10 Graphic Design Tips for Black Friday Sales
When it comes to shopping extravaganzas, it doesn’t get much more intense than Black Friday. It’s that time of year when all of the best deals imaginable hit the shelves, and even though some may not put too much stock into that, especially if you aren’t a big shopper, words cannot accurately describe just how crazy people go over this holiday.
Yes, we said holiday because it’s celebrated as such - and on the opposite end of the spectrum, it’s also known for being quite competitive. There are businesses across a plethora of industries that are all gearing up to try and make an impression this November, and during this period, all gloves are off as they attempt to lure in the masses.
Today, we want to focus on Black Friday and take a look at the kind of design ideas that could help you make a real impact on the big day (and potentially beyond).
So sit back, relax, and get ready to take a look at the measured, less stressful side of this chaotic.
1. Highlight the numbers
It somewhat goes without saying that one of the big attractions of Black Friday, aka the primary attraction, is sales. Just about everything you can think of is going to have a discount attached to it, and although they may not all be necessary purchases, you can bet that one or two items are going to lead to your bank account feeling pretty beaten up in the morning.
The critical part of this process, in our view, is ensuring that the percentages are as visible as they possibly can be. With any and all pieces of content you put out, there should be a real consideration about how much you want to project the sales - whether they be 40% off deals, 50% off or more. It’s a very obvious thing to mention, but it’s still important.
2. Big and bright
We’ve spoken a lot about colour theory and how different colours play different roles in graphic design. As you can imagine, the colour black is going to be pretty important within the context of this holiday, even though it seems a bit on the nose. With that in mind, we thought that we’d make a point that should also be quite obvious at this early stage.
Stand out. Go big, go bright, and go beautiful (the last one is a given, of course). Even if you’re contrasting brighter colours with the black, that’s fine, so long as the message gets through efficiently enough. You have to allow your promotional material to pop in the kind of way that’s going to maintain the audience’s attention for long enough.
3. Industry-specific
Some may suggest that this one is a bit unnecessary, and we can understand why, but we do feel as if it can be beneficial in the long run. The majority of industries that sell goods in any way, shape or form are probably going to be quite busy in the weeks ahead. However, they aren’t all going to take the same route when it comes to their marketing techniques.
If you sell sporting goods, you aren’t necessarily going to promote your products in the same way that a women’s clothing brand would. There’s nothing wrong with that, either, and if anything, we think it’s a positive thing. Sure, it’s a bit more challenging to carve something out that’s a bit more niche, but you’d have to think the consumer will appreciate the effort.
4. Adjust for social media
It feels like the most obvious statement a human being could make in 2023, but we’re going to say it anyway: social media is pretty important, guys. From Twitter (or X) to Instagram and beyond, there are more ways than ever to connect with people from across the globe. In addition to that, there are also plenty of avenues in which people can launch their marketing campaigns.
So, whether it be a physical poster or a digital advertisement you’ve created, always make sure that you can adjust the dimensions to ensure they fit onto a post on several different platforms. It’s important to go that little extra mile, if only because you can appeal to a wider audience and put a new spin on a design that you are particularly proud of.
5. Hidden messaging
Who doesn’t love a good mystery? We know that we do, and we know that we’re especially keen on hidden messaging being used as a way to promote something. It may seem like short notice, but we think slotting some fun anecdotes into unrelated pieces of content is a great place to start with Black Friday design ideas, even if it’s just a few weeks out.
Perhaps you could have a few hints that lead to an exclusive discount code for the big day, or maybe you could run some kind of competition that helps promote the visibility of your brand in a sea of others who are trying to do something similar. It may seem like a bold or cheesy tactic, but we truly believe it could make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
6. Don’t forget Cyber Monday
Black Friday is a big enough monster in itself, and we agree that you don’t necessarily need a whole other day to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving buzz. At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the surge that Cyber Monday has made over the course of the last few years, to the point where it’s become part of the furniture.
It is, essentially, the same idea, just repackaged on a different day - but if you’re going to utilise it, then you need to find a way to differentiate between the two. Sure, you can partner them together in the same post or design, but that can feel like overkill. Instead, why not put Cyber Monday forward as the stepsister of Black Friday with different deals and a different presentation? It’s just a thought.
7. The countdown
No, we aren’t saying that we want you to bombard your audience from pillar to post completely, but what we are saying is that a good old-fashioned countdown isn’t as basic of an idea as you may think. Whether it be three days out, a week out or ten days out (we wouldn’t go much further than that), it’s all about raising awareness of what’s to come.
Perhaps for every individual day, you could promote the release of an entirely new deal. Another idea could be to create an entirely different design for each day, even though that may come across as a waste of time - even though it isn’t. There are more engaging entries on this list, but don’t let that turn you away.
8. Research, research, research
The last thing that anyone wants to see is repetition, especially with an event that is as widely celebrated as Black Friday. The problem is that there is so much out there from years gone by, especially in the digital age, that some form of crossover is inevitable. Our view, though, is that if there is any kind of research you can do without stretching yourself too much, you should do it.
Yes, it’s about standing out and looking at competitors, but it’s also about looking at your own past work. It can be so easy to slip into the same pattern of thinking, especially if your attention is elsewhere. If this is your debut year in this kind of field, then that’s fine, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you can just repeat old tricks and expect the same (or better) results.
9. Animation
Some of you reading this may have just rolled your eyes at the idea of using any kind of animation, but trust us when we say that we think it’s actually pretty handy. It isn’t always going to work, and it does link back to the idea that your work should be industry-specific in relation to Black Friday, but a subtle animation can be just as useful as one that is larger than life.
You just need to make sure that you continue to capture the essence of the message you’re putting across and, at the same time, not allow the animation to become the main attraction. It’s a fine balance that you’ve got to strike, and it isn’t always easy, but the more you test the waters with it, the more comfortable you’re going to be when you get to publishing.
10. Black Friday is the priority
There are a million and one different things to focus on within any corporate job or business, and that’s just in your average 9-5 working day. Because of that, it can feel a bit strange sometimes to push something straight to the front of the queue - but trust us when we say that with Black Friday, it’s going to be more than worth it.
Black Friday needs to be the priority in the lead-up to the big day, and especially on the Friday itself - and the same goes for Cyber Monday if you decide to take that under your wing, too. It’s going to seem like overkill initially, but when you look back at the results, we’re confident in saying that you’ll be happy you committed a sufficient amount of time to the project.
Need help with Black Friday design ideas? Contact us!
We know that the idea of Black Friday can be pretty stressful in itself, and that’s just for folks who are trying to get the best possible deals. If you’re in the graphic design world, this is going to be a big day that companies will want help preparing for - which is where we come into the conversation.
Here at Hatchly, we pride ourselves on having a team full of dedicated professionals who are more than ready to give you all the assistance you need. With our unlimited graphic design service, we’ll be there to help every step of the way, and our expertise in this area can really be valuable for brands that are looking to stand out.
If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to check out our website, and if you have any further questions, get in touch!
