How to Prepare Your Instagram Account for Black Friday

Here’s how you can prepare your Instagram account for Black Friday. 

Believe it or not, there once was a day and age when people had to abandon the comfort of their living room couch to make Christmas shopping happen—crazy, right? Now, thanks to Amazon, eBay and Google Shopping, you don’t even need to put pants on to make purchases. Make sure your Instagram account is ready for Black Friday. 

And with good reason—when Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) rolls around, most of America goes mad. Believe it or not, 30% of annual retail sales in the United States take place between Black Friday and Christmas.

Yup, the day after Thanksgiving, consumer madness lets loose …

Fortunately, as an entrepreneur, you’ve chosen to forego the mania of brick-and-mortar business, choosing to build out a more digital storefront. Only, this Black Friday, instead of scheduling a Facebook post and firing off a few aimless tweets, use Instagram to your advantage.

Seriously, with over 500 million active monthly users, the innovative social network isn’t only known for catching people’s attention with high-quality images and impressive user engagement levels, it’s also great for helping brands make sales.

Intrigued? Here’s how to properly make Black Friday on Instagram happen:

Introduction to Black Friday on Instagram

Black Friday on Instagram has evolved into a pivotal event for brands and consumers alike, leveraging the platform’s visual and interactive capabilities to drive sales and engagement. As one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Instagram has transformed into a dynamic marketplace where businesses unveil exclusive deals and promotions through compelling visuals, Stories, and videos.

Influencers also play a crucial role, endorsing products and sharing curated lists to guide followers through the frenzy of discounts. With hashtags like #BlackFridayDeals and #ShopLocal, Instagram not only amplifies the excitement surrounding discounts but also fosters community engagement and brand loyalty during this high-stakes retail extravaganza.

Importance of Instagram for Black Friday Marketing

Instagram stands out as a crucial platform for Black Friday marketing due to its unparalleled ability to connect brands with a vast audience of eager shoppers. With over a billion active users and a visually-driven interface, Instagram offers businesses a compelling stage to showcase exclusive deals and promotions. 

The platform’s features like Stories, Shopping tags, allow brands to craft immersive and persuasive campaigns that resonate deeply with their target demographics. Influencers further amplify reach and credibility, leveraging their followers to drive traffic and sales. By harnessing Instagram’s reach and engagement potential during Black Friday, brands can effectively maximize visibility, engagement, and ultimately, sales conversions, making it an indispensable tool in the modern marketing toolkit.

Statistics and Impact of Black Friday on Retail Sales

Black Friday exerts a profound impact on retail sales, reflected in staggering statistics year after year. In the United States alone, Black Friday consistently ranks among the top sales days, with billions of dollars spent both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. 

According to industry reports, e-commerce sales during Black Friday surged significantly, driven largely by mobile shopping trends and strategic digital marketing efforts. The event not only marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season but also serves as a barometer for consumer spending trends and retail performance.

With Instagram playing a pivotal role in this ecosystem, brands leverage the platform’s visual storytelling and direct shopping features to capitalize on consumer enthusiasm and drive substantial revenue during this critical period.

Steps to Prepare Your Instagram Account

Preparing your Instagram account involves strategic steps to optimize its appeal and functionality, ensuring it effectively communicates your brand’s message to your audience. From refining your bio and profile picture to curating a cohesive feed aesthetic and utilizing Instagram’s latest features, each step plays a crucial role in enhancing engagement and attracting followers.

By implementing these preparations thoughtfully, businesses and influencers can establish a strong online presence that resonates with their target demographic, fostering meaningful interactions and driving growth on the platform.

* Step #1: Choose Promotion Type

Makes sense, right?

With the rest of America’s most booming brands offering their fair share of jaw-dropping promotions, it’s your job to do the same. Whether it be discounted products, free shipping, a flash sale or generous loyalty points, your promotion must be top-notch.

Types of Promotions for Black Friday

For Black Friday, businesses employ various types of promotions to capture consumer attention and drive sales. Common strategies include percentage discounts on products or services, such as “20% off storewide” or “Buy One, Get One Free” deals. Limited-time offers create urgency, compelling customers to make quick purchasing decisions, while flash sales and hourly discounts add an element of excitement. 

Bundling products or services at a reduced price or offering exclusive early access to loyal customers can also enhance engagement and loyalty. Additionally, businesses often utilize Instagram-specific promotions like Instagram Stories-exclusive deals or influencers to promote limited-time offers, leveraging the platform’s visual appeal and real-time interaction capabilities to maximize impact.

* Step #2: Build Out a Landing Page

Wait! Just because you’re not a web developer doesn’t mean you should panic. Simply use Unbounce or LeadPages for affordable access to thousands of top-notch landing page templates.

After some deliberation, use one to tease your promotion and capture emails.

Tools for Creating Landing Pages

Preparing your Instagram account for Black Friday involves leveraging effective tools for creating landing pages that seamlessly integrate with your promotional efforts. Utilizing platforms like Linktree or Tap.bio allows you to optimize your Instagram bio link by directing followers to a customizable landing page featuring all your Black Friday offers in one place. These tools enable you to showcase multiple promotions, highlight key products, and provide direct links to purchase, enhancing user experience and conversion rates. 

Integrating analytics tools such as Google Analytics or built-in metrics from landing page providers allows you to track visitor behavior, measure campaign effectiveness, and refine your strategies in real-time. By utilizing these tools, businesses can maximize the impact of their Black Friday promotions, driving traffic and sales directly from their Instagram profile.

* Step #3: Automate Promotional Codes

With your landing page in place, make sure it’s linked to your brand’s autoresponder—both MailChimp and AWeber are excellent options. As prospects begin handing over their email addresses on your landing page, automate an email response to give them their promo code.

Email Autoresponders for Black Friday Promotions

For Black Friday promotions, integrating email autoresponders is a strategic way to engage with customers and maximize sales. Setting up automated email sequences through platforms like Mailchimp or Klaviyo allows businesses to deliver targeted messages at optimal times, such as when a subscriber signs up or makes a purchase. 

These sequences can include personalized discount codes, product recommendations based on browsing behavior, and reminders about limited-time offers. By leveraging email autoresponders, businesses can nurture leads, build anticipation for upcoming promotions, and drive conversion rates by keeping their audience informed and engaged throughout the Black Friday sales period.

* Step #4: Use a Link Shortener

But wait—how are potential buyers going to find your landing page in the first place?

This is where Instagram comes into focus. Using a free URL shortener like Bitly, shrink your landing page link down to size. From there, include it in your brand’s Instagram bio.

Benefits of Using URL Shorteners

Using URL shorteners offers several benefits when preparing your Instagram account for Black Friday promotions. Firstly, they allow you to conserve valuable character space in your bio or captions, maximizing the impact of your message without clutter. Shortened URLs are also easier to manage and track, providing insights into click-through rates and campaign performance through analytics tools like Bitly or TinyURL. 

Additionally, custom short links can enhance brand visibility and recognition, making it simpler for followers to remember and share your promotional links. Moreover, URL shorteners enable you to edit destination URLs even after posts are published, ensuring flexibility and accuracy throughout your Black Friday marketing efforts on Instagram.

* Step #5: Include a CTA In Your Instagram Bio

A shortened URL alone won’t do the trick, though …

For all Instagram followers know, it could just be a link to your website.

To combat this, include a short-form call to action, inviting visitors to click through to your landing page for a #BlackFriday special—you get the idea.

Crafting an Effective CTA

Crafting an effective Call-to-Action (CTA) is crucial when preparing your Instagram account for Black Friday promotions. Begin by using compelling language that prompts immediate action, such as “Shop Now,” “Discover Deals,” or “Claim Your Discount.” Clearly communicate the value proposition of your offer to entice followers, emphasizing limited-time availability or exclusive benefits. 

Utilize actionable verbs and incorporate urgency to motivate engagement, ensuring that your CTA stands out visually and aligns with your overall brand voice and aesthetic. Including a direct link to your Black Friday landing page or promotional offer in your bio or post captions enhances accessibility and encourages seamless navigation for potential customers, optimizing conversion rates during this critical sales period.

* Step #6: Publish a ‘Teaser’ Post or Two

Having spent countless hours building a reputation for yourself as a high-quality content creator on Instagram, now is the time to cash in on all of that hard work.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, send out a post or two, inviting followers to click on the link in your profile for an awesome, one-of-a-kind promotional offer. Additionally, you can post an image containing a QR code (which can be created using a QR code generator) for your audience to scan.

Creating Engaging Teaser Posts

Creating engaging teaser posts is essential for building anticipation and maximizing impact when preparing your Instagram account for Black Friday promotions. Start by using captivating visuals that highlight your featured products or services, accompanied by compelling captions that tease exclusive deals or discounts. Incorporate countdowns or sneak peeks to generate excitement and urgency among your followers. 

Utilize Instagram Stories to provide behind-the-scenes previews or product demonstrations, fostering curiosity and driving engagement. Encourage interaction through interactive elements like polls or Q&A sessions, prompting followers to anticipate and participate in upcoming Black Friday offers. By strategically crafting teaser posts, businesses can effectively build momentum, increase visibility, and drive anticipation leading up to the main event, maximizing engagement and sales opportunities on Instagram.

* Step #7: Kick Back, Relax, and Enjoy Your Instagram Account for Black Friday

This last step is by far our favorite …

While falling asleep on the couch to the Detroit Lions losing yet another game, take comfort in the fact that your Instagram account is already building interest in your brand’s products.

The result? Your Instagram account for Black Friday will never have been sweeter!

Monitoring and Engaging During Black Friday

Monitoring and engaging during Black Friday requires proactive strategies to capitalize on the heightened activity and maximize customer interaction. Start by closely monitoring your Instagram account for comments, messages, and mentions, promptly responding to inquiries and feedback to maintain customer satisfaction and trust. Utilize social listening tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social to track mentions of your brand and competitors, identifying trends and opportunities for real-time engagement. 

Implement scheduled posts and Stories to keep followers informed about ongoing promotions and last-minute deals, leveraging Instagram’s features to highlight customer testimonials or user-generated content to foster community engagement. Additionally, monitor key metrics like engagement rates and click-throughs to assess campaign performance, making necessary adjustments to optimize your Black Friday strategy for continued success on Instagram.

Time for Action!

What good is all of this without taking action? 

Don’t sit by idly, thinking that the magical powers of Black Friday alone will bring about a heavy influx of sales—things don’t work that way.

Follow each of the above seven steps to make your Instagram Account for Black Friday one for the ages!