Black Friday has evolved into a cornerstone of the eCommerce calendar, representing one of the most profitable days of the year for retailers.
The significance of this shopping event extends far beyond just a single day; it kicks off the holiday shopping season, driving a surge in consumer spending that often determines a brand’s annual success. With billions of dollars at stake, the competition among eCommerce brands to capture shoppers’ attention is fiercer than ever.
In such a high-stakes environment, the effectiveness of your email marketing can make or break your Black Friday campaign.
One of the most critical elements of any email campaign is the subject line—it’s the first thing your audience sees, and it often determines whether they open the email or scroll past it.
💡 A compelling subject line not only boosts open rates but also sets the tone for the entire customer experience, guiding them from inbox to checkout.
Crafting Black Friday email subject lines for e-commerce success
Crafting the right Black Friday subject lines is more than just a creative exercise; it’s a strategic move that can significantly impact your holiday season revenue. By leveraging urgency, personalization, and clear value propositions, you can cut through the noise of crowded inboxes and drive engagement.
Ultimately, the success of your Black Friday email campaign hinges on your ability to connect with your audience from the moment they see your subject line, setting the stage for a successful shopping season.
That said, there are certain traits of an effective Black Friday subject line.
Traits of an effective Black Friday Subject Line
There are specific traits that make a Black Friday email work — it would make the recipient open the email, consume the information in it and take appropriate action.
Here is a round-up of the traits for your reference while crafting Black Friday email subject lines.
It creates urgency and scarcity
Urgency and scarcity are powerful motivators that compel customers to act quickly before they miss out on a limited-time offer. By emphasizing deadlines or low stock, you can create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that drives immediate action.
Example: “Last Chance! Black Friday Deals End Tonight!”
It uses customer data to personalize subject lines
Personalization enhances relevance of the subject line by using customer data. These could default or custom fields such as first names of the recipient or info about their past purchases.
This personal touch increases the likelihood of the email being opened, as it feels more directly addressed to the recipient.
Example: “John, Your Exclusive Black Friday Deal Inside!”
It provides clarity and value
A clear and straightforward subject line that communicates the core offer or benefit will quickly grab attention. Shoppers appreciate knowing exactly what they’re getting, whether it’s a discount, free shipping, or a special bundle.
Example: “50% Off Everything—Black Friday Mega Sale!”
It piques interest
Curiosity-driven subject lines tease the content without giving it all away, encouraging the recipient to open the email to learn more. By sparking interest, these subject lines entice customers to engage with the email and explore the offers further.
Example: “You Won’t Believe These Black Friday Deals…”
The Ultimate List of 225 Black Friday Email Subject Lines for every imaginable scenario
We know writing subject lines from scratch is going to cost you endless hours of time and burning midnight oil.
You should ideally use that time focusing on how to improve sales for your e-commerce store during the holiday season.
Here is a comprehensive list of Black Friday email subject lines organized into various categories based on the timing, type, and unique traits of the email.
a. Pre-Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Build anticipation, offer sneak peeks, or give early access to loyal customers.
- Ready for Black Friday? Get a Sneak Peek Now!
- Early Access: Shop Black Friday Deals Before Everyone Else!
- Black Friday Preview: Unmissable Deals Inside!
- Get a Head Start: Black Friday Savings Start Now!
- Shh… Our Black Friday Sale Is Coming Soon!
- Unlock Early Bird Deals Before Black Friday!
- VIPs Only: Pre-Black Friday Access Starts Now!
- Exclusive: Pre-Black Friday Prices Revealed!
- Be the First to Shop Our Black Friday Collection!
- Black Friday is Coming—Are You Ready?
- It’s Almost Here: Black Friday Deals You’ll Love!
- Countdown Begins: Get Ready for Black Friday!
- Early Black Friday Deals Just for You!
- Mark Your Calendar: Black Friday Starts Soon!
- Something Big is Coming: Black Friday Preview!
- Don’t Wait! Early Black Friday Savings Inside!
- Black Friday Teaser: Get Ready to Shop!
- Pre-Black Friday Deals: Shop Before the Rush!
- Sneak Peek: Our Best Black Friday Deals!
- Get Ready: Black Friday is Just Around the Corner!
- It’s Coming: Early Black Friday Access Inside!
- Get Excited! Black Friday Preview Sale Starts Now!
- Prepare Yourself: Black Friday is Almost Here!
- VIP Early Access: Black Friday Deals Revealed!
- Don’t Miss Out: Pre-Black Friday Sale Starts Soon!
b. Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Announce the sale, highlight major discounts, and drive immediate action.
- It’s Here: Our Biggest Black Friday Sale Ever!
- Black Friday Starts Now: Save Up to 70%!
- Shop Black Friday: Deals You Can’t Miss!
- The Black Friday Event You’ve Been Waiting For!
- Black Friday Blowout: Everything Must Go!
- Your Ultimate Black Friday Shopping Guide Inside!
- Don’t Miss Out: Black Friday Deals Live Now!
- Black Friday Starts Now—Shop Before It’s Too Late!
- This Black Friday: Shop More, Save More!
- Our Best Black Friday Deals Are Live—Shop Now!
- Black Friday Frenzy: Deals You’ll Love!
- Ready, Set, Shop! Black Friday Deals Are Here!
- Black Friday Special: Up to 50% Off Everything!
- Black Friday Extravaganza: Huge Savings Inside!
- Black Friday Madness: Deals You Can’t Ignore!
- Black Friday Bonanza: Unbeatable Prices!
- Your Black Friday Wishlist Just Got Better!
- Don’t Miss the Hottest Deals This Black Friday!
- Black Friday Mega Sale: Up to 80% Off!
- It’s Finally Here: Black Friday Deals Await!
- Shop Now: Black Friday Deals Won’t Last!
- This Black Friday: Grab the Best Deals Before They’re Gone!
- Black Friday is Live: Start Saving Now!
- The Wait is Over: Black Friday Sale Starts Today!
- Black Friday Price Drops: Shop and Save Big!
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c. VIP Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Exclusive deals, early access, and personalized offers for VIP or loyal customers.
- VIP Access: Your Exclusive Black Friday Deal Inside!
- As a VIP, You Get Early Access to Our Black Friday Sale!
- For Our VIPs Only: Black Friday Just Got Better!
- Your Black Friday VIP Pass: Extra Savings Await!
- VIPs Get More! Extra 20% Off This Black Friday!
- Exclusive VIP Offer: Early Access to Black Friday!
- Because You’re Special: VIP Black Friday Deals Inside!
- VIP Treatment: Shop Black Friday First!
- You’re a VIP! Enjoy Early Black Friday Savings!
- VIP Access Granted: Black Friday Deals Await!
- VIP Preview: Get a Head Start on Black Friday Savings!
- Early VIP Access: Unlock Black Friday Deals Now!
- Just for VIPs: Black Friday Early Bird Discounts!
- VIP Only: Get the Best Black Friday Deals Before Everyone Else!
- Your VIP Status Means Extra Black Friday Savings!
- VIP Black Friday Exclusive: Shop Before the Crowd!
- Special Access: VIP Black Friday Deals Inside!
- Black Friday VIP Sale: Sneak Peek Just for You!
- VIP Offer: Save Big with Early Black Friday Access!
- Your VIP Black Friday Pass: Shop Early and Save More!
- Exclusive VIP Black Friday Deals You Don’t Want to Miss!
- VIPs Get the First Look at Black Friday Discounts!
- Enjoy VIP-Only Black Friday Offers—Shop Now!
- As a VIP, You Get Extra Black Friday Perks!
- VIP Early Access: Black Friday Deals are Live!
d. Extended Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Encourage additional purchases by extending the sale period, often with a sense of urgency.
- Black Friday Extended: More Time, More Savings!
- Missed Black Friday? We’ve Extended the Sale!
- Good News: Our Black Friday Sale Has Been Extended!
- Can’t Get Enough? Black Friday Extended Just for You!
- One More Chance: Black Friday Deals Extended!
- Extended by Popular Demand: Black Friday Continues!
- Black Friday Isn’t Over Yet—Shop the Extended Sale!
- We’ve Extended Black Friday—More Deals, More Time!
- Extended! Keep Shopping Our Black Friday Sale!
- It’s Not Too Late: Black Friday Deals Extended!
- Extended Sale: Black Friday Prices Still Available!
- More Time to Save: Black Friday Extended!
- Black Friday Extended—Don’t Miss Out!
- Extended Black Friday Sale: Shop and Save More!
- Good News: Black Friday Sale Extended for Extra Savings!
- Keep Shopping: Black Friday Extended for a Limited Time!
- Black Friday Extended: Grab Your Deals Before They’re Gone!
- Last Chance to Shop: Black Friday Extended!
- Extended Black Friday Sale: More Deals Just for You!
- Black Friday Isn’t Over—Extra Savings Available Now!
- Black Friday Sale Extended: Your Savings Continue!
- Shop Extended Black Friday Deals—More Time to Save!
- Extended by Popular Demand: Black Friday Savings Continue!
- Don’t Miss the Extended Black Friday Sale—Shop Now!
- Extended Sale Alert: Black Friday Deals Still Going Strong!
e. Last Chance Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Final reminder to create urgency, emphasizing that time is running out.
- Last Call: Black Friday Deals End Tonight!
- Hurry! Last Chance to Save This Black Friday!
- Final Hours: Don’t Miss Out on Black Friday Savings!
- Last Chance for Black Friday Deals—Act Now!
- This Is It! Last Day to Shop Black Friday Deals!
- Don’t Miss Out: Final Hours of Black Friday!
- Last Chance! Black Friday Ends at Midnight!
- Time’s Running Out: Last Chance for Black Friday Deals!
- Final Reminder: Black Friday Sale Ends Soon!
- Last Chance to Score Black Friday Savings!
- Act Fast: Black Friday Ends in Hours!
- Last Minute Deals: Black Friday Sale Ending Soon!
- Don’t Wait: Last Chance to Grab Black Friday Deals!
- Final Countdown: Black Friday Deals Ending Soon!
- Last Chance Alert: Black Friday Savings Disappearing!
- Final Call: Shop Black Friday Deals Before They’re Gone!
- Last Chance for Huge Black Friday Discounts!
- Black Friday Ends Soon—Shop Now or Miss Out!
- Last Opportunity: Black Friday Sale Ends Today!
- Time’s Almost Up: Final Black Friday Deals Inside!
- Last Chance! Don’t Miss Our Black Friday Deals!
- Act Now: Last Hours of Black Friday Savings!
- Hurry Up! Black Friday Deals End in a Few Hours!
- Final Hours to Save Big This Black Friday!
- Last Chance to Shop Black Friday—Don’t Miss Out!
f. Post-Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Capitalize on momentum by encouraging shoppers to take advantage of remaining deals.
- It’s Not Over Yet! Shop Our Black Friday Leftovers!
- Black Friday’s Over, But the Deals Aren’t!
- Missed Black Friday? Here’s One Last Deal!
- After Black Friday: Extra Savings Just for You!
- Black Friday May Be Over, But the Savings Continue!
- Missed Out? Grab These Post-Black Friday Deals!
- Still Shopping? Post-Black Friday Deals Inside!
- One More Shot: Post-Black Friday Sale Starts Now!
- Post-Black Friday Savings—Don’t Miss Out!
- Black Friday’s Done, But We’ve Got More Deals for You!
- Keep the Savings Going: Post-Black Friday Sale!
- Black Friday Over? Enjoy Extra Discounts Inside!
- Post-Black Friday Sale: Shop the Deals You Missed!
- Didn’t Get Enough? Post-Black Friday Offers Await!
- Last Chance: Post-Black Friday Deals Ending Soon!
- Don’t Miss Our Post-Black Friday Clearance Sale!
- Continue the Savings: Post-Black Friday Offers Live Now!
- Shop Our Post-Black Friday Sale Before It Ends!
- Black Friday May Be Over, But We’ve Got More Deals!
- Still Here: Post-Black Friday Discounts Just for You!
- Wrap Up Your Shopping with Post-Black Friday Deals!
- Extra Savings Inside: Post-Black Friday Sale!
- Shop Now: Post-Black Friday Deals Still Available!
- Your Post-Black Friday Savings Are Waiting!
- Missed Black Friday? Enjoy Extended Deals Now!
g. Urgency-Driven Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Use time-sensitive language to create a strong sense of urgency and drive immediate action.
- Act Fast! Black Friday Deals Won’t Last!
- Hurry! Limited Time Black Friday Offers Inside!
- Only a Few Hours Left—Shop Black Friday Now!
- Last-Minute Black Friday Deals—Don’t Miss Out!
- Limited Stock! Black Friday Deals Going Fast!
- Time’s Almost Up! Black Friday Ends Tonight!
- Tick-Tock! Black Friday Savings Won’t Last!
- Only a Few Left! Black Friday Items Selling Out!
- Don’t Wait! Black Friday Deals Disappearing Soon!
- Final Hours! Last Chance to Save This Black Friday!
- Rush In! Black Friday Prices End Soon!
- Last Call: Black Friday Deals Ending in Hours!
- Don’t Delay! Black Friday Sale Ends Soon!
- Almost Over: Black Friday Discounts Ending Tonight!
- Hurry! Limited Time to Get Your Black Friday Savings!
- Act Now: Black Friday Deals Ending Fast!
- Final Countdown: Black Friday Savings Ending Soon!
- Shop Now or Miss Out: Black Friday Deals Ending!
- Urgent: Last Chance to Get Black Friday Discounts!
- Ending Soon: Don’t Miss Out on Black Friday Deals!
- Last Few Hours: Black Friday Sale Ending Soon!
- Final Opportunity: Black Friday Prices Will Rise!
- Ending Soon! Grab Your Black Friday Deals Now!
- Time’s Running Out: Last Chance for Black Friday Offers!
- Final Hours to Score Big Black Friday Savings!
h. Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines with Emojis
Traits: Use of emojis to capture attention and add a visual element to the subject line.
- 🎉 It’s Here: Our Biggest Black Friday Sale Ever!
- 🚨 Black Friday Alert: Save Up to 60%!
- 🔥 Hot Deals: Black Friday Starts Now!
- ⏰ Time’s Running Out: Black Friday Ends Tonight!
- 🎁 Black Friday Gift Guide: Deals Inside!
- 💥 Black Friday Blowout: Up to 70% Off!
- 🚀 Don’t Miss Out: Black Friday Sale Going Fast!
- 🎄 Get Ready for Black Friday: Deals Await!
- ⚡ Flash Sale: Black Friday Starts Now!
- 📦 Shop Our Best Black Friday Deals—Hurry!
- 🎊 Black Friday Frenzy: Discounts You’ll Love!
- 🎉 It’s Here: Black Friday Mega Sale!
- 🔥 Shop Now: Black Friday Deals Up to 50% Off!
- 🎁 Black Friday Special: Unwrap Huge Savings!
- 💥 Black Friday Madness: Don’t Miss These Deals!
- 🚀 Get Ready to Save Big This Black Friday!
- 🎉 Black Friday Savings Are Live—Shop Now!
- ⏳ Hurry Up: Black Friday Prices Won’t Last!
- 🎁 Exclusive Black Friday Deals Just for You!
- 🔥 Black Friday Sale: Shop Before It’s Gone!
- 🎉 Huge Discounts Inside: Black Friday Event!
- 🚨 Last Chance: Black Friday Deals Ending Soon!
- 🎁 Black Friday Blowout: Extra Savings Await!
- 🔥 Hot Black Friday Deals: Shop and Save Big!
- 🎉 Black Friday Alert: Don’t Miss These Offers!
i. Specific Offer-Based Black Friday Sale Email Subject Lines
Traits: Highlight specific types of offers such as discounts, BOGO (Buy One, Get One), or free shipping.
- 🎁 Black Friday Exclusive: 50% Off All Items!
- 🛒 Buy One, Get One Free—Black Friday Only!
- 💸 Save $100 on Orders Over $500 This Black Friday!
- 🎉 25% Off Your First Purchase—Black Friday Special!
- 🚀 Extra 20% Off Sale Items This Black Friday!
- 💥 Black Friday Deal: Free Shipping on All Orders!
- 🎁 Black Friday Flash Sale: Up to 60% Off!
- 🔥 30% Off Everything—Black Friday Deal Ends Soon!
- 🛒 Buy 2, Get 1 Free—Black Friday Offer!
- 💸 Save 40% on Bestsellers This Black Friday!
- 🎉 Black Friday Only: 15% Off Sitewide!
- 🎁 Limited Time: $50 Off Orders Over $200!
- 🚀 Black Friday Deal: 10% Off New Arrivals!
- 💥 Buy One, Get 50% Off Your Second Item!
- 🛒 20% Off All Electronics—Black Friday Special!
- 🎉 Flash Deal: 40% Off Select Categories!
- 💸 Save Up to 70% on Clearance Items This Black Friday!
- 🎁 Black Friday Special: Free Gift with Purchase!
- 🚀 Extra 25% Off Sale Items—Today Only!
- 💥 50% Off All Shoes—Black Friday Only!
- 🛒 Get $20 Off Your Purchase of $100 or More!
- 🎉 Exclusive Offer: 35% Off Sitewide for Black Friday!
- 💸 Black Friday Steals: Save 30% on Home Goods!
- 🎁 Special Deal: 45% Off All Accessories!
- 🚀 Black Friday Sale: 10% Off All New Arrivals!
Best Practices for Crafting Black Friday Email Subject Lines
Keep It Short and Sweet
Short and concise subject lines are crucial for capturing attention quickly. Aim for 40-50 characters to ensure your subject line is fully visible on most devices.
Brevity helps convey your message clearly and immediately, increasing the likelihood of your email being opened.
Optimal Length for Mobile Devices
With a significant portion of emails read on mobile devices, it’s important to consider how your subject line appears on smaller screens.
Keep your subject lines within 30-40 characters to ensure they display properly and grab attention even on mobile.
Include Actionable Words
Using actionable words in your subject lines encourages recipients to take immediate action. Words like “Shop,” “Discover,” “Save,” and “Get” create a sense of urgency and motivate readers to open your email and engage with your content.
Using Verbs That Drive Action
Verbs that inspire action can significantly impact your open rates. Strong, action-oriented verbs such as “Unlock,” “Claim,” and “Snag” push recipients to act quickly and take advantage of the offer or content in your email.
Conduct A/B Testing to Find Successful Variants
A/B testing different subject lines is essential for optimizing email performance. By testing variations, you can determine which subject lines resonate best with your audience, leading to higher open rates and more effective email campaigns. Regularly perform A/B testing to refine your approach and improve results.
Plan to Avoid Spam Triggers
Certain words and phrases can trigger spam filters, causing your emails to end up in the junk folder. Avoid using excessive punctuation, all caps, or spammy phrases like “Free,” “100%,” or “No Cost” to ensure your emails reach your recipients’ inboxes.
Highlight Exclusive Offers
During Black Friday, emphasize the exclusivity of your deals to stand out. Subject lines that mention “Exclusive,” “Limited Time,” or “VIP Access” create a sense of urgency and specialness, motivating recipients to open your email to discover the unique offers.
Use Urgency to Persuade action
Black Friday is a high-pressure shopping event, so your subject lines should reflect urgency. Phrases like “Ends Soon,” “Last Chance,” and “Final Hours” can drive immediate action and create a sense of urgency that compels recipients to act quickly before the deals are gone.
Personalize for Better Engagement
Personalization can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your Black Friday emails. Use data such as past purchase behavior or browsing history to tailor subject lines with personalized offers, making the email more relevant and appealing to the recipient.
Emphasize Time-Sensitive Offers
Black Friday is all about limited-time deals, so make sure your subject lines reflect this urgency. Highlighting the limited availability of offers or mentioning specific deadlines (e.g., “Today Only” or “While Supplies Last”) can drive quicker actions from recipients.
Now That You Have Plenty of Black Friday Email Subject Line Ideas…
By now you should have plenty of Black Friday subject line ideas to choose from or get inspired by.
You might even find that now the problem isn’t coming up with ideas for subject lines, but rather choosing between multiple ones you want to use.
Thankfully, SmartrMail has A/B testing tools so you can try out different subject lines and see which delivers the best open rates. This is available to all users and we have a comprehensive guide on A/B testing too.
We also have a guide on writing subject lines that includes more general best practice tips to writing subject lines that compel subscribers to open the email such as including a call to action.
The only thing that’s left is to actually create your email design and get it sent to your list!
PS: Wanting to get a head start on your Christmas email marketing? Check out our list of Christmas email subject lines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Black Friday Email Subject Lines
Black Friday email subject lines are crucial because they capture recipients’ attention during a highly competitive shopping period. They help your email stand out, drive opens, and ultimately influence purchase decisions by highlighting special offers and creating urgency.
For optimal visibility, keep your Black Friday email subject lines between 30-50 characters. This length ensures they are fully visible on mobile devices and easy to read at a glance.
Use phrases that convey urgency and scarcity, such as “Last Chance,” “Ends Soon,” or “Final Hours.” Highlight time-sensitive offers and limited availability to prompt immediate action from recipients.
To make your subject lines stand out, use exclusive language, incorporate emojis for visual appeal, and emphasize special deals or discounts. Personalizing subject lines with relevant offers based on customer data can also enhance their effectiveness.
Incorporate actionable words like “Shop,” “Save,” “Unlock,” “Claim,” and “Discover” to encourage recipients to open your email and take action on the offers inside.
A/B testing is vital for optimizing Black Friday email subject lines. It allows you to test different variations to see which ones perform best, helping you refine your strategy and improve open rates and engagement.
Avoid using excessive punctuation, all caps, and spammy phrases like “Free,” “100% Off,” or “No Cost.” These can trigger spam filters and reduce the likelihood of your emails reaching the inbox.
Personalization enhances relevance by tailoring subject lines to individual recipients based on their past behaviors or preferences. This can include mentioning past purchases or suggesting offers based on browsing history, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
Include keywords such as “Black Friday,” “Sale,” “Discount,” “Deal,” and “Offer” to clearly convey the relevance of your email to the Black Friday event and attract recipients looking for holiday deals.
Use emojis to add visual appeal and draw attention. Choose emojis that complement your message, such as 🎁 (gift), 🔥 (fire), or ⏰ (clock), to convey urgency and excitement while making your subject lines more engaging.
