What Time to Start Marketing for Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday may have started as Black Friday’s little digital sibling, but let’s be real – it’s officially a MAJOR event in its own right. Especially for online business owners, course creators, digital product queens, and ecom mavens. If you’ve got something to sell online, Cyber Monday is your moment – but ONLY if you plan it right. And planning right means starting way before the turkey’s even in the oven!

Let’s break down exactly when to start marketing for Cyber Monday so you can show up polished, powerful, and ready to turn clicks into cash.

1. Start Planning in September (Yes, That Early)

September is the new November. While your audience is still thinking pumpkins and Pinterest, you should be mapping out your Cyber Monday offer. What’s the deal? Is it a discount, a bundle, a bonus? Will it be live for one day or stretch into Tuesday? Decide it NOW so you can start building buzz.

Ideas to Do in September:

• Review last year’s Cyber Monday / Black Friday data: what sold, what didn’t, and what the profit margins were.
• Set revenue, conversion, and ROI goals for Cyber Monday (sales targets, number of new customers, email signups, etc.)
• Audit your email list: segment by engagement, purchase frequency, etc. Delete or re‑engage cold subscribers.
• Make sure your website, server, and hosting are prepared for traffic spikes. Run load tests.
• Look at your product/inventory plans: what you want to push, what you might bundle, what product photos need updating.

2. Build Your Offer and Funnel in October

Once your idea is set, it’s time to start crafting the goodies. That means writing your sales page, building your email funnel, designing graphics, and testing any tech you’ll need. You don’t want your cart glitching mid-launch (been there, cried into my peppermint mocha!) October is your prep-and-polish month.

Ideas to Do in October:

• Tease upcoming deals or drops via social media or email (“Something big is coming…”)
• Share behind‑the‑scenes content: prepping product images, packaging, selecting deals.
• Run small polls or Q&A stories (“What kind of products do you want deeply discounted?”)
• Begin social media ad campaigns for remarketing or reach (get the word out early!)
• Offer a mini lead magnet (download, guide, discount for signing up) to grow your email list.

3. Warm Up Your List with Value Before You Sell

This is your chance to show up with LOVE before you show up with LINKS. In mid to late October, send out valuable tips, freebies, or a mini series that relates to your upcoming offer. This builds trust and gets your list engaged and opening your emails – which is KEY when it’s go time.

Ideas to Do in Mid‑October:

• Create a downloadable freebie, checklist, or guide related to your niche/products.
• Offer early‑access signups: exclusive first‑dibs for subscribers / VIPs.
• Run a social media contest or giveaway that requires email opt‑in.
• Collaborate with influencers or partners to share your lead magnet.
• Use ads to promote the lead magnet to lookalike or interest audiences.

4. Start Teasing Your Offer in Early November

Don’t keep it a secret – people LOVE to plan. In the first week of November, start dropping hints. Maybe you reveal what the deal will be or just build intrigue (“Big announcement coming soon!”) This keeps your audience curious and watching for more.

Ideas to Do in November:

• Send “sneak peek” emails showing parts of the offer (“Here’s one deal we’re most excited about…”).
• Use countdown timers in emails / social / website.
• Post teasers of products that will be part of the sale.
• Begin user‑generated content: ask customers to share what they hope to snag or what deals they love.
• Highlight social proof: past Cyber Monday wins, testimonials, best‑selling items.

5. Create a Dedicated Email Sequence

One email does NOT a launch make. We’re not just knocking once and hoping they answer. Nope – we’re showing up with a latte, a cozy blanket, and a 5‑part email series that gently yells “BUY THIS AMAZING THING!”

Ideas to Do in November:

• Email 1: “Something big is coming” / tease value.
• Email 2: Details about the offer + early access or VIP bonus.
• Email 3: Countdown warning (“Cyber Monday is 3 days away”) + bestsellers.
• Email 4: Day‑before (“Here’s your reminder + what to expect”).
• Email 5: Day‑of blast(s): morning, midday, final hours.

6. Update Your Website Ahead of Time

Your site needs to be ready for the spotlight. If Cyber Monday hits and your checkout’s broken, your customer’s GONE. Get everything sleek, speedy, and scrollable before the turkey even defrosts!

Ideas to Do In November:

• Refresh product images / copy for those items in the promotion.
• Ensure mobile checkout is seamless. Many will shop on their phones.
• Check site speed and fix anything that’s slow.
• Make sure your website navigation can handle traffic; prioritize your sale items clearly.
• Set up clear banners / popups / landing pages for the Cyber Monday deals.

7. Use Social Media to Build Anticipation

Social is your virtual shop window – but instead of dusty mannequins, it’s you showing up with sparkle and sass. Hype it up, show it off, and talk to your people like they’re already obsessed.

Ideas to Do in November:

• Countdowns in stories + posts.
• Behind‑the‑scenes videos (e.g. packaging, selecting deals)
• Polls / questions: “What are you hoping for? What’s your budget?”
• Sneak peek reels / TikToks of featured products.
• Collaborate with micro‑influencers to showcase the deals before launch.

8. Run a Test Sale or Flash Deal in Early November

Before the main event, test the waters. It’s like a dress rehearsal, but with real cash. See what hits, what flops, and what you need to tweak before go time.

Ideas to Do in Early November:

• 24‑hour flash sale for a subset of your audience.
• Limited offer discount on one or two products.
• Try different email subject lines / social ad copy to see what resonates.
• Monitor traffic & checkout flow – watch for drop‑offs.
• Use this to gather feedback (“Did you love X‑deal? What stopped you from clicking?”)

9. Prep Your Graphics and Promo Materials Early

Canva is great – at 2PM. Not so much at 2AM on Black Friday. Get all your promo assets done and dusted now, so you’re not dragging design files into your mashed potatoes.

Ideas to Do in October / Early November:

• Design all email banners, social ads, website graphics for every stage (teasers, launch, reminders)
• Make variations for mobile vs desktop, different platforms.
• Write all copy ahead of time: email subject lines, social posts, ad creatives.
• Create templates so you can quickly tweak & reuse during final week.
• Line up influencer / partner creatives if using them.

10. Schedule EVERYTHING Before Thanksgiving Week

Look, Thanksgiving week is already packed. Turkey, travel, toddler meltdowns. If your marketing isn’t locked and loaded before then? You’ll be stuffing emotions, not just the bird.

Ideas to Do in the week(s) before Thanksgiving:

• Schedule email sends (morning, midday, evening) for Cyber Monday.
• Queue social media posts and ad creatives.
• Confirm all shipping / fulfillment timelines, customer service staffing.
• Double check inventory: what is in stock, what needs reorder or substitution.
• Prepare customer service scripts or FAQ to handle common questions (shipping, deals, returns)

11. Keep the Momentum Going After Cyber Monday

Just because the sale ends doesn’t mean the relationship should! Don’t ghost your customers after the first date. Keep the convo going, build loyalty, and keep showing up like the business bestie you are.

Ideas to Do Immediately After Cyber Monday:

• Send “Thank you” emails + satisfaction follow‑ups.
• Offer “post‑sale” bonuses or small upsells.
• Ask for reviews or user‑generated content.
• Keep offering themed deals (maybe small “Cyber Monday encore” or “restock favorites” for a short period).
• Use the data: what worked, what didn’t – record and apply to next year.

Cyber Monday isn’t just a bonus day – it’s a POWER PLAY for digital-first businesses. When you start early and lead with value, your audience will show up (credit cards in hand!) Let’s make this year your most profitable Monday ever!

Here are some more great articles that you might love!

• What Time to Start Marketing for Thanksgiving
• Giving Thanks Quotes For Small Business
• Fun Thanksgiving Marketing Campaign Ideas

Source: https://marketingartfully.com/what-time-to-start-marketing-for-cyber-monday/