# Black Friday Emails > Creates Black Friday/Cyber Monday email sequences with early access, flash deals, last chance, and extended sale phases. Use for holiday sale campaigns. - Skill: `reaperinvest/black-friday-emails` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/black-friday-emails` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/black-friday-emails/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/black-friday-emails --- # 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 - [ ] All emails written and scheduled - [ ] Sale pricing live on website/product pages - [ ] Coupon codes tested (if applicable) - [ ] Early access segment tagged correctly - [ ] Buyer exclusion automation active - [ ] Mobile rendering tested for all emails - [ ] Social media aligned with email messaging --- ## 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.