⏳ Last-Minute BFCM Prep: Quick Wins in 24 Hours

Hey, it’s Ray.

We’re down to the wire. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, every hour counts.

If your BFCM setup isn’t fully locked in, don’t worry, there’s still time to make a real difference.

While most brands are rushing to push discounts, the ones that win this weekend are focusing on quick, strategic updates that actually convert.

Here’s your Last-Minute BFCM Prep Checklist — 6 proven tactics you can execute in the next 24 hours to maximize results, backed by the latest eCommerce data and best practices.

Quick-Win Checklist: What You Can Still Do in 24 Hours

1. Clean & Segment Your List

• Remove cold or disengaged subscribers (e.g., no opens or clicks in the last 90 days) — this improves deliverability and cuts wasted sends. 

• Segment into key groups:

  • VIPs/loyal customers

  • Recent purchasers (last 30-60 days)

  • Lapsed customers (haven’t purchased in 90+ days)

  • Engaged but non-buyers (opened/clicked but no purchase)

• Why it matters: Personalised, targeted sends outperform broad blasts by a large margin. 

Action: Export lists now → apply simple filters → prepare 3 segmented audiences for your first sends.

2. Craft Urgency & Scarcity Messaging

• Incorporate countdown timers, limited stock alerts or “ends soon” language. These cues drive action.

• Example subject lines:

  • “Only 4 hours left: VIP early access starts now”
    “Stock is moving fast — your deal ends at midnight”

• Pro tip: Keep the urgency genuine, false scarcity undermines trust.

Action: Update your email templates with visible timers and clear expiry times before the first send.

3. Send Your First Targeted Campaign NOW

• Choose your most engaged segment (VIPs or recent buyers) and send one highly targeted email today.

• Best time windows: Early morning local time (e.g., 8-10 am) and later evening (7-9 pm) show strong engagement. 

• Use a strong CTA (e.g., “Shop Early Access”, “Claim Your Bundle”) and make sure it’s above the fold.

Action: Choose segment → pick deal/bundle → schedule send for your next best time window.

4. Prepare a Quick “last-call” Follow-up

• Plan a reminder email or SMS for when the sale hits its end-point (e.g., Saturday 11:59 pm local).

• Keep copy short, urgent, clearly state what the user might lose if they wait.

• For SMS: plan 1-2 messages only (timing matters),  fewer still better.

Action: Create the “Last Chance” message now and schedule it as a flow or broadcast depending on platform.

5. Activate or check Your Automation Flows

• Ensure your core flows are ready and aligned with the sale. These include: welcome flow, abandoned cart, browse abandonment, post-purchase.

• Data check: automated flows made up only ~3% of sends but generated ~30% of email-attributed orders.

• Make sure each has BFCM-specific copy (e.g., “Your selected item is nearly sold out!”) and timely triggers.

• Pro tip: For flows targeting this high-volume period, consider disabling Smart Sending restrictions so that high-intent triggers aren’t blocked. 

Action: Audit your flows now: check triggers, update copy/timers, ensure deliverability is green.

6. Optimize for mobile & deliverability

• Most users will be shopping and checking email on mobile. Ensure your email templates:

  • Have clear CTA buttons (44 × 44 px minimum)

  • Use subject lines <40 characters for mobile inboxes

• Deliverability check: use a proper sending domain, authenticate with SPF/DKIM, avoid large images only at top.

• Bonus: Add pre-header texts that complement subject lines (e.g., “Sale starts tomorrow – reserved for VIPs”).

Action: Send a quick internal test email on mobile (iOS/Android) and rectify any layout issues.

Make the Final Hours Count

When your lists are clean, flows ready, and campaigns queued, BFCM stops feeling chaotic… it just runs.

You’ll spend less time troubleshooting sends and more time watching conversions climb.

If you still need help tightening those last-minute details, just hit reply,  we’ll make sure everything’s ready before the first email goes out.

Finish strong and make this your most seamless, stress-free BFCM yet.

Talk soon,
Raymond Chen
Founder & CEO, 11 Agency

More Ways to Level Up Your Email Game 

Q4 is here, and with BFCM and the holidays right around the corner, your email marketing has to be dialed in. 

Every click, every open, and every flow can mean the difference between hitting record revenue or leaving money on the table. 

Here’s how I can help you maximize Q4: 

Done-for-You Email Strategy: If you’re ready to scale but don’t have the time, I’ll build out a complete email system designed to capture more revenue, convert more customers, and keep sales flowing through the holidays. Book a call with me here. 

Free Resource: Not ready to commit just yet? Grab my FREE 10-page KPI audit and 128-point health scorecard, a proven toolkit to quickly optimize your email performance before BFCM. Get it here!

Take Your Email Marketing Even Further

If you’re up for boosting your email game, I’ve got a few more gems for you:

📺 New Video: 2x Your Ecommerce Sales in 6 Minutes

Serious about growing your ecommerce brand? In this quick tutorial, I’ll show you how to:

• Build a winning Klaviyo flow

• Improve email deliverability

• Drive more sales with a smarter email strategy

Whether you're starting out or scaling, this video gives you the exact steps to make email marketing work. 👉 Watch now:

🎯 Fix Your CTA, Fix Your Clicks
Still seeing low click rates even with solid subject lines and great content?

Chances are, your email CTA needs work. We asked Lawrence Soliman, our Lead Copy Strategist, to break down how to write email calls to action that actually get clicks—plus 5 high-performing examples you can swipe.

👉 Read the blog: How to Write an Irresistible Email Call to Action (Plus 5 Examples!)

💡 Let’s Connect on LinkedIn
I share daily email marketing tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and strategies that actually work. If you’re looking for extra value beyond this newsletter, let’s connect!👉  Follow me here.