Black Friday isn’t just for retail; it’s also a prime opportunity for service-based businesses to attract new clients, strengthen relationships with existing ones, and boost revenue. Whether you offer consulting, coaching, creative services, or wellness packages, a strategic approach to Black Friday can make a significant impact.
In this blog, we’ll explore 6 Black Friday tips to attract clients to your service-based business!
1. Plan Ahead: Define Your Black Friday Sales Objectives and Prepare
Successful Black Friday campaigns begin with clear goals and early preparation. For service providers, this means identifying what you want to achieve—whether it’s filling up your calendar, launching a new service, or building your client base.
Consider Creating Service Bundles:
Create attractive packages by bundling your most popular services at a discounted rate. This not only adds value but also encourages clients to try additional services.
Discuss How You’ll Deal with Black Friday Demand:
Ensure your schedule can accommodate the increased demand that comes with successful Black Friday promotions. Consider offering extended hours or additional availability to meet client needs.
2. Craft Compelling Black Friday Promotions for Your Services
In the service industry, clients are looking for value and unique experiences. To stand out, your Black Friday offers should be tailored to meet these expectations.
Exclusive Discounts: Offer limited-time discounts on your services. Consider providing a discount on a client’s first session or a reduced rate for pre-booking multiple sessions.
Value-Added Packages: Enhance your services with added benefits, such as a free consultation, an extended session, or bonus materials (e.g., guides, worksheets) that complement your service.
Gift Certificates: Promote gift certificates as a perfect holiday gift. Encourage clients to purchase services for their friends and family, expanding your reach to new potential clients.
3. Optimize Your Online Presence
Even if your services are primarily in-person, a strong online presence is crucial for attracting and converting clients during Black Friday.
Website Readiness: Ensure your website is updated with all the details of your offers. Make it easy for clients to book your services online with a simple and secure booking process. Additionally, make sure your website is accessible to everyone, including individuals with visual, auditory, or mobility challenges. This includes providing alt text for images, ensuring compatibility with screen readers, offering keyboard navigation, and using high-contrast colors for easy readability.
Clear Navigation: Organize your website so clients can easily find your services, learn about your Black Friday deals, and book appointments. Highlight your offers prominently on your homepage.
Online Booking: If you don’t already have one, consider implementing an online booking system to streamline client appointments. This convenience can be a significant selling point during a busy shopping season.
4. Promote Your Black Friday Deals Early and Consistently
Start building anticipation for your Black Friday deals well before the big day. Create a content plan around what you’ll launch and feather it into your regular marketing content. Consistent and early promotion is key to a successful campaign.
Here’s a Black Friday Promotion timeline to guide your efforts:
- 4-6 Weeks Before Black Friday: Announce that something special is coming. Use teasers in your email newsletter and social media to start building curiosity. This is a good time to create an early bird interest list or VIP sign-up for first access to deals.
- 3 Weeks Before: Share more specific details about your offers, emphasizing the benefits and savings clients will receive. Begin a targeted email campaign and create social media posts that highlight the upcoming deals.
- 2 Weeks Before: Send reminders about your offers, including countdowns to build excitement. Share sneak peeks of the services you’ll be discounting and continue promoting on all platforms, including social media, email, and blogs.
- 1 Week Before: Intensify your promotional efforts by sending daily updates and countdowns. This is a great time to offer exclusive, early-access deals to VIPs or email subscribers. Use social media ads to target potential clients who haven’t engaged with your earlier promotions.
- Black Friday Eve: Send a final reminder and ensure your audience is ready to book once your deals go live. Include a clear call-to-action with direct links to your website or booking page.
5. Deliver an Exceptional Client Experience
On Black Friday, the client experience is everything. Ensuring your clients have a seamless and positive experience will encourage repeat business and referrals.
Reach out to clients personally to inform them of your promotion. Tailor your communication to their past service history or preferences.
Effective ways to personalize your Black Friday reach outs:
- Email Segmentation: Use your email marketing platform to segment your clients based on their past interactions with your business. For example, if a client has previously booked a specific service, send them a personalized email highlighting a Black Friday discount on that same service or a complementary offering.
- Direct Messages (DMs): For clients who frequently engage with you on social media, send a personalized direct message on platforms like Instagram or Facebook. A simple, direct message such as “Hi [Name], we’ve got a special Black Friday offer just for you based on your recent [service/product] experience!” can create a more personal connection.
- SMS Marketing: If you’ve collected phone numbers for SMS marketing, send a personalized text message. Texts have a high open rate and are perfect for short, direct messages. Personalize it with the client’s name and a mention of the service they previously enjoyed. Example: “Hey [Name], our Black Friday deal includes 20% off your favorite [service]. Book now!”
- Phone Calls: For high-value clients or those you have an established relationship with, consider a quick phone call to inform them of exclusive deals or early booking options. This approach adds a personal touch and can make loyal clients feel valued.
- Personalized Cards or Notes: If time permits, sending a handwritten note or card to your top clients can leave a lasting impression. Mention the service they’ve used and offer a special discount or bonus if they book during Black Friday.
- Flexible Scheduling: Offer flexibility in scheduling to accommodate clients who may be juggling holiday plans. Consider offering virtual sessions if appropriate for your services.
- Client Support: Be readily available to answer questions and assist clients with booking. Consider adding a live chat feature to your website to provide immediate support.
6. Evaluate Your Results and Learn for the Future
After Black Friday, take the time to assess the success of your campaign. Understanding what worked and what didn’t will help you improve future promotions.
Service Utilization: Analyze which services were most popular during Black Friday and consider offering similar promotions in the future.
Client Feedback: Gather feedback from clients about their experience with your offers. Use this information to refine your approach.
Sales and Booking Data: Review your booking and sales data to identify trends. Did certain offers resonate more with your audience? Did a particular promotion drive more bookings? Use these insights to inform your strategy moving forward.
If you’re interested in a deeper understanding of how to measure the success of your marketing – we have a resource for you! Check out our in-depth blog here for all the metrics you’ll want to track (and what to do with that information).
Black Friday is a Great Way To Boost Sales for Your Service Business
With thoughtful planning and strategic offers, Black Friday can be a powerful opportunity for service-based businesses to grow their client base and increase revenue. By focusing on value, enhancing the client experience, and optimizing your online presence, you can turn Black Friday into a day of success for your business. Start planning now to make the most of this opportunity!
