10 Black Friday Ideas for Small Businesses Using SMS
- Amila Udowita
- 20 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Black Friday is like the Super Bowl for small businesses. It’s the one time of year when everyone is ready to shop.
But here’s the challenge. Big brands throw massive discounts around like confetti. So how do small businesses compete without slashing prices to the bone?
Simple. Get creative.
I’ve rounded up some realistic Black Friday promotion ideas that small businesses can actually pull off. And along the way, I’ll show you how you can use Falkon SMS to get the word out fast (and effectively).
10 Actionable Black Friday Promotion Ideas for Small Businesses
1. Give VIP Customers Early Access
Before you go public with your Black Friday deals, treat your loyal customers like royalty.
Send them an early access message a day or two before everyone else. A simple “Hey, you’re on our VIP list. Shop early before we sell out!” goes a long way.
Most businesses usually schedule these messages in advance through business texting apps like Falkon SMS. By this way, you can send a quick text to your subscriber list with a special link.
People open texts way faster than emails and they love the exclusivity.
2. Create Product Bundles That Make Sense
Instead of dropping your prices, try bundling products that naturally go together.
If you run a coffee shop, think “Holiday Morning Starter Pack”, a bag of beans, a mug, and a pastry voucher. If you sell skincare, go for a “Winter Glow Kit.”
These bundles feel premium and give you more flexibility on pricing.
Once you got your bundles ready, you can send a short SMS campaign like below:
“Holiday Starter Packs are here. Limited stock, grab yours before Friday ends!”
Fast, personal, and it drives people straight to the checkout.
3. Run Flash Sales with a Countdown
Nothing gets people moving like a ticking clock.
Set up hourly flash sales or limited-time offers throughout the day. For example: “50% off between 12–2 PM only!”
I like to tease these flash deals in advance using SMS. With Falkon SMS, it’s easy to schedule multiple messages, so you can send reminders like:
“Flash Sale starts in 1 hour! Don’t miss it.”
It keeps people checking their phones — and my site — all day long.
4. Collaborate with Other Local Businesses
If you’re a small local business, teaming up can amplify your reach.
Partner with nearby shops or service providers for a joint Black Friday giveaway or local discount trail (like a punch card that covers multiple stores).
Each business promotes the others, and everyone wins.
And of course, you can coordinate your communication using Falkon SMS. It’s easy to share updates, event reminders, or even collective promo codes with your customers.
5. Offer Gift Card Bonuses
Gift cards are a secret weapon. They’re easy to sell, easy to gift, and they bring people back later.
Try something like “Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus.”
When you launch your gift card promo, an SMS campaign can be your best friend. A short, friendly text like:
“Black Friday Deal: Buy a $50 Gift Card, Get $10 Free! Today only. Tap here to grab yours.”
It’s quick, clickable, and converts like crazy.
6. Add Some Fun with a Mystery Discount or Spin-to-Win Game
People love surprises. Do you? Hopefully the answer is a resounding yes, right?
Set up a “mystery discount” on your website or an in-store spin-the-wheel game. You can text your audience something like:
“Mystery Sale: Spin to see your Black Friday discount! Click to play.”
You can use Falkon SMS to send the link directly to my customers. It creates instant curiosity and engagement.
7. Stay Personal and Human
One thing I’ve learned is that the best promotions feel personal, not pushy.
That’s why we love SMS. It’s direct, short, and easy to personalize. With Falkon SMS, you can add the customer’s first name, tailor messages for VIPs, and schedule reminders that feel like one-on-one conversations.
You can even segment your audience, for example, send one message to loyal customers and another to new sign-ups.
Small touches like that make your brand feel human, not corporate.
8. Support Local or Go “Anti-Black Friday”
Not every customer loves the chaos of Black Friday. Some prefer a calmer, values-driven message.
You could run a “Shop Local Weekend” or a “Buy Less, Buy Better” campaign. Emphasize sustainability or handcrafted products.
And yes, SMS is still your best friend here.
Let your SMS subscribers know you’re doing things differently. A quick text can highlight your brand story better than a noisy ad.
9. Free Shipping or Local Delivery
Sometimes, customers just need that little nudge. Free shipping or local delivery can make all the difference.
Announce it clearly:
“Free Local Delivery All Weekend. No Code Needed!”
Send a message right when the Black Friday sale starts, and it drives instant engagement. People don’t scroll past texts like they do with ads.
10. Measure What Works (and Save Notes for Next Year)
After Black Friday wraps up, look at your numbers.
Which deals worked best? Which messages got the most clicks? Falkon SMS gives you metrics like open rates and engagement, so you know exactly what resonated.
Use that data to refine your next campaign. Because once you nail your messaging, your Black Friday results will just keep improving.
Pro Tips for Black Friday Success
Alright, let’s wrap this up with a few pro-level SMS marketing tips that make a huge difference when you’re running your Black Friday promotions, especially if you’re a small business juggling a lot at once.
1. Use Scarcity & Urgency (Because FOMO Works Every Time)
Let’s be honest. People love a good deal, but what really drives action is FOMO (fear of missing out).
If you want your customers to act fast, you’ve got to make it feel like the deal won’t last forever.
Here are a few easy ways to do it:
Use countdown timers on your website or emails (Such as: “Sale ends in 02:14:59”).
Add a note like “Only 5 left in stock!” or “Offer ends tonight!” on product pages.
Send reminder texts like: “Final hours to grab your 30% off Black Friday deal. Shop now before it’s gone!”
That last one? It’s crazy effective when done through Falkon SMS.
Since text messages land directly on your customer’s phone, you can create urgency in real time.
2. Focus on Email & SMS Marketing (Your Most Loyal Customers Are Waiting)
If there’s one thing I wish I’d realized sooner, it’s that your best Black Friday results come from people who already know and love your brand.
These are your email subscribers, your repeat buyers, and your SMS subscriber list. They’re warm leads who actually want to hear from you.
Here’s how to approach it:
Send an early access SMS or email to your VIP customers before the public sale starts.
Use Falkon SMS to send short, conversational updates.
Follow up mid-day on Black Friday with reminders and top-selling products.
When you combine email with SMS, you cover both attention spans, the planners and the impulse buyers.
3. Leverage Visuals (Make It Feel Like a Big Deal)
Your visuals set the mood and can make even a small promotion feel huge.
Here’s usually what I like to do:
Update your website banners with bold, festive Black Friday graphics.
Add countdown visuals to your homepage or emails.
Create short product videos or GIFs to share on social media. Because motion catches attention way faster than static images.
And don’t forget to pair those visuals with your SMS marketing (aka MMS marketing). You can drop a link to a new collection or video directly into your texts through Falkon SMS, giving customers an instant way to see what’s new.
Pro tip 💡
keep it consistent. Your website, socials, and SMS campaigns should all feel like they’re part of the same energetic event.
4. Track Results & Learn for Next Year
Every Black Friday SMS campaign teaches you something:
Which products flew off the shelves?
Which promo codes actually got used?
Which messages had the highest click-through rates?
Take time to look at these numbers. Both from your store platform (like Shopify or WooCommerce) and your SMS marketing tools.
With Falkon SMS, you can track delivery, open, and engagement rates, which gives you a clear picture of what worked and what didn’t.
Then, document your findings:
What timing got the best response?
Which message formats resonated most?
What day or hour saw the most sales?
Having this data makes next year’s Black Friday planning so much easier. You’ll know exactly where to focus your time and energy.
Bonus Tip: Keep It Human
One last thing. Don’t lose the human touch.
Small businesses thrive because of their authenticity, not because they mimic big-box stores.
Be yourself. Share a behind-the-scenes story, a photo of your team, or a “thank you” message to your customers after the sale.
A short text like:
“You guys made this our best Black Friday yet. Thanks for supporting small business!” goes a long way and that’s where Falkon SMS really shines. It lets you stay connected with your clients in a real, personal way.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday doesn’t have to mean deep discounts and chaos.
For small businesses, it’s about connection, reaching your people with the right offer, at the right time, in the right way.
And honestly? That’s why most businesses rely on Falkon SMS.
It lets businesses reach their audience instantly, cut through the noise, and keep things personal, even when everyone’s inbox is overflowing.
So this year, plan your offers smartly, use your channels wisely, and let your creativity shine.
Because Black Friday isn’t just for the big brands. It’s for all of us hustlers making magic in small business land.
Want to get started with Falkon SMS? Just schedule a meeting with us.
