Deals Are Live—Shop Now!"
3. Final Hour Push: Send a third email 2–3 hours before the sale ends to create urgency. Use phrases like "Last Chance to Save—Deals End Soon!"

This sequence works because it keeps your store top of mind without overwhelming customers.

6. Upsells and Add-Ons

Black Friday is the perfect time to boost your average order value. Offer add-ons or bundles with apps like Libautech Smart Upsell:

• Show related products or frequently bought-together suggestions.
• Offer discounts on additional items when customers add specific products to their cart.

These strategies encourage customers to spend more without feeling like they’re being upsold.

Final Thoughts

Black Friday success boils down to preparation and execution. From creating a dedicated theme to crafting irresistible deals, every detail matters. Focus on:

1. Highlighting deals clearly on your store.
2. Offering unbeatable discounts.
3. Retargeting your audience.
4. Using Shopify’s built-in tools like email campaigns and announcement bars.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to making this Black Friday your most profitable yet.

Happy selling, and here’s to crushing it this year!

‍