Join me as I chat with Jonathan Courtney, Co-Founder and CEO of AJ&Smart, as we dive deep into Black Friday Campaign strategy. Jonathan shares his strategies and frameworks for leveraging Black Friday regardless of what type of business you run.

Episode Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - The Importance of Black Friday for Businesses
04:21 - Types of Black Friday Sales
05:01 - Case Study: Endel's Renewal Strategy
08:49 - Comparing Strategies: MagicMind and AG1
12:48 - Apple's Unique Approach to Black Friday
14:25 - Creative E-commerce Strategies
20:12 - Bundling Products for Black Friday
22:51 - Startup Idea 1: Black Friday Agency
27:55 - Gamifying Promo Codes
29:59 - Our Black Friday Buys
31:41 - Live Streaming as a Sales Strategy

1) The Store Credit Hack
Instead of basic "20% off" - tell customers they have $21.63 in store credit expiring soon

Why it works:
• Feels like "their money"
• Specific numbers boost authenticity
• Creates urgency

2) The Premium Play
How luxury brands do Black Friday:
• No discounts
• Give gift cards with purchase
• Example: Apple gives $200 credit
Keeps brand prestige while driving sales

3) The Bundle Builder
Four Sigmatic's genius approach:
• Interactive bundle builder
• Unlocks bigger discounts at $59/$99
• Shows real-time savings
• Makes shopping fun
Steal this for your store

4) The Bonus Stack
MagicMind's approach:
• Start with core discount
• Add digital product access
• Include physical gifts
• Stack more bonuses as week progresses

Psychology: Value over Discount

5) The Subscription Push
SaaS playbook:
• Offer renewal discounts
• Add exclusive bonuses
• Example: Endel does 50% off + premium gifts
• Works for any subscription business

6) The QVC Strategy
Modern twist:
• Run 12-hour livestream sales
• Show limited quantities
• Create FOMO
• Add exclusive bundles
• Perfect for influencer brands

7) The Campaign Timeline
Smart businesses:
• Plan 6 months ahead
• Start ads 3 days before
• Build waiting lists
• Layer in bonuses
• Peak on Friday

8) The Profit Reality
Truth bomb:
• Could make 1-2 months revenue in 1 week
• Some brands make yearly revenue
• Even "bad" years saved by Black Friday
• Ignoring it = leaving millions on table

Remember: Black Friday isn't just a discount day.
It's a strategic revenue event that can make your entire year.
Don't flub it

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FIND JONATHAN ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jicecream
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-courtney-4510644b/
AJ&Smart: https://ajsmart.com/

How to Create a Million-Dollar Black Friday Campaign

The Startup Ideas Podcast