Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) present a prime opportunity for creators to generate significant earnings and engage with holiday shoppers. Below are some industry trends to be aware of to guide your strategy accordingly.
Shopping Trends
GBlack Friday and Cyber Monday remain crucial shopping events. In 2024, over 60% of shoppers are expected to participate in Black Friday, with significant participation from Gen Z and Millennials, particularly in fashion, beauty, and electronics (DigiCommerce Group)(Croud). Early holiday shopping is a major trend, with 56% of consumers starting as early as October (Croud), so alerting your audience early is key.
Impact of Inflation on Consumer Spending
As inflation continues to impact consumer purchasing power alongside political and economic uncertainty, many shoppers are expected to be highly motivated by discounts this holiday season. According to a survey from Digital Commerce 360, over half of online consumers are planning to spend less due to economic conditions.
Retailers may see lower conversion rates, but the extended holiday season and deep discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday will encourage consumers to seek the best deals possible (Croud). This trend underscores the importance of creators staying on top of the best deals and leveraging tools like Levanta’s CPC campaigns to maximize earnings, particularly as comparison shopping is expected to spike this year.
By offering timely, value-driven content, creators can attract deal-seeking consumers and diversify their revenue streams.
In addition, focusing on key categories like apparel, consumer electronics, tech, and home goods—which are traditionally strong performers during Black Friday—can help creators capture a larger share of sales (Croud).
With the right preparation and strategy, you can tap into the surge of consumer activity. Here are some essential tips to help you get the most out of BFCM using Levanta Publishers’ features and insights.
1. Build Anticipation Early
Make sure your audience knows the biggest shopping weekend of the year is approaching and inform them how they can expect to shop from you. Now is the time to prepare them for your recommendations and content.
- Share Shopping Guides Early: Offer early savings opportunities to your readers on top products where available. As noted, 56% of shoppers cited they intend to begin holiday shopping in October (Croud). This also provides inventory security to shoppers.
- Boost Subscriptions and Engagement: Use this opportunity to encourage your followers to subscribe to your newsletters or follow your social media channels so they don’t miss out on timely deals and curated picks.
- Cross-Platform Strategy: Engage your audience across multiple channels—email, Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube—to keep them updated on the best deals. Additionally, ensure your content is optimized for both mobile and desktop. Adobe noted that while conversion rates are still higher on desktop than mobile, the split of revenue derived from both platforms is closer to 50/50.
2. Maximize Seller Connections on Levanta
With more holiday shoppers than ever looking for discounts, it’s crucial to have a well-rounded strategy to reach diverse audiences.
- Pending Seller Applications: Approve any pending applications and invite new sellers you haven’t yet connected with to maximize your earning potential.
- Respond to Seller Messages: Sellers may be reaching out with special offers, partnership opportunities, or increased commission rates. Respond to in-app messages promptly to capitalize on these opportunities, and use the messaging tool to request higher commissions on key products.
3. Tap Into Levanta’s Deal Insights
With more holiday shoppers than ever looking for discounts, it’s crucial to have a well-rounded strategy to reach diverse audiences.
- Use Levanta’s Deals List: Our deals list can guide you on trending products and top discounts to feature in your content. This is especially useful for targeting popular holiday categories like electronics, beauty, and home goods.
- Gift Guide Inspiration: As holiday gift shopping ramps up, don’t forget to check Levanta’s gift inspiration lists to craft content that appeals to those who are looking for gift ideas.
4. Keep Your Content Fresh and Timely
Given the fast pace of BFCM deals, staying on top of updates is key to maintaining high engagement and driving conversions.
- Real-Time Content Updates: Deals can sell out or expire quickly during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Frequently update your content with live deals and remove any expired promotions to keep your audience engaged with active offers.
- Monitor Trends and Adapt: Watch for emerging product trends and shift your focus if necessary to capture more interest. Being flexible with your content can help you ride the wave of what’s hot at any given moment.
5. Leverage New Levanta Product Features
To further enhance your earnings during BFCM, take advantage of Levanta’s newest tools and features.
- Launch CPC Campaigns: Use Levanta’s CPC (cost-per-click) campaigns to earn revenue from clicks, not just conversions. This can diversify your revenue stream and capture additional revenue as shoppers navigate through multiple products. Learn more about CPC campaigns here.
- Request Higher Commission Rates: Through Levanta’s in-app messaging tool, you can request higher commission rates directly from sellers. This is particularly useful for promoting high-demand items during the holiday season while saving you valuable time throughout this key period.
6. Optimize Your Content for the Entire Weekend
Don’t just focus on Black Friday—plan for a successful Cyber Weekend and beyond.
- Product-Level and Source Data: Levanta’s data insights allow you to fine-tune your strategy based on performance metrics. Track which products and sources are driving the most conversions and adjust your content accordingly.
- Weekend Strategy: Ensure your content evolves throughout the weekend. With deals running from Friday through Monday, staying engaged and proactive is key to capturing as many sales as possible.
7. Industry Trends and Shopper Behavior
Keep in mind that shoppers are increasingly strategic about BFCM deals, especially when shopping for holiday gifts.
According to recent reports, consumers are planning to spread out their holiday purchases across the BFCM weekend to secure the best deals. Additionally, some analysts suggest that the upcoming election could influence consumer behavior, with an increased focus on saving money during periods of economic uncertainty.
By staying informed about these trends and using Levanta’s tools effectively, you’ll be better equipped to meet the needs of your audience.
Start Early
Black Friday and Cyber Monday provide a crucial opportunity to boost your earnings and grow your audience. By preparing in advance, engaging with sellers, staying on top of deal updates, leveraging new features like CPC campaigns, and using real-time data to optimize your strategy, you can make the most of this holiday shopping event.
For more personalized tips or insights, feel free to reach out to the Levanta team. Happy BFCM planning!
