Black Friday 2026 checklist for digital product sellers

3 weeks out (by Nov 6)

• ☐ Pick one offer: a discount (20–30% is common), a bundle, or a bonus. Don't stack all three.
• ☐ Decide the exact start and end, with a time zone.
• ☐ Make or update a bundle. Bundles raise order value more than discounts.
• ☐ Check your product files open on a phone and a computer.

2 weeks out (by Nov 13)

• ☐ Write your ads. Test 2 hooks with small budgets. (How to write them with AI.)
• ☐ Plan posts from Nov 10 to Dec 20 (holiday content calendar).
• ☐ Add an email sign-up with a freebie so you have a list to email on Friday.

1 week out (by Nov 20)

• ☐ Write the 6 emails (BFCM email templates).
• ☐ Create the discount code and set it to expire on time.
• ☐ Update product pages: sale price, end date, what's included, file formats.
• ☐ Update your link in bio.

Checkout pre-flight (Nov 24–25)

• ☐ Buy your own product with the code on your phone, end to end.
• ☐ The download email arrives and the file opens.
• ☐ The discount applies to the right products.
• ☐ Refund policy and contact details are visible.
• ☐ Page loads fast on mobile data.

Sale weekend (Nov 25–30)

• ☐ Wed: early access email.
• ☐ Fri morning: "it's live" email, post, stories, pin the post.
• ☐ Sat: Small Business Saturday story.
• ☐ Mon: Cyber Monday morning email, last-call email in the evening.
• ☐ Answer DMs and comments within a few hours. Questions are buying signals.

After (Dec 1–7)

• ☐ Turn off the code at the time you said.
• ☐ Thank-you email to buyers with how to use what they bought.
• ☐ Write down: revenue, orders, best email, best post, best ad. You'll want it for 2027.
• ☐ Switch to gift and last-minute angles until Christmas.

Common mistakes

• Fake deadlines or "extended" sales that never end. Buyers notice.
• A code that doesn't work on mobile.
• Only posting on Friday. Most sales come from people who heard about it earlier in the week.
• No email list. Social reach drops in BFCM week as ad competition rises.