The clock is ticking! BFCM 2025 is on the horizon, and if you’re aiming for your biggest sales season yet, the groundwork starts NOW. Forget last-minute scrambles. The real secret to a blockbuster Black Friday Cyber Monday isn’t just flashy deals; it’s having an eager audience ready and waiting to hear from you. This guide is your roadmap to building a powerful email and SMS list that will turn BFCM buzz into actual, amazing sales for your Shopify store. Let’s dive in!
Introduction: Why List Building Matters Before BFCM 2025
So, why all this fuss about email and SMS lists, especially with BFCM 2025 approaching? Think of it this way: your email and SMS subscribers are your VIP customers. They’ve willingly given you a direct line to their inbox and phone. This isn’t like shouting into the void of social media; this is personal, direct communication.
The Return on Investment (ROI) from email and SMS marketing, particularly during peak seasons like BFCM, can be incredible. These aren’t just passive followers; they are engaged shoppers. When BFCM rolls around, and everyone is bombarding customers with offers, your established list gives you a warm audience, more likely to open, click, and buy. Consumers in 2025 expect personalized offers and early access, and your lists are the perfect channels to deliver just that. Having a robust subscriber base means you’re not starting from scratch when the biggest shopping event of the year kicks off; you’re starting with a crowd of interested potential buyers.
Now that we understand the ‘why,’ let’s explore ‘who’ we should be talking to.
Foundation: Understanding Your Audience
Before you can effectively build your list, you need to know who you’re trying to attract. Who is your ideal BFCM shopper? What makes them tick? Understanding your audience is the bedrock of any successful marketing campaign, especially for list building.
Defining Your Target Subscribers
Not all website visitors are created equal, right? Some are just browsing, some are serious researchers, and some are ready to buy. Your goal is to attract those who are genuinely interested in what you offer. Think about your ideal customer. What are their interests? What problems do they need to solve? What kind of offers would make them excited to hear from you regularly, even before BFCM?
Customer Segmentation Strategies for BFCM Preparation
Segmentation is about dividing your audience into smaller, more manageable groups based on shared characteristics. For BFCM, this is gold! For example, you could segment by:
- Past BFCM shoppers: They’ve bought from you during this period before. They’re likely interested again!
- High AOV (Average Order Value) customers: These folks spend more. Perhaps they’d be interested in premium bundles or early access to high-ticket items.
- Specific product category interest: If someone bought skincare last BFCM, they might be interested in new skincare deals this year.
- New vs. Returning Customers: Your messaging might differ. New subscribers might need more brand introduction, while loyal customers might appreciate exclusive “thank you” offers.
This allows you to send more relevant and targeted messages, which means better engagement and more sign-ups.
Analyzing Previous BFCM Data to Identify High-Value Segments
Your Shopify analytics are a treasure trove! Look back at your BFCM 2024 data (and even earlier if you have it). Who were your biggest spenders? Which products flew off the shelves? What were the common characteristics of your best customers during that period? Identifying these high-value segments helps you understand who to target for your 2025 list-building efforts. Maybe customers who bought a specific bundle last year are prime candidates for a new, related offer.
Creating Buyer Personas for Email and SMS Campaigns
A buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer. Give them a name, an age, interests, and even a backstory. For example:
- “Bargain Hunter Ben”: Always looking for the best deal, signs up for every newsletter hoping for a BFCM coupon. Your incentive for Ben? A clear, upfront discount.
- “Early Bird Erica”: Wants exclusive access before anyone else. She’d sign up for an “Early BFCM Deals” list.
- “Quality Conscious Quinn”: Values information and quality over just price. Quinn might sign up for a “BFCM Product Deep Dive” newsletter.
Creating these personas helps you tailor your signup incentives and messaging to resonate deeply with different types of potential subscribers. It makes your marketing feel more personal and less generic.
With a clearer picture of our ideal subscribers, let’s move on to the specific strategies for growing that all-important email list.
Email List Building Strategies for Shopify Stores
Email remains a powerhouse for e-commerce. It’s direct, personal, and you own the list (unlike social media followers). Let’s look at how to supercharge your email list growth for your Shopify store before BFCM 2025.
Lead Magnets and Incentives
A lead magnet is something valuable you offer for free in exchange for an email address. The key here is “valuable.” People are protective of their inboxes!
Creating Compelling Signup Incentives Beyond Discounts
While a “10% off your first order” is common, think creatively! What else could be truly compelling for your audience?
- Free Guides or Ebooks: “The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Gift for Coffee Lovers,” or “5 Ways to Style Your Living Room for Fall.”
- Checklists or Templates: “Your Pre-Holiday Cleaning Checklist,” or “Weekly Meal Planner Template.”
- Exclusive Content: Access to a special blog post, video tutorial, or behind-the-scenes look.
- Early Product Reveals: “Be the first to see our new BFCM collection!”
The goal is to offer something that your target audience genuinely wants and can’t easily get elsewhere.
Exclusive BFCM Early Access Offers
This is a classic and highly effective tactic. “Want to shop our BFCM deals 24 hours before anyone else? Sign up now!” This creates a sense of exclusivity and urgency. People love feeling like VIPs, and early access to the best deals is a powerful motivator, especially as BFCM approaches.
Valuable Downloadable Content Strategies
Think about content that solves a problem or provides significant value related to your products. If you sell kitchen gadgets, a recipe ebook featuring those gadgets could be a hit. If you sell fitness gear, a workout plan. Make sure the downloadable content is high quality and genuinely useful. This positions you as an expert and builds trust, making subscribers more receptive to your BFCM offers later.
Optimization Tactics
Having great incentives is one thing; making it easy for people to sign up is another. Optimization is key.
Simple Signup Form Design and Placement
Your signup forms should be impossible to miss but easy to ignore if someone isn’t interested.
- Keep it simple: Ask for the email address only, or perhaps a first name for personalization. The fewer fields, the higher the conversion rate.
- Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Instead of just “Subscribe,” try “Get My Free Guide,” or “Unlock Early Access.”
- Prominent Placement: Consider your website’s header, footer, sidebar, within blog posts, and even on your “About Us” page. A dedicated landing page for a special offer can also work wonders.
Exit-Intent Popups and Timing Strategies
Exit-intent popups appear when a visitor is about to leave your site. They can be very effective if done right. The key is the offer and the timing. Don’t be annoying!
- Offer something valuable: “Leaving so soon? Get 15% off your first order if you sign up!” or “Before you go, grab our free BFCM Prep Guide!”
- Timing: Don’t show it immediately. Let visitors browse a bit. Some Shopify apps allow you to set conditions, like showing the popup after a certain time on site or after viewing a certain number of pages.
Test different offers and timings to see what works best for your audience.
Landing Page Optimization for List Growth
A dedicated landing page for your lead magnet or special offer can significantly boost signups. This page should have one goal: get the visitor to subscribe.
- Clear Headline: Immediately communicate the value.
- Compelling Copy: Explain the benefits of signing up.
- Engaging Visuals: Show what they’re getting (e.g., a mock-up of the ebook).
- Simple Form: Easy to fill out.
- Strong CTA Button: Make it stand out.
- No Distractions: Remove unnecessary navigation links or other CTAs that could lead visitors away.
Engagement-Driven Growth
List building doesn’t have to be a passive process. You can actively engage potential subscribers.
Contest and Giveaway Campaigns
Everyone loves a chance to win! Run a contest or giveaway where entry requires an email signup. “Sign up for our newsletter for a chance to win a $100 gift card for BFCM!” or “Enter to win our new product bundle!” Promote it heavily on social media and your website. This can lead to a rapid influx of new subscribers.
Referral Programs for Organic Growth
“Refer a friend and you both get 10% off!” Referral programs can turn your existing subscribers and customers into advocates. When someone they trust recommends your brand and offers an incentive, people are much more likely to sign up. This is a fantastic way to grow your list organically.
Survey-Based List Building
Want to know what your audience really wants for BFCM? Ask them! Create a short survey about their preferences, and offer an incentive for completing it and signing up for your list. “Tell us what deals you want to see this BFCM and get early access + a special discount!” This not only grows your list but also gives you valuable insights for planning your BFCM offers.
Now that your email list strategy is taking shape, let’s not forget its powerful counterpart: SMS marketing.
SMS List Building for Shopify
SMS (Short Message Service) or text message marketing is incredibly direct. Open rates for SMS are often much higher than email. However, because it’s so personal, it requires even more care regarding consent and value.
Consent and Compliance
This is non-negotiable for SMS. You must have explicit permission before sending anyone marketing text messages.
Building Phone Number Lists with Proper Opt-In Consent
Explicit consent means the person knowingly and willingly agreed to receive marketing texts from you. This usually involves them actively ticking a checkbox (that isn’t pre-ticked) or texting a specific keyword to a shortcode. Clearly state what they’re signing up for (e.g., “Receive exclusive BFCM deals & updates via SMS”).
Double Opt-In Best Practices for SMS
A double opt-in is highly recommended. After someone signs up, they receive a confirmation text asking them to reply (e.g., text YES) to confirm their subscription. This ensures the phone number is correct and the person truly wants to receive your messages, reducing spam complaints and improving deliverability.
Legal Considerations and Privacy Compliance
Be aware of regulations like TCPA (in the US) and GDPR (in Europe). These laws have strict rules about consent, opt-out mechanisms (e.g., “Text STOP to unsubscribe”), and messaging frequency. Always consult legal advice if you’re unsure. Transparency is key: tell people how often you’ll text them and what kind of content they can expect.
SMS-Specific Tactics
How can you entice people to share their precious phone number?
Text-to-Win Giveaways and Contests
Similar to email contests, but via SMS. “Text BFCMDEALS to 12345 for a chance to win a $200 shopping spree!” This is a quick and easy way for people to enter and for you to capture phone numbers (with their consent for ongoing messages, of course).
Back-in-Stock Notification Signups
If a popular product is sold out, offer an SMS notification for when it’s back in stock. “Want this item? Text RESTOCK to 12345 to be the first to know when it’s available!” This is a high-intent signup because they’re already interested in a specific product.
Integration with Existing Marketing Channels
Promote your SMS list everywhere you promote your email list: on your website, in emails (yes, cross-promote!), on social media, and even on packaging inserts. Make it clear what the unique benefit of joining the SMS list is (e.g., “SMS subscribers get flash sale alerts first!”).
Cross-Channel Integration
Email and SMS shouldn’t live in silos. They work best together.
Combining Email and SMS Signup Strategies
On your signup forms, you can offer the option to sign up for email, SMS, or both. For example, after someone signs up for email, you could have a follow-up message: “Want even faster updates and exclusive SMS-only deals? Add your phone number!”
Leveraging Shopify Features for Dual Collection
Many Shopify apps and even some theme features allow you to collect both email and phone numbers at various touchpoints, like checkout or through popups. Ensure the opt-in language is clear for each channel.
Progressive Profiling Techniques
You don’t need to ask for all information at once. Start with email. Later, in a welcome email, you could ask if they’d like to join your SMS list for specific perks. Or, if they’re already on the SMS list, you could ask for their birthday via text to send them a special offer. This progressive profiling builds a richer customer profile over time without overwhelming them upfront.
With strategies for both email and SMS in mind, let’s focus on how to tailor these efforts specifically for the BFCM frenzy.
BFCM-Specific Preparation Strategies
Building your list is one thing; preparing that list (and your campaigns) for the unique environment of BFCM is another. It’s about creating excitement and readiness.
Pre-BFCM Campaign Planning
Don’t wait until the week of BFCM to start talking about it. Build anticipation!
Creating Urgency Without Burning Out Your Audience
BFCM is all about urgency, but you don’t want to fatigue your audience with constant “LAST CHANCE!” messages weeks in advance. Start with teasers, hints about upcoming deals, or “sneak peeks.” Use countdown timers closer to the event. The goal is to build excitement, not annoyance.
Segmentation for BFCM-Targeted Campaigns
Remember those segments we talked about? Now’s the time to plan how you’ll message them. Your VIPs might get an “ultra-exclusive pre-BFCM offer.” Those interested in specific product categories might get tailored emails highlighting deals on those items. The more targeted your campaigns, the better they’ll perform.
Building Anticipation Through Content Marketing
Use your blog, social media, and emails to create content that builds excitement for BFCM. This could be:
- Gift guides featuring your products.
- “How to prepare for BFCM shopping” tips.
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team getting ready.
- User-generated content showcasing how people love your products.
This keeps your brand top-of-mind and associates it with the upcoming shopping season.
Automation Setup
Automation will be your best friend during the hectic BFCM period. Set it up now!
Shopify Email Automation for BFCM
Most email marketing apps that integrate with Shopify (including Shopify Email itself) allow for robust automation. Key automations for BFCM include:
- Welcome Series: For new subscribers joining in the lead-up to BFCM.
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Crucial for capturing lost sales. Customize these for BFCM with mentions of limited-time deals.
- Post-Purchase Follow-ups: Thank customers, ask for reviews, or suggest complementary products.
Welcome Series Optimization for New Subscribers
Your welcome series is your first impression on new subscribers. In the run-up to BFCM, make sure it:
- Delivers the promised incentive immediately.
- Introduces your brand and its unique value.
- Highlights what makes your BFCM offers special.
- Encourages them to whitelist your email address to ensure they see your BFCM deals.
Abandoned Cart Recovery Sequences
During BFCM, cart abandonment rates can be high as people shop around. A strong abandoned cart sequence (usually 2-3 emails) can recover a significant portion of these potential sales. Consider adding a small, time-sensitive incentive in the second or third email if the BFCM deal itself isn’t enough.
Content Strategy
What you say and how you say it matters immensely during BFCM.
FOMO-Driven Messaging Development
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is a powerful motivator. Use phrases like:
- “Limited stock available!”
- “Deals end tonight!”
- “Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year!”
- “Last chance for X% off!”
Use these strategically and truthfully to encourage immediate action.
Social Proof Integration
Show potential customers that others are buying and loving your products. Integrate social proof like:
- Customer reviews and testimonials in your emails.
- “Best-seller” or “Most popular” badges on products.
- User-generated content (with permission).
- “X people have bought this today” notifications (if your apps support this).
This builds trust and makes people more confident in their purchasing decisions.
Value-Focused Content Creation
While deals are central to BFCM, don’t forget to highlight the value beyond the discount. Remind customers about your product quality, unique features, excellent customer service, or fast shipping. This helps justify the purchase even amidst a sea of discounts.
Great! We’ve covered the strategies. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of implementing these on your Shopify store.
Technical Implementation in Shopify
Having the right strategies is crucial, but so is ensuring your Shopify store is technically set up to capture those leads effectively.
Theme Optimization
Your Shopify theme plays a big role in how easily visitors can find and use your signup forms.
Checkout Page Email Opt-Ins
Shopify allows you to add an email signup checkbox directly on your checkout page. This is a prime spot to capture emails from actual buyers. Make sure it’s enabled and the language is inviting (e.g., “Keep me up to date on news and exclusive offers”). You can often customize this in your Shopify admin under Settings > Checkout.
Footer and Navigation Placement Strategies
Your website’s footer is a standard place for an email signup form. Ensure it’s clear and easy to use. Some stores also include a “Newsletter” or “Get Discounts” link in their main navigation or top bar, leading to a dedicated signup page or triggering a popup. The key is visibility without being intrusive.
Mobile Optimization for Form Completion
A huge chunk of BFCM shopping happens on mobile devices. Are your signup forms, popups, and landing pages fully mobile-responsive? Test them on different screen sizes. Forms should be easy to tap, fields large enough, and the overall experience seamless. If it’s clunky on mobile, you’ll lose subscribers.
App Integration
The Shopify App Store is your best friend for extending your store’s functionality, especially for list building.
Essential Shopify Apps for List Building
There are many fantastic apps for creating popups, banners, and embedded forms. Look for apps that offer:
- Good design customization to match your brand.
- Targeting options (e.g., exit-intent, time on page, specific pages).
- A/B testing capabilities.
- Seamless integration with your email marketing platform (like Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Omnisend, etc.).
Do your research and read reviews to find apps that suit your needs and budget.
SMS Marketing App Selection and Setup
Similarly, for SMS marketing, you’ll likely need a dedicated Shopify app. Popular choices include SMSBump, Postscript, Attentive, and others. When choosing, consider:
- Compliance features: Ensure they help you manage consent and opt-outs properly.
- Segmentation and automation capabilities.
- Integration with your other marketing tools.
- Pricing structure.
Setup usually involves configuring your opt-in methods, welcome messages, and compliance details.
Analytics and Tracking Implementation
Make sure your analytics are properly set up to track the performance of your list-building efforts. This includes:
- Google Analytics: Track conversions from your signup forms and landing pages.
- Email Platform Analytics: Monitor signup sources, list growth rate, open rates, and click-through rates.
- Shopify App Analytics: Many list-building and SMS apps provide their own dashboards to track performance.
Knowing your numbers is essential for optimization.
Data Management
A growing list needs good management to stay healthy and effective.
List Hygiene and Maintenance
Regularly clean your email list. This means removing:
- Hard bounces: Invalid email addresses.
- Inactive subscribers: People who haven’t opened or clicked your emails in a long time (e.g., 6-12 months). You can try a re-engagement campaign first, but if they don’t respond, it’s often best to remove them.
A clean list improves deliverability, engagement rates, and reduces costs (as many platforms charge based on subscriber count).
Segmentation Automation
Use your email marketing platform’s features to automatically segment subscribers based on their behavior (e.g., purchase history, email engagement, website activity) or information they provide (e.g., interests from a survey). This allows for ongoing targeted communication with minimal manual effort.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) Tracking
Understanding the CLV of subscribers acquired through different channels or campaigns can be very insightful. Are subscribers who joined via a contest as valuable in the long run as those who signed up for a specific lead magnet? This data can help you refine your list-building strategy and budget allocation.
We’re getting into some sophisticated stuff now! Let’s look at some advanced tactics to really level up your list building.
Advanced Tactics
Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced tactics can give you an extra edge in growing your email and SMS lists and making them even more effective for BFCM 2025.
Personalization Strategies
Personalization goes beyond just using a subscriber’s first name. It’s about delivering relevant content and offers based on their individual data and behavior.
Behavioral Targeting for Signups
This involves showing different signup offers based on how a visitor interacts with your site. For example:
- If someone spends a lot of time on a specific product category, show them a popup with an offer related to that category.
- If a visitor has items in their cart but tries to exit, the exit-intent popup could offer a small discount specifically for the items in their cart if they sign up.
- For returning visitors who haven’t subscribed, you could offer a “welcome back” incentive to join your list.
Many Shopify apps and email platforms offer these capabilities.
Dynamic Content for Different Segments
With dynamic content, you can show different parts of an email or landing page to different segments of your audience, all within the same campaign. For instance, an email might showcase men’s clothing deals to your male subscribers and women’s clothing deals to female subscribers. This makes your messaging highly relevant and can significantly boost engagement and conversions.
Preference Center Optimization
A preference center allows subscribers to choose what kind of content they want to receive and how often. Instead of just an “unsubscribe” link, offer a “manage preferences” option. This can help you retain subscribers who might otherwise leave entirely. They might opt for fewer emails or only emails about specific product categories, which is better than losing them completely. For BFCM, you could even let them opt-in specifically for BFCM-related communications.
Timing and Frequency
When and how often you ask for signups or send messages can make a big difference.
Optimal Sending Schedules Leading Up to BFCM
There’s no magic formula, as it depends on your audience and industry. However, generally:
- Start early (6-8 weeks before BFCM): Begin your list-building push. Focus on value-driven lead magnets.
- Increase frequency slightly (2-4 weeks before): Start teasing BFCM, offer early access signups.
- Ramp up (1 week before and during BFCM week): More frequent communication about specific deals, deadlines, and reminders.
Always monitor your engagement rates and unsubscribe rates to adjust if needed.
Cadence Planning for List Building Campaigns
This refers to the timing and sequence of your list-building efforts. For example, don’t hit a new visitor with a popup immediately. Let them browse. If they don’t sign up via an embedded form or a timed popup, then an exit-intent offer might be your last chance. Plan how your different signup tactics work together rather than bombarding users.
Seasonal Adjustment Strategies
Your list-building efforts shouldn’t be static year-round. Amplify them during peak seasons like BFCM. Your offers might become more aggressive or time-sensitive. Conversely, during slower periods, you might focus more on content-driven lead magnets to nurture leads.
Okay, you’re building your list and implementing advanced tactics. But how do you know if it’s all working? Let’s talk about measurement.
Measuring Success
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Tracking key metrics is vital to understanding the effectiveness of your list-building strategies and making data-driven decisions for BFCM 2025.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
These are the numbers that tell you how well you’re doing.
Email List Growth Metrics
- Signup Rate: What percentage of website visitors sign up for your email list? (Number of new subscribers / Total website visitors) x 100. Track this for different forms and pages.
- List Growth Rate: How quickly is your list growing month over month? ((Current subscribers – Past subscribers) / Past subscribers) x 100.
- Source of Signups: Where are your subscribers coming from? (e.g., popups, footer forms, landing pages, contests). This helps you identify your most effective channels.
SMS Subscription Rates
- Similar to email, track your SMS signup rate and list growth rate.
- Keyword Opt-in Rates: If you use text-to-join keywords, how many people are using them?
Engagement Quality Measurements
A big list isn’t useful if no one is engaged. Monitor:
- Email Open Rates: Percentage of subscribers who open your emails.
- Click-Through Rates (CTR): Percentage of subscribers who click a link in your emails/SMS.
- Conversion Rates (from emails/SMS): Percentage of subscribers who make a purchase after clicking a link.
- Unsubscribe Rates: How many people are opting out? A high rate might indicate issues with content relevance or frequency.
- Spam Complaint Rates: Keep this as low as possible!
These metrics tell you if your content is resonating and if your list is healthy.
Optimization Techniques
Use your KPIs to continuously improve your efforts.
A/B Testing Signup Forms and Incentives
A/B testing (or split testing) is where you create two versions of something (e.g., a popup headline, a CTA button color, an incentive offer) and show each version to a different segment of your audience to see which performs better. Continuously test elements like:
- Headlines and copy
- Call-to-action text and design
- Images or videos
- Form fields
- Types of incentives (e.g., 10% off vs. free shipping vs. a free guide)
Small changes can sometimes lead to big improvements in signup rates.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
CRO is a broader process of optimizing your website and marketing funnels to increase the percentage of users who take a desired action (like signing up or making a purchase). For list building, this involves analyzing user behavior on your site (e.g., using heatmaps or session recordings) to identify friction points in the signup process and then making changes to improve it.
ROI Tracking and Analysis
Ultimately, you want to know if your list-building efforts are profitable. Track how much revenue is generated from your email and SMS lists, especially during BFCM. Compare this to the costs associated with your list-building tools and campaigns. This helps you understand the Return on Investment and justify your marketing spend.
While striving for success, it’s also wise to be aware of potential roadblocks. Let’s cover some common pitfalls.
Common Pitfalls and Solutions
Building your email and SMS lists is exciting, but there are some common mistakes and challenges that can trip you up. Being aware of them can help you navigate more smoothly towards BFCM 2025 success.
Compliance Issues
This is a big one, especially with SMS. Getting compliance wrong can lead to hefty fines and damage your brand reputation.
Avoiding Purchased Lists
Never, ever buy email or SMS lists. It might seem like a quick way to grow, but these lists are full of people who haven’t consented to hear from you. This leads to terrible engagement, high spam complaints, potential blacklisting of your domain/IP, and legal trouble. Always build your list organically with explicit consent.
Proper Consent Documentation
Keep records of how and when consent was obtained for both email and SMS subscribers. This is crucial for demonstrating compliance if questioned. Most reputable email and SMS marketing platforms help with this, but it’s your responsibility to ensure your methods are sound. Remember, for SMS, the rules are even stricter regarding express written consent for marketing messages.
Spam Prevention Strategies
Beyond just consent, ensure your practices don’t look like spam:
- Use a clear, recognizable sender name.
- Provide an easy way to unsubscribe in every message.
- Don’t use misleading subject lines or content.
- Maintain list hygiene to remove invalid or unengaged contacts.
- Monitor your sending reputation.
Technical Challenges
Sometimes, the tech itself can cause headaches.
Integration Troubleshooting
Ensure your Shopify store, list-building apps, email marketing platform, and SMS platform are all communicating correctly. Test the entire flow: from someone signing up on your site to them appearing in your marketing list and receiving a welcome message. If integrations break, you could lose valuable leads or send incorrect messages.
Deliverability Optimization
Deliverability refers to your ability to get messages into your subscribers’ inboxes (for email) or successfully delivered (for SMS), rather than spam folders or being blocked. Factors affecting email deliverability include:
- Sender reputation (IP and domain).
- Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
- List quality and engagement.
- Content (avoiding spammy words or too many links).
For SMS, ensure you’re using a reputable provider and following carrier guidelines.
Mobile Responsiveness Issues
We mentioned this before, but it’s worth reiterating. If your signup forms, emails, or landing pages are not fully mobile-responsive, you will lose subscribers and sales. Test thoroughly on various devices and screen sizes. Many people will be shopping and signing up on the go during BFCM.
Phew! That was a lot, but you’re now armed with a comprehensive understanding of how to build your lists. Let’s wrap this up with an action plan.
Conclusion: Your BFCM 2025 Action Plan
You’ve made it! You now have a wealth of strategies and tactics to build a powerful email and SMS list for your Shopify store before the BFCM 2025 rush. The key is to start early, be consistent, and always provide value to your subscribers.
Timeline for Implementation
Don’t try to do everything at once. Here’s a rough timeline:
- Now (3-6+ Months Before BFCM): Focus on foundational work. Define your audience, set up basic lead magnets, optimize website forms, choose your core apps, and ensure compliance. Start building steadily.
- 2-3 Months Before BFCM: Ramp up efforts. Introduce more engaging lead magnets (contests, early BFCM access signups). Refine segmentation. Plan your pre-BFCM content.
- 1 Month Before BFCM: Finalize BFCM campaign plans and automations. Test everything. Start your pre-BFCM teaser campaigns to build anticipation.
- BFCM Week: Execute your campaigns! Monitor performance closely and be ready to adapt.
Priority Ranking of Strategies
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s a suggested order of priority:
- Compliance First: Ensure all your signup methods are compliant, especially for SMS.
- Optimize On-Site Collection: Make sure you have clear, well-placed signup forms (footer, popups, checkout).
- Compelling Lead Magnet: Create at least one strong incentive to sign up.
- Welcome Automation: Set up a solid welcome series for new subscribers.
- BFCM-Specific Offers: Plan your early access or BFCM-focused list-building incentives.
- Engagement & Advanced Tactics: Layer in contests, referrals, personalization as you grow.
Success Measurement Framework
Commit to tracking your KPIs regularly (weekly or bi-weekly). Set realistic goals for list growth and engagement. Review what’s working and what’s not, and don’t be afraid to experiment and optimize.
Preparation Checklist for BFCM Launch
Before the big days, run through this checklist:
- [ ] All signup forms tested and working?
- [ ] Lead magnets/incentives delivering correctly?
- [ ] Welcome automations active and accurate?
- [ ] BFCM email/SMS campaigns scheduled?
- [ ] Segmentation for BFCM audiences finalized?
- [ ] Mobile experience thoroughly tested?
- [ ] Analytics tracking in place?
- [ ] Team briefed on BFCM plans and promotions?
Building your email and SMS lists is an investment that pays off massively, especially during BFCM. By starting now and applying these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to a record-breaking BFCM 2025!
Ready to Streamline Your BFCM Campaigns?
Now that you’re armed with all these strategies for building your lists and preparing for the BFCM rush, imagine managing all your discount campaigns, special offers, and those crucial time-limited deals from one central place on your Shopify store. Running multiple promotions with urgency and clear countdowns can get complicated, right?
That’s where the Growth Suite app on the Shopify App Store can be a game-changer. Growth Suite is designed to help you seamlessly execute many of these BFCM strategies, especially when it comes to creating and managing various types of discount campaigns with built-in timers to drive urgency. It helps you put your well-built lists to work by presenting irresistible, time-sensitive offers to your eager subscribers.
Consider checking out Growth Suite to simplify your campaign management and make your BFCM 2025 promotions more effective and easier to handle. Good luck, and here’s to your most successful BFCM yet!
Conversion Rate Optimization Guide
Shopify Time Limited Offer Guide
Mastering Percentage Discounts in Shopify for Maximum Impact
Fixed Amount Discounts on Shopify: When and How to Use Them Effectively
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