Your Last-Minute Black Friday Cyber Monday Checklist

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are basically tomorrow in marketing time. That’s how it feels, right? The clock’s ticking, your inbox is about to explode, and the pressure to deliver is mounting. You might be thinking, “Am I even ready for this?” But before you spiral into full-blown panic mode, take a breath.

This post is your quick hit of clarity before the chaos. I’ve put together a last-minute Black Friday Cyber Monday checklist that’s simple, clear, and totally doable. Think of it as the punch list you didn’t know you needed — the one that keeps you sane and profitable as the biggest shopping weekend of the year barrels toward you.

Want to know how to make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday without losing your mind? In this post, I’ll walk you through five essential steps to get your campaigns locked, loaded, and ready to convert.

1. Confirm Your Sending Schedule

Let’s start with the basics: your email schedule. Don’t wait until Thursday night to realize you don’t know what’s going on out there. Out when? Map it all now.

  • What times are your emails going out?
  • What’s the cadence?
  • Are you scheduling in a fixed time zone or each recipient’s local time zone?

If promo codes are part of your campaign, double-check that they’ll actually be live when the email lands. And for the love of conversions, make sure every link works. One broken link can tank an otherwise great campaign faster than you can say “unsubscribe.”

Pro tip: Actually click through your test emails on both desktop and mobile. Don’t just skim them — click every link, test every code, and make sure everything looks as good as it functions.

2. Review Your Signup Forms and Pop-Ups

Yes, even at the last minute, you can still grow your list. And those new subscribers? They could be the ones who convert this weekend.

Double-check your signup forms and pop-ups:

  • Are they working?
  • Do they look good on mobile?
  • Is the incentive clear?

Make sure your welcome automation is firing immediately. New signups shouldn’t sit there ignored — they should be nurtured and primed to buy.

But don’t stop there. Every channel you have should be driving people toward those forms.

  • Running ads? Update the creative to highlight early access.
  • Posting on social? Link straight to your VIP list.

Even a handful of new signups today can turn into sales tomorrow.

Pro tip: Swap your pop-up headline to something seasonal, like “Don’t Miss Our Black Friday VIP Deal.” It’s a small tweak that can make a big difference.

3. Verify Your Website and Checkout

This one isn’t technically an email marketing tip, but let’s be real: your emails only work if your site and checkout do.

Run through your store like a customer:

  • Add items to your cart.
  • Apply the discount code.
  • Check shipping options.
  • Go all the way to payment.

If anything feels clunky, fix it now before the rush.

Pro tip: Test it on mobile. Most holiday shoppers are on their phones, and even a tiny friction point there can cost you thousands in lost sales.

4. Prep Your SMS

SMS is your secret weapon for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s direct, urgent, and cuts through the noise of overflowing inboxes. But here’s the thing: you don’t want to be panic-writing texts mid-weekend.

Schedule your texts now. Keep them short, urgent, and link directly to curated landing pages. Test them to make sure you’re sticking to SMS rules (no sending after quiet hours, for example).

And if you still have time to grow your SMS list, do it. Use email as a springboard, leverage social media, and drive signups right up until Black Friday. Every new subscriber counts.

Pro tip: Save SMS for moments where timing matters most — early access, limited drops, last calls. These are the moments when SMS shines.

5. Check Shipping Cut-Offs and Messaging

Black Friday is just the kickoff. Your customers are already thinking ahead to holiday gifting, and they need to know their orders will arrive on time.

Double-check your shipping deadlines:

  • Are they clear in your campaigns?
  • Are they consistent in your site banners?
  • Are they easy to find in your email footers?

These repeatable informational touchpoints reduce hesitation and cut down on customer questions.

Pro tip: Draft one or two evergreen informational emails now — shipping cut-offs, return policies, FAQs — so you can drop them in when needed. That way, you’re not scrambling to answer the same questions over and over.

The Checklist Recap

Here’s your last-minute Black Friday Cyber Monday checklist:

  1. Confirm your sending schedule.
  2. Review your signup forms and pop-ups.
  3. Verify your site and checkout.
  4. Prep your SMS.
  5. Check shipping cut-offs and messaging.

Check Off Your Last-Minute BFCM Checklist

I promised this post would be shorter, and that’s on purpose. The best thing you can do right now is stop reading and go actually do these things. Even if you just tackle one or two today, you’ll head into the weekend feeling more confident and prepared.

Remember, you don’t need perfection to win Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You just need clarity, preparation, and the ability to adapt when things get hectic.

If this checklist helped you, share it with another brand owner who could use a little calm before the storm. And don’t forget to grab the full Black Friday Cyber Monday resources by searching “Marketing with Larissa Black Friday Cyber Monday.” You’ll find all my related episodes and tips to keep you ahead of the game.

Now go crush it.

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