Blog / Seasonal
Seasonal July 1, 2026 · 10 min read

Preparing for Black Friday: A competitive email playbook

How to use last year's competitor data to build a winning Black Friday email strategy.

Why Black Friday prep starts now

Black Friday is the single biggest email marketing event of the year. And the brands that win aren't the ones who plan in October — they're the ones who start analyzing competitor strategies months in advance.

With competitive email intelligence, you can look at exactly what your competitors did last year and use that data to build a stronger playbook for this year.

Analyzing last year's competitor campaigns

Start by reviewing the timeline. When did competitors send their first Black Friday teaser? When did they launch their main promotion? How many emails did they send during the BFCM weekend?

Look at offer structures too. Were they offering percentage discounts, dollar amounts, free shipping, or gift-with-purchase? Understanding the competitive offer landscape helps you position your own deals.

Building your counter-strategy

Use competitive data to find gaps. If most competitors start their sales on Black Friday itself, consider going early. If everyone offers 20% off, a 25% offer or a unique bundle might stand out.

Timing is everything. If you know Competitor A always sends their big email at 8am EST, schedule yours for 6am to hit the inbox first.

Real-time monitoring during BFCM

During Black Friday weekend, competitive monitoring becomes real-time intelligence. Watch for competitors extending their sales, increasing discounts, or sending surprise campaigns.

Having this visibility lets you adapt on the fly — extend your own sale, match a competitor's offer, or send an additional campaign to stay top of mind.

Jacqui Team
Competitive Intelligence

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