Simple Black Friday Sales: 6 Low-Lift Ideas for Solopreneurs & Coaches

🛍️ The Black Friday Reality Check You Actually Need

Let's be real: if you're anything like me, you're probably thinking, "Do I need to do a Black Friday promo? Is my audience expecting it? And if I do, what on earth should I offer that isn't gonna burn me out during the busiest time of year?"

I get it. That one week in November where the internet basically turns into QVC on steroids can feel overwhelming. You're seeing 20-email sequences, massive price slashes, and complex sales funnels everywhere you look.

But here's what I've learned after years of Black Friday wins AND flops: You don't need 20 emails. You don't need to slash your prices so low that you resent every sale. What you do need is a plan that feels doable and actually excites you.

Sound familiar?

Today I'm sharing my complete Black Friday toolbox—six adaptable sale ideas that work whether you're a coach, mentor, digital product creator, or somewhere in between. Plus, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own Black Friday plan and the lessons learned from both my biggest win and my most disappointing result.

Ready to plan a Black Friday that feels strategic instead of stressful? Grab my free 5-Day Social Refresh Challenge to warm up your audience for any upcoming sales—because as you'll see, none of these strategies work without a warm community.

📈 My $20K Black Friday Win (And the $5K Reality Check)

I need to rewind a couple years to share the story that changed everything about how I approach Black Friday promotions.

A few years ago, I was sitting at my parents' beach house for Thanksgiving, honestly feeling like I should be doing more to promote my Black Friday bundle. I had created what I called the "Create, Connect, Convert Bundle"—three of my existing digital products packaged together with a straightforward name and a solid 50% discount.

It felt almost too simple at the time. I remember thinking, "Shouldn't I make this fancier? Add more bells and whistles?" But I kept it really, really easy. I took the three product prices, added them up for a big total, then took a whole lot off.

The result? $20,000 in sales over four days while I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family.

Now contrast that to last year. I waited way too long to plan, over-complicated the entire structure, and launched without giving myself proper time to warm up my audience. The result? It underperformed drastically—I made about $5,000, which is still great, but it was my reminder that sometimes the thing holding your sales back isn't the product itself, it's the complexity you layer on top of it.

This experience taught me that simple, scrappy, and strategic will always beat complicated and late. And that's exactly what I'm sharing with you today.

Ready to implement these strategies with ongoing support? The Content Coven gives you the systems and community to show up consistently all year—so Black Friday feels strategic, not stressful.

🧰 The Black Friday Toolbox: 6 Customizable Sale Ideas

💝 Strategy #1: Bundle It Up

This one will forever be one of my favorites because it's the idea that brought me those $20,000 in sales. The concept is beautifully simple: take two or three of your existing offers and package them together as a bundle.

Why this works:

• It feels like a gift set for your audience

• Provides more value for less money

• Highlights the depth of your expertise by showing how your products complement each other

• Requires zero new content creation

Variations you could try:

• Mini course + workbook + email templates

• Self-paced program + two group coaching calls

• Multiple offers packaged as a "Holiday Success Toolkit"

Remember my Create, Connect, Convert bundle? I had a Canva course for Create, a content batching program for Connect, and my Instagram Stories training for Convert. The names made sense together, and each product naturally led to the next.

Pro tip: Put everything you're considering into ChatGPT and ask it to come up with a clear, strategic, themed offer name that's going to get people to buy.

📋 Strategy #2: Waitlist-Only Discounts

This is something I've never done but I'm very interested in—especially since I'm launching The Brand Edit (my rebranded Insta Canva Collective) in January 2026.

Instead of making your whole audience an offer, reward the people who have already raised their hand. Here's how it works:

The concept:

• Open early access to your waitlist during Black Friday

• Offer a limited-time discount or bonus for committing early

• Provide more spread-out payment plans since they're committing months in advance

Why this works:

• Makes your audience feel like insiders

• Rewards your warmest leads

• Creates urgency because doors are closed to everyone else

• Gives you early revenue and them first dibs—everybody wins

If you have a group program launching in January, let your waitlist lock in a spot at a discounted rate during Black Friday weekend. It's a beautiful way to reward loyalty while generating early cash flow.

🎯 Strategy #3: Flash Sale on One-to-One Services

Service-based business owners, this one's especially for you. Think limited spots at a special price.

The setup:

• If you normally charge $500 for a 90-minute strategy session, offer three sessions for $300 each

• Make it clear these spots are only available during Black Friday weekend

• Set firm boundaries about when sessions must be booked and used

Why this is brilliant:

• Scarcity drives action (once those spots are gone, they're gone)

• Gives people a taste of working with you without a huge commitment

• Perfect for building testimonials and getting feedback from early adopters

• Provides quick cash flow without overcommitting your calendar

Essential boundary-setting: Be very clear about usage timeframes. Add language like "must be used before February 1st, 2026" to your landing page and sales emails. Trust me—you don't want someone cashing in their discounted session a year later when your business has evolved.

💻 Strategy #4: Discounted Digital Products

This is the most classic Black Friday move, and it's exactly what I'm planning to do with my "Start and Grow Your Email List" program.

Why I'm choosing this approach:

• The content's already created (no additional time investment)

• It coordinates perfectly with Flodesk's unlimited pricing ending December 1st

• I can bundle the discount with urgency around the email platform change

• It's a gateway product that naturally leads to bigger offers later

Strategic tip: Don't discount everything. I've made this mistake before—when people have too many choices, they get overwhelmed and choose nothing. Instead, pick one strategic product that serves as a natural entry point to your ecosystem.

For me, email list building is foundational to everything else I teach, so it makes perfect sense as my Black Friday focus.

Looking for ongoing support to implement these digital product strategies? Join The Content Coven where we work on building your product ecosystem together—so you're never scrambling for ideas during sales seasons.

🎁 Strategy #5: Bonus-Driven Offers

Not into discounts? No problem. Offer a bonus instead—this protects your pricing integrity while still giving buyers a reason to act now.

Examples that work:

• Buy your course this weekend, get a bonus Q&A call in December

• Sign up for your membership and get a free month

• Purchase your template pack and get an exclusive holiday design add-on

Why this approach is genius:

• Your offer seems more valuable without slashing prices

• Rewards fast action with exclusive extras

• Can use existing products/resources as bonuses (no new creation needed)

For my email list program, I'm considering adding two live Q&A calls as a bonus. I love hosting these calls, there's no prep work required, and I just show up to answer questions—very low lift for me, high value for participants.

Pro tip: Frame bonuses as "exclusive to Black Friday" or "limited time VIP addition." The psychological impact of exclusivity is powerful.

🔄 Strategy #6: VIP Upgrades

This is a sneaky smart move that locks people into your ecosystem early while reducing barriers to your bigger programs.

How it works:

• Let people buy something now (mini course, workshop, consultation)

• Give them credit towards a bigger offer coming up

• Example: "Buy this $97 workshop during Black Friday, and if you join my $997 program in January, you'll get a $97 credit"

The brilliance of this strategy:

• Locks people into your ecosystem early

• Reduces barrier to entry for bigger programs

• Gets people exposed to your teaching style and approach

• Makes them more likely to buy your bigger offer later

Essential clarity: Make sure your credit terms are crystal clear to avoid confusion later. Specify exactly how credits can be applied and any expiration dates.

📧 Your Black Friday Email Strategy (Without the Overwhelm)

I know your next question: "How many times do I have to email my audience without annoying them?"

Here's my take: You're not annoying someone by emailing them a special offer. You're providing value they can only get during this specific time period.

My 5-email strategy:

Email #1 - The Kickoff: Announcement explaining what the sale is, why it matters, and why they should buy. Very informational.

Email #2 - The Reframe: Reminder email that reframes the offer with a story or testimonials. More emotional connection.

Email #3 - The Midway Push: "We're halfway there" with behind-the-scenes content about why you created this offer and why they need it now.

Email #4 - The Urgency: Highlight the deadline with another transformation story showing what their life looks like after purchasing.

Email #5 - Final Call: Straight to the point. "Thanks for hanging in there, but the sale ends tonight. Click here."

Timing consideration: I might do my sale the week before Black Friday because Thanksgiving is family time for me. I don't want to be worried about hopping on Stories or managing a promotion when I want to be present with my family.

About unsubscribes: If you're worried about people unsubscribing, remember this—they can unsubscribe, and that's not necessarily bad. People who unsubscribe probably weren't going to buy anyway. The people who stay will be grateful for the reminders.

🔥 The Foundation That Makes Everything Work

Here's the truth I need you to hear: Black Friday can't fix a cold audience.

If you haven't been showing up consistently, if your people don't know, like, and trust you already, no magical bundle or discount is going to suddenly convert them. The real work happens the other 11 months of the year—building consistency, finding your voice, creating content that attracts the right people, and surrounding yourself with community inspiration and accountability.

This is exactly what we do inside The Content Coven. It's not just about templates and prompts—it's about having a support system of other female solopreneurs who literally get it, plus strategies and structures that help you stay consistent so when Black Friday (or any launch) rolls around, you're prepared, not panicking.

Resources & Links mentioned in the episode:

• FloDesk email platform (50% off first year)

• Start & Grow Your Email List (From Scratch) self-led course 

Connect with me:
🫶🏼 Follow me on Instagram for daily insights
🫶🏼 Join my 321 Create Newsletter for weekly content tips
🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership

🎯 Your Next Move: Keep It Simple, Keep It Strategic

Here's my challenge for you: Pick one of these toolbox strategies and run with it. Don't overcomplicate it. Don't overthink it. Don't wait until the last minute. Keep it fun, keep it simple, and watch how that energy translates into sales.

Remember what I learned from my $20K success versus my $5K disappointment: the difference wasn't in the complexity of the strategy—it was in the simplicity of execution and the warmth of my audience.

If you know deep down that what you really need isn't just a Black Friday idea, but the consistency and confidence to show up year-round so you're never scrambling last minute, I'd love to welcome you into The Content Coven. It's where we do the work together, so you're never stuck trying to figure anything out alone—and honestly, that support system is life-changing.

Ready to plan your most successful Black Friday yet? Comment "POD39" below and let me know which strategy you're most excited to try. I love hearing from you and seeing how these ideas come to life in your business.

Here's to a Black Friday that feels strategic, not stressful. You've got this!