Black Friday & Cyber Monday Prep: Last-Minute Checklist

5 Tips to Check Off for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Prep

Do you have your game face on for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? The biggest shopping days are almost here, so it’s time to get all your ducks in a row before it’s too late!

With all the Q4 media kits, back and forth with top partners and ramped up recruiting, the time around this year just flies by. To make sure you get the most out these days, we’ve put together a last-minute to-do list for you to check off.

What’s the Big Deal?

Seriously, what big Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals do you have? By this time, all brands should have a sense of what they plan on rolling out. If you haven’t gotten the deal information, make sure to stay on top of it leading up to the final week. Even if the details are still in the works, any information to share with top partners will help get an interest before time is up.

Make it Worth Their While

What are you willing to offer for added exposure? Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the hottest retail ticket and early birds definitely get the worm. Offering a jump in commission, longer cookie durations, and/or hard dollar bonuses are great ways to get a partner’s attention.

So Hot Right Now

There’s always that one product that everyone waits for November to buy. Do you have it? Do a little research on what’s trending for this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. If you offer what’s hot right now, try and offer an exclusive for your top partners. Even if it’s last minute, a top affiliate might not be able to resist a sure thing.

Take Care of It

Don’t forget content influencers. Many programs concentrate on coupon and loyalty sites this time of year, but as the industry evolves, bloggers are taking a more prominent role. Focusing on pre-written content for your next newsletters is a good approach. Even without deal details or a hard dollar budget, you can get people excited to shop with you on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With the ease of copy and paste, you’re more likely get the word out on a partner’s site this way than trying to have them make the time.

Beyond the Day

At this late in the game, it’s safe to say there might not be any more placement opportunities left. That’s okay though. While everyone is clamoring for the best placement on the 24th and 27th, think past Cyber Monday. Do you plan on running an extension on your deals? Grab top spot now and be the first to promote for all the Cyber Monday latecomers.

With so many brands competing online this holiday season, placements are getting tougher to come by. Keep your hat in the ring with outside-of-the-box thinking and planning. Also, try not to stress too much, Christmas is right around the corner.

Good luck!