Feeling overwhelmed trying to plan your Black Friday and Cyber Monday strategy this year? You're not alone.

Should you be discounting?
Who should you send your offers to?

How much should you be spending on paid ads (heck, should you even bother????)

From deciding how much to discount to figuring out the right marketing channels, there are so many moving pieces that it can make your head spin 😵‍💫

You know that I’m committed to giving YOU the latest info on what’s working and what’s not.

That’s why I’ve put together this BF/CM series, to give you the behind the scenes, first hand info.

In this episode, Yotpo’s Rad Mitic (Head of Brand Advocacy) and Rob Hewetson (Senior Engineer) pull back the curtain on the strategies top brands are using to stand out from the competition.

You'll discover:

• How to effectively segment your customer base and craft personalized promotions (beyond just discounting)

• Innovative loyalty program ideas that go way beyond points - and actually drive sales

• Yotpo's game-changing "multi-message campaign" feature that can automate your email and SMS marketing

• Plus, Yotpo have been kind enough to share with you, their Ultimate Black Friday Email Marketing Guide - download it for free here

Whether you're struggling to decide where to focus your efforts or just feeling lost in a sea of Black Friday/Cyber Monday options, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can make a real difference for your business.

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Introduction and Background of Salena Knight 0:02

Introduction of Guests and Their Backgrounds 2:43

Yotpo's Innovative Approach and Team Dynamics 7:16

Challenges and Strategies for Black Friday Cyber Monday 14:59

Practical Strategies for Email and SMS Marketing 31:19

Final Tips and Encouragement for Business Owners 40:44

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/the-insider-strategies-top-brands-use-to-dominate-black-friday-cyber-monday-with-rad-rob-from-yotpo/

As we hurtle towards the biggest retail event of the year, I knew I couldn't just give you my opinion. You need the insider scoop from the experts who are in the trenches, day in and day out. That's why I sat down with Toby Cumpstay, Shopify's Senior Merchant Success Manager for the APAC region, to get his no-holds-barred advice on how to leverage Black Friday and Cyber Monday to drive serious sales and growth for your retail or e-commerce business.
Toby's been there and done that - he founded and grew a hugely successful retail and e-commerce business before it was acquired. So he knows firsthand the challenges, the strategies, and the opportunities that come with navigating the Q4 madness. In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Proven pre, during, and post-BFCM strategies to maximize your results
• How to reverse-engineer your goals and budgets to avoid getting caught out
• The power of segmenting your customer list and offering tailored promotions
• Innovative "anti-pattern" BFCM campaigns that build brand loyalty (think Patagonia and REI)
• Toby's #1 Shopify app recommendation to boost revenue

If you're ready to dominate this holiday season and set your business up for an incredible 2025, you won't want to miss a single minute of this episode. Strap in, because Toby and I are about to take you behind the scenes of Black Friday and Cyber Monday like never before.

If you're overwhelmed with putting together a BF/CM campaign, this program I created can help you put it all together in a weekend.

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Introduction and Overview of the Podcast 0:02

Toby's Journey into Retail and E-commerce 2:52

Challenges and Decisions in Building the Business 8:35

Scaling the Business and Customer Experience 10:37

Marketing Strategies and Customer Engagement 15:38

Pre, During, and Post Black Friday Strategies 18:23

Reverse Engineering and Customer Acquisition Costs 29:27

Anti-Patterns and Brand Differentiation 33:33

Final Recap and Key Takeaways 40:54

Favorite Shopify App and Closing Remarks 41:21

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/shopifys-insider-secrets-to-crushing-black-friday-cyber-monday-toby-cumpstay/

I'm always on the hunt for the latest strategies and tactics to help ecommerce brands drive sales and revenue.

And let me tell you, my latest podcast guest John Garguilo from Ready Set Digital Agency did not disappoint.

John has worked with some of the biggest names in e-commerce, and he's seen firsthand what it takes to win big during the critical Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season.

In this episode, he pulls back the curtain and shares his insider secrets, including:

• The importance of creative diversity and testing your ads WAY ahead of time (don't wait until the last minute!)

• How to leverage AI-generated content to scale your video ads without killing your team (his new platform Airpost is fascinating)

• Proven ways to take care of your best customers and keep them coming back, even when the discounts are flowing

If you're an ecommerce brand looking to dominate Q4 and maximize your holiday sales, you won't want to miss this episode. John drops so many valuable insights that you can implement in your business right away.

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John Garguilo's Career Journey 0:02

Challenges in the Restaurant Business 3:20

Transition to Tech and AI 4:50

Introduction to Airpost and Its Purpose 6:18

AI's Role in Airpost 14:18

Concerns About AI and Realness 25:30

Insights on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 25:45

Sleepless.ai and Additional Resources 34:47

Final Thoughts and Future Outlook 35:40

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/creating-content-that-sells-john-gargiulo/