| name | black-friday-emails |
| description | Creates Black Friday/Cyber Monday email sequences with early access, flash deals, last chance, and extended sale phases. Use for holiday sale campaigns. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Black Friday Emails
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Build a complete Black Friday or Cyber Monday email campaign
- Structure early access, main event, and extended sale email phases
- Write urgency-driven sale emails that stand out in a crowded inbox
- Plan email timing around the BFCM weekend
DO NOT use this skill for year-round promotional emails or generic sale announcements. This is specifically for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and major holiday sale events.
Core Principle
EVERY INBOX IS FLOODED DURING BFCM — YOUR EMAILS MUST CUT THROUGH WITH SPECIFICITY, REAL VALUE, AND A REASON TO BUY FROM YOU INSTEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE.
Phase 1: Campaign Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Products/offers on sale | "What are you discounting and by how much?" | No default — must be provided |
| Sale dates | "When does your sale start and end?" | Black Friday through Cyber Monday (4 days) |
| Best offer | "What's the single best deal you're offering?" | Largest percentage discount |
| Early access plan | "Do VIPs or subscribers get early access?" | Yes, 24 hours early |
| Extended sale | "Will you extend the sale after Cyber Monday?" | No extension |
| Past BFCM results | "Any data from previous years?" | First BFCM campaign |
GATE: Confirm the brief before building the sequence.
Phase 2: Campaign Map
BFCM Email Phases
Phase 1: Warm-Up (1-2 weeks before)
- Tease that a sale is coming
- Build a VIP early access list
- Set expectations on timing
Phase 2: Early Access (24-48 hrs before public sale)
- Exclusive access for subscribers/VIPs
- Full deal reveal with limited-time bonus
Phase 3: Black Friday (Day 1)
- Main sale announcement
- Afternoon reminder for non-openers
Phase 4: Weekend Bridge (Saturday-Sunday)
- Different angle or product spotlight
- Social proof from early buyers
Phase 5: Cyber Monday (Final day)
- New deal or best deal saved for last
- Countdown urgency throughout the day
Phase 6: Extended/Last Chance (optional)
- 24-48 hour extension with clear final deadline
Sequence Map
Email 1 (Day -10): Teaser — "Mark your calendar"
Email 2 (Day -3): VIP early access signup
Email 3 (Day -1): Early access — sale is LIVE for you
Email 4 (Black Friday AM): Main sale announcement
Email 5 (Black Friday PM): Resend to non-openers with new subject
Email 6 (Saturday): Product spotlight or bundle deal
Email 7 (Sunday): Social proof + reminder
Email 8 (Cyber Monday AM): Final day — best deals
Email 9 (Cyber Monday PM): Hours left — last chance
Email 10 (Tuesday): Sale ended OR extended 24 hours
GATE: Approve the sequence map before writing email copy.
Phase 3: Write Email Copy
BFCM Email Rules
- Subject lines must pop — use numbers, emojis strategically, and specific discount amounts
- Keep emails short — 100-200 words max during BFCM. People are scanning.
- One CTA per email — "Shop the sale" with a direct link
- Lead with the deal — no long intros. Discount and link above the fold.
- Differentiate each email — different angle, product, or urgency trigger per send
Subject Line Examples by Phase
- Warm-up: "Our biggest sale of the year is almost here"
- Early access: "You're in early — 40% off starts NOW"
- Black Friday: "BLACK FRIDAY: 50% off everything (24 hours only)"
- Cyber Monday: "Final day. Best price. Don't wait."
- Last chance: "Sale ends in 3 hours — this is it"
Phase 4: Polish
1. Send Schedule
Exact date, time, and timezone for every email.
2. Segmentation Strategy
- VIP/early access segment definition
- Non-opener resend rules
- Buyer exclusion after purchase
- Cart abandoner triggers
3. BFCM Checklist
Anti-Patterns
- Starting promotion on Black Friday — by then every inbox is full. Start warming up 1-2 weeks early.
- Sending 5 emails on Black Friday — two emails max on any single day. More triggers spam complaints.
- Vague discounts — "Big savings inside!" means nothing. "40% off everything" is specific and compelling.
- Identical emails with new subject lines — resends to non-openers need new subject lines AND adjusted preview text at minimum.
- No early access for subscribers — your existing list should feel rewarded. Early access builds loyalty.
Recovery
- Only one product to sell: Focus emails on different angles of the same product — features, social proof, objections, urgency.
- No previous BFCM data: Use industry benchmarks (2-3x normal email revenue, 20-25% open rates during BFCM).
- Sale starts in 3 days (no warm-up time): Skip warm-up phase. Start with early access email and compress to 5-6 emails total.
- User uncomfortable with heavy promotion: Reduce to 6 emails total, lead with value in each, and keep the tone helpful rather than pushy.
