Black Friday for Designers: Here’s How to Run a Successful Black Friday Campaign as a Creative Service Provider
Black Friday is just around the corner, and while product-based businesses might be gearing up to offer steep discounts, it can feel tricky as a service provider – especially if you’re a designer, copywriter, or creative entrepreneur. If you’re wondering whether you should join the Black Friday frenzy this year, you’re not alone.
In this post, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of running a Black Friday campaign as a designer and share 7 creative ideas to make your campaign profitable without undercutting your worth. Whether you’re a brand designer, web designer, or any other creative service provider, this guide will help you decide if a Black Friday promotion is right for you and how to make it work.
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Do you really need a Black Friday Campaign as a Designer?
First things first: not every designer needs to run a Black Friday sale. It’s okay to not participate if it doesn’t align with your business goals or values.
The pressure to discount your services can be intense, but remember that design work isn’t a mass-produced product. It’s a high-value service that reflects your time, expertise, and creativity.
So before diving into Black Friday planning, ask yourself:
- Do you need a revenue boost this season?
- Are you looking to fill your project calendar for the new year?
- Is there a new offer or service you want to test?
If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then running a Black Friday campaign as a designer might be a strategic move. But if you’re already fully booked or hesitant about discounting your work, it might be better to skip Black Friday.
After all, this isn’t the only time of year to run a promotion, and there are other ways to attract clients without lowering your rates.
Why Black Friday could be a good opportunity for Designers & Service Providers?
One reason Black Friday can work well for designers and other service-based businesses is the unique shift in consumer mindset during this season. Unlike other times of the year, when clients are typically looking for services they need right now, Black Friday shoppers often think ahead.
During Black Friday, people are more willing to invest in services they might use later, simply because they’re getting a good deal. This opens up opportunities for designers to offer “buy now, use later” deals, limited-time packages, or special services clients can redeem down the line.
So, if you decide Black Friday for designers is worth exploring, here are 7 creative campaign ideas to help you stand out without devaluing your work.
7 Black Friday Campaign Ideas for Designers
If you’re a designer ready to experiment with a Black Friday campaign, here are some unique ideas to make it work for your business.
1. Bundle Your Design Services for Extra Value
Instead of discounting a single service, consider bundling related services into a “Black Friday Design Bundle” that adds value without heavily reducing your rates. For example, a brand designer could create a “Complete Brand Starter Pack” that includes brand strategy, a logo, and social media templates at a bundled price.
Why It Works: Clients feel like they’re getting more for their money, and you’re able to keep your prices higher than a simple discount.
2. Create a Black Friday-Only Service
Offering a service that’s exclusive to Black Friday is a great way to add value without devaluing your main offers. For instance, if you’re a web designer, you could create a one-time “Website Audit” package that’s only available on Black Friday.
Why It Works: This creates a sense of urgency and gives potential clients a low-commitment way to work with you.
3. Offer a “Buy Now, Use Later” Deal
A “Buy Now, Use Later” option lets clients lock in your current rates for a service they can use in the new year. For example, you could offer 10 hours of design work that can be redeemed anytime over the next six months.
Why It Works: This approach is flexible and appealing, especially to clients who may not need your services immediately but want to secure your expertise for future projects.
4. Host a VIP Day for Past Clients
Show your past clients some love by offering them a VIP day at a special rate. For instance, a brand designer might offer a “Brand Refresh Day” exclusively for previous clients, giving them a dedicated day to update their brand visuals.
Why It Works: It rewards loyal clients, keeps your offers exclusive, and can lead to ongoing work with clients who already know and trust your process.
5. Design On Demand: Hourly Packages
If you have clients with ongoing design needs, offer a “Design on Demand” package—such as a set number of design hours they can use as needed throughout the year.
Why It Works: This option gives clients flexibility while allowing you to charge a solid rate. Plus, it can act as a stepping stone to bigger projects down the line.
6. Add a Referral Incentive
Encourage your past clients to refer friends or colleagues to your Black Friday offer by giving them a small incentive, such as a discount on future services or an added bonus hour of design work.
Why It Works: This expands your reach while keeping your campaign focused on clients who already know your value and are likely to refer quality leads.
7. Set Up a Post-Purchase Upsell
Once a client takes advantage of your Black Friday offer, consider offering them a special upsell or add-on. For example, if they purchase a website audit, offer an “implementation package” at a discounted rate to help them put the recommendations into action.
Why It Works: This increases the lifetime value of each client, boosts your revenue, and allows clients to get even more out of your expertise.
3 Boundaries to Set for a Stress-Free Black Friday Campaign
Running a Black Friday campaign as a designer can bring in new clients and revenue, but it also comes with the risk of burnout. Here are three boundaries to set to protect your time and energy:
Limit the number of clients
Set a cap on how many Black Friday packages you’ll offer. This ensures you don’t overbook yourself and can deliver quality work for each client.
Set an expiration date
If you’re offering a “buy now, use later” deal, make sure clients know when they need to redeem it. This prevents you from having to honor discounts years down the line.
Define scope and exclusions
Be clear about what’s included in your Black Friday offer and what’s not. This helps set expectations and avoids “scope creep.”
By setting boundaries, you can run a Black Friday campaign that’s profitable and manageable, allowing you to protect your well-being while still bringing in new business.
Final Thoughts: Is Black Friday for Designers Worth It?
A Black Friday campaign can be a fantastic opportunity to reach new clients, generate revenue, and test new offers – if it aligns with your goals. But remember, you don’t have to participate in Black Friday if it doesn’t feel right for you. There are plenty of ways to attract and retain clients year-round.
If you decide to go for it, focus on creating offers that add value, protect your profit margins, and respect your time. And most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the process and learn from each campaign, so you can make it even better next year!
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re looking to dive into Black Friday for designers with confidence, I’ve created a Black Friday Toolkit for Service Providers. This toolkit includes a campaign planner, a pricing calculator, email templates, and even a custom GPT chatbot to help you brainstorm and strategize your campaign!
📌 Get the Black Friday Toolkit here: one6creative.com/blackfridaytoolkit
By thinking strategically about Black Friday, you can make this sale season work for you—without the burnout. So, what’s your Black Friday game plan this year?
Let me know in the comments, and be sure to tune in to the full episode for more tips on running a successful Black Friday campaign as a designer.
