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Get ready for Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) success with our 60-day checklist. Whether you're fine-tuning campaigns or optimizing product pages, this guide ensures you’re hitting the key deadlines for maximum sales. Start filling your funnel and building momentum to outperform last year’s results.
Key Deadlines for a successful BFCM
✅ October 1st: Finish 60-Day Plan
✅ October 20th: Launch Initial Campaigns Start Filling that Funnel
60-Day Black Friday Checklist
By October 1st
Your Top Priorities:
1. Analyse Last Year’s Performance ⭐
Set a baseline using Shopify’s reports. Navigate to Analytics > Reports, select the “Black Friday Cyber Monday” period, and review:
• Top Selling Products: Ensure the top-performing products from last year are in stock and consider promoting them again if they’re still relevant.
• Sales and Sessions by Traffic Source: Check which channels drove the most sales and traffic. Ensure these channels are still active and align with your 2024 strategy.
2. Launch Initial Campaigns ⭐ by October 20th
Now is the perfect time to kick off your top-of-the-funnel (TOF) campaigns to build awareness and attract potential customers before launching Black Friday campaigns. Blend AI will launch full-funnel campaigns for you in seconds.
3. Start Building Your Email List ⭐
Use pop-ups and incentives such as discounts or free shipping to start collecting as many emails as possible in the lead-up to Black Friday. These will be invaluable for retargeting down the line. Don’t forget this is essentially free retargeting.
4. Create your discounts, bundles and deals ⭐
Offer deals based on last year’s top-sellers. Use early discounts, bundles, and tiered offers to drive sales and maximise profits. Here are the 20 popular discount types for Black Friday.
Don’t Forget These Essentials:
✅ Spy on Competitors
Research your competitors’ tactics from last year. Plan to outdo them. Look for their ad strategies, product offerings, and any gaps you can exploit. Here you can see your competitor’s Facebook ads and Google ads.
✅ Plan Your Content
Develop content themes and timelines for ad creatives, emails and social posts leading up to Black Friday. Ensure your messaging is consistent and builds anticipation.
✅ Develop a Customer Support Plan
Ensure your team is ready to handle increased traffic and inquiries. Consider using Shopify Inbox or another live chat app to provide real-time assistance. This can significantly reduce cart abandonment rates by answering customer queries immediately.
✅ Evaluate Your Checkout Process
Simplify and test your checkout process. Any friction can cost you sales. Remove unnecessary steps and offer guest checkout to reduce cart abandonment.
✅ Audit Your Website’s Speed
Slow websites lose sales. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to ensure your site is fast. Aim for a load time of under 3 seconds and fix any bottlenecks.
✅ Display Reviews & Sync to Merchant Centre
Ensure reviews and testimonials are present on your site to boost credibility. Use tools like Judge.me to display authentic customer feedback prominently and sync with Google Merchant Centre so they appear with your product ads.
✅ Update Return Policies
Clear, customer-friendly return policies can reduce buyer hesitation. Make sure they are easily accessible and communicated during the checkout process.
✅ Launch Countdown Timers
Add countdown timers to your site. Create urgency and anticipation. Place them on product pages, banners, and in email campaigns to remind customers of the ticking clock. Here is a FREE countdown timer bar for Shopify stores.
✅ Optimise Product Pages
Update product descriptions, titles, and images for SEO and improved conversions. Every detail counts. Focus on benefits, not just features, and use high-quality images to showcase your products.
✅ Set Up Retargeting Campaigns
Begin creating retargeting ads for potential customers who visit but don’t convert. Use dynamic ads to remind them of products they viewed or left in their cart using tools like Blend AI and Pulse.
Google Ads promo codes (also known as coupons or vouchers) offer new advertisers a chance to gain ad credits to boost their campaigns. In 2024, the most common offer is “Spend $500, get $500”. Here’s a complete guide on how to redeem and maximise this opportunity.
Google Promo Codes - Nov 2024 Update
United States
3 New Offers:
- Spend $500 - Get $500
- Spend $1500 - Get $1500
- Spend $3000 - Get $3000
United Kingdom
3 New Offers:
- Spend £400 - Get £400
- Spend £1200 - Get £1200
- Spend £2400 - Get £2400
Australia
3 New Offers:
- Spend $600 - Get $600
- Spend $1800 - Get $1200
- Spend $3600 - Get $1800
Terms and Conditions
1. Eligibility: Promo codes are available for new Google Ads accounts or accounts that have been inactive and meet specific criteria. You typically cannot request a code, as they are given as part of specific offers from Google or its partners.
2. Setting Up Your Account: Ensure that your billing information is entered. Without billing information, the promo code won’t apply.
3. Redeem the Code:
- Enter your promo code on the Promotions page under Billing in Google Ads.
- You must meet the spend threshold (e.g., spend $500 to receive $500 credit) within a set time frame, typically 30 days. Only spend after entering the code will count toward this requirement.
4. Track Your Progress:
- Visit the Promotions page in your account to check the status of your promo code. You can see if it’s "Active", "Redeemed", or "Processing", and how much of the credit is left.
- You can also monitor the expiration date, which is usually 60 days after the credit is applied.
Google Promo Code Restrictions
Promo credits can only be used for advertising, and any remaining credit cannot be refunded if you cancel your account. Promo codes are non-transferable, meaning they cannot be moved between accounts or users, and they will expire if the requirements aren’t met.
Reactivation Offers
Google Ads also provides $1200 promo codes for reactivating paused or inactive accounts. These codes offer substantial ad credits to businesses that want to restart their campaigns, but eligibility depends on the specific terms of the offer.
Feature-Specific Promotions
Sometimes, Google grants new credits to promote new features. For instance, in the past, Google has offered $500 credits to encourage advertisers to launch Performance Max (PMAX) campaigns, highlighting the importance of adopting these new features early.
Regional Considerations: AU, US, and UK
◦ The promo terms in Australia (AU), United States (US), and United Kingdom (UK) are similar, though there may be minor regional variations, particularly in currency and spending limits. Check your local Google Ads policy for exact details. https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/1396257
Recently Redeemed Offers
At Blend AI we are continuously monitor Google Ads Promos to make sure our clients make the most our of their budgets.
The list below is a summary of the recently redeemed google ads promo codes via Blend AI platform.
FAQs on Google Ads Promo Codes
1. Am I eligible for Google Ads promotional credit?
You are eligible if you’re a new advertiser or reactivating an inactive account. Promo codes are generally not available for existing active accounts unless otherwise specified in the offer
2. Can I get a promotional code if I already have an active Google Ads account?
No, creating a new Google Ads account while having an active one won’t make you eligible. Google limits promo codes to one per customer. However, you may qualify if you reactivate an inactive account or enable new features as stated in the offer.
3. How do I avoid extra charges after using the promo?
You can pause your ads before the promotional credit is exhausted. Be aware that Google won’t notify you when the credit runs out, so it’s important to check your ad spend regularly.
4. When is the promotional credit applied?
Once you meet the required spend and all eligibility checks are completed, the credit will be applied within 35 days to your account’s billing summary.
5. Does the promo credit expire?
Yes, promo credits usually expire 60 days after they’re applied, unless specified otherwise. You can track expiration dates under the Promotions tab.
6. What happens if I use a different currency for my Google Ads account?
If your Google Ads account operates in a different currency from the promo credit, foreign currency fluctuations may affect the spend requirement and the actual promo credit applied.
7. Are there restrictions on the promotional credit?
Yes, the promo credit cannot be transferred, refunded, or used for taxes or fees. If a billing transfer occurs, the active promo credits will expire and cannot be transferred to the new account owner.
When it comes to optimising Google Ads, understanding the nuances of bidding strategies is essential to achieve your campaign objectives. This article will break down Max Conversions, Max Conversion Value, and Target ROAS (tROAS)—highlighting how each approach works, when to use them, and the key differences between them.
1. Max Conversions: Focus on Volume
The Max Conversions strategy aims to get as many conversions as possible within your set budget. This strategy doesn’t discriminate between the values of those conversions, meaning every conversion—whether it’s a $10 product or a $1,000 product—gets the same weight.
When to use Max Conversions:
- If your campaign focuses on lead generation (e.g., form submissions, newsletter signups).
- When you're selling low-ticket products with uniform pricing (e.g., skincare products priced around $30 each).
- For awareness or trial campaigns, where the goal is to maximise actions regardless of purchase value.
Example:
Imagine you are running a campaign for an online store that sells accessories like hats, socks, and scarves—all priced between $10 and $15. Using Max Conversions ensures you capture as many buyers as possible, prioritising volume over revenue per transaction.
Watch out for:
While this strategy drives volume, it doesn't account for conversion value differences. For example, if you also sell premium products but use Max Conversions, the algorithm may still prioritise cheaper products, even though those bring in less revenue.
2. Max Conversion Value: Optimising for Profit
In contrast, Max Conversion Value aims to maximise the total value of your conversions rather than their quantity. It focuses on finding higher-value conversions, even if it means sacrificing volume.
When to use Max Conversion Value:
- If your objective is profitability, not just transactions.
- When your product catalogue includes a wide price range (e.g., from $50 to $3,000).
- If you have a good understanding of customer lifetime value (CLV) and want to attract high-value customers.
Example:
Imagine you are selling products like sunglasses, watches, and electric bikes, with prices ranging from $100 to $3,000. A Max Conversion Value strategy will direct the budget towards customers more likely to buy the $3,000 electric bike, rather than focusing on cheaper sunglasses.
Potential pitfall:
This strategy works best when your conversion tracking is accurately set up. Assigning values to the wrong events (e.g., giving too much importance to newsletter signups) could lead the algorithm to prioritise the wrong actions, reducing the effectiveness of your campaign.
3. Target ROAS (tROAS): Balancing Returns with Precision
Target ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) allows advertisers to set a specific return they expect for every dollar spent on ads. The algorithm optimises towards reaching that target by adjusting bids dynamically, focusing on transactions that meet or exceed your desired ROAS threshold.
When to use tROAS:
- If you need to maintain a specific profit margin across your campaigns.
- For multi-category stores, where you need to ensure a minimum profitability threshold across different products.
- When your attribution windows vary, and you need the algorithm to learn from patterns in high-ticket sales.
Example:
Imagine you operate an online shop selling electronics, with both low-margin items like phone cases ($15) and high-margin items like laptops ($1,500). You can set a tROAS of 500%, meaning you want $5 in revenue for every $1 spent. This strategy ensures the algorithm finds high-value customers while respecting your profitability goals.
Pro tip:
Starting with a lower tROAS target (e.g., 300% instead of 800%) allows the algorithm to gradually learn and find opportunities across all product ranges. As the campaign progresses and the algorithm gathers more data, you can increase the tROAS to optimise for higher returns.
Key Differences and Choosing the Right Strategy
Conclusion
Choosing the right bidding strategy in Google Ads depends on your campaign goals. If you're looking for volume, Max Conversions might be the way to go. If profitability is your primary concern, Max Conversion Value will focus on high-ticket transactions. And for campaigns with strict profitability targets, tROAS allows you to fine-tune performance based on return expectations.
At Blend AI, we’ve seen that combining these strategies across different campaigns—depending on product range, audience segmentation, and business objectives—yields the best results. Using the right bidding strategy at the right time ensures that every dollar spent contributes meaningfully to your bottom line.
If you’re unsure which strategy to use or need help optimising your campaigns, reach out to our experts at Blend AI. We’ll help you navigate the complexities of Google Ads and ensure your ad spend is working harder than ever!
This checklist ensures you're focusing on the highest-impact strategies, from urgent email campaigns to optimizing your ad spend, so you don’t miss out on last-minute sales and stay ahead in the crowded e-commerce space.
7-Day Black Friday Checklist
By October 22nd
Your Top Priorities:
1. Deploy High-Impact Emails ⭐
Send your most compelling Black Friday emails. Use urgency and strong CTAs. Consider adding personalised offers based on past purchase behavior.
2. Boost High-Performing Ads ⭐
Increase budget allocation for ads that are delivering strong results. Double down on what’s working to maximise your ROI. Blend AI automatically adjusts budgets based on ad performance across channels and campaigns.
3. Launch Last-Minute Retargeting ⭐
Deploy your last wave of retargeting ads to convert hesitant shoppers. Focus on urgency and scarcity in your messaging.
Don’t Forget These Essentials:
✅ Monitor Ad Performance Constantly
Use Blend AI to keep ads optimised and responsive to real-time data. Watch for shifts in performance and adjust your strategy accordingly using Blend AI.
✅ Push Urgency in All Communications
Emphasise scarcity and urgency in every message. Time is running out. Use countdown timers, limited stock alerts, and urgent CTAs.
✅ Activate Urgent Social Media Posts
Post frequently on social media, emphasising limited-time deals and countdowns. Use real-time engagement to answer questions and drive last-minute sales.
✅ Focus on Cart & Check out Recovery
Intensify your abandoned cart and checkout recovery efforts. Time is running out. Use SMS reminders or last-minute discounts to close the sale.
✅ Roll Out Flash Sales
Launch final flash sales to drive last-minute purchases. Use email and SMS to alert your customers immediately.
✅ Monitor Competitor Activity
Stay alert to competitor actions and be ready to adjust your strategy quickly. Use competitive intelligence tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs or Price2Spy to track their pricing and promotions.
✅ Review Shipping and Options
Make sure your shipping process is streamlined and ready for a high volume of orders. Consider offering expedited shipping to capture last-minute shoppers.
✅ Review Analytics in Real-Time
Keep your analytics dashboards open and monitor them closely throughout the day. Look for trends and be ready to pivot your strategy if needed.
✅ Post Mortem
- Prepare for Post-Sale Follow-Up
- Have your post-sale email sequences ready to engage customers after their purchase. Include thank-yous, delivery updates, and cross-sell offers.
- Analyse and Reflect:
- Post-Sale Review: On Shopify, go to Analytics > Reports and examine which products sold the most, which channels were most effective, and where improvements can be made.
- Customer Feedback: Use Judge.me to collect reviews from customers about their experience. This feedback will be invaluable for future improvements.
✅ Keep the Momentum
Run a Post-Sale Campaign: Follow up with a smaller promotion or a “Thank You” campaign to continue engaging customers who made purchases. Highlight products they may be interested in based on their previous purchases.
✅ Celebrate the Wins
Take a moment to appreciate the effort. Black Friday is intense, but it’s also a huge opportunity. Once the dust settles, acknowledge your team’s hard work.
Video ads are essential for boosting engagement and driving conversions—here's how to make them quickly and effectively. Follow these steps to craft a solid brief, find the right talent, and launch your video ads on Blend AI for maximum impact.
1. Create an Ad Campaign Brief
Save our cheat sheet and tweak it in ChatGPT for crafting the perfect ad brief, then tailor it to your specific campaign needs. This helps keep everything clear for you and anyone you work with. Decide on the visuals, script, and message that will resonate most with your audience.
💡Cheat Sheet
Video Editor & Motion Graphics Designer Wanted for Social Ad
We are seeking a talented video editor and motion graphics designer to create a 30-second client testimonial video for social media (Facebook and Instagram). This video will feature a mix of existing footage, screen recordings of our website/ our shop. We need someone with an eye for detail who can deliver an engaging, visually appealing ad optimized for various formats.
Project Scope:
- Length: 30 seconds
- Source Material:
- Existing raw footage (optional)
- Screen recordings (our website)
- Platforms: Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram (feed, stories, reels)
Responsibilities:
- Video Editing:
- Clean, professional edit combining existing raw footage and screen recordings
- Smooth transitions with a clear, engaging narrative flow
- Optimization for social media platforms (ensuring the video fits format and aesthetic requirements)
- add royalty-free music for relevant channels
- Motion Graphics:
- Light motion graphics to enhance visual appeal
- Text overlays, logo animations, and subtle visual effects
- Maintain brand consistency across all graphic elements
- Final Deliverables:
- High-resolution versions for Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram
- Variants for feed, stories, and reels
- Source files for future edits
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in video editing and motion graphics
- Portfolio showcasing relevant social media work
- Familiarity with Facebook and Instagram video formats and best practices
- Attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills
Project Timeline:
- Must be completed within 1 week of hire.
To Apply:
- Submit a portfolio with relevant work samples
- Briefly describe your approach to this project
- Provide a quote for the full project
We look forward to working with a creative professional to bring this client testimonial to life as a polished, engaging social media video ad!
2. Find a Social Media Video Editor
Head to Upwork and search for talented video editors specialising in social media ads. Pick someone who fits your style and can deliver fast.
3. Film or Source Video Footage
If you're creating the video yourself, shoot the footage. If not, provide your editor with any needed assets, or have them source stock video that aligns with your brand.
4. Edit and Optimise
Let your chosen editor handle the heavy lifting. They’ll edit, add text overlays, and optimise the video for different platforms, ensuring it's engaging and scroll-stopping.
5. Create Video Ads on Blend AI
Upload your shiny new video into Blend AI’s platform, and start crafting the perfect video ad campaigns.
6. Watch the Results Roll In
With your video ads live, sit back and monitor the results! Tweak as necessary based on performance insights to get the most out of your ad spend.
💡 TIP: Effective Use of User-Generated Content
- User-generated content showcases product features and legitimizes the brand
- Makes products relatable and engaging for the audience
- Authenticity and Engagement in Video Ads: Authenticity often outperforms polished production in video ads
