10 Ways to Reactivate Dormant Customers Ahead of Black Friday 2024

Before you can reactivate unengaged customers, you first need to identify who they are. Knowing how to reactivate dormant customers involves using AI marketing tools to identify ‘at-risk’ customers by detecting patterns of inactivity. These could be customers who haven’t opened emails, browsed your site, or made purchases in the last 90-180 days.

Once identified, target these customers with personalized reactivation campaigns that offer early Black Friday access or exclusive discounts, enticing them to return and continue shopping.

Marketing campaigns with a personalized touch are a great way to reactivate dormant customers. Design “We Miss You” email campaigns that offer exclusive early access to Black Friday deals as a reward for customer loyalty.

Include product recommendations based on previous browsing or purchase history, and add a sense of urgency by attaching a time-sensitive discount.

Incentives to purchase are a highly effective marketing tool when combined with time-limited offers. After all, who doesn’t want a great deal that isn’t around for long?

Consider using flash discounts, bonus loyalty points, or free shipping to encourage customer re-engagement before Black Friday. You can also gamify the process by creating countdowns for early-access deals or offering increasing discounts based on how quickly they return and make a purchase.

These strategies help excite lapsed customers by offering incentives that are too good to pass up, but with a time limit that creates a sense of urgency.

Sending the right message with the right offer to the right customers is the cornerstone of effective re-engagement.

Start by segmenting your audience based on their past Black Friday shopping behaviors. Identify customers who were active during previous BFCM holidays but haven’t purchased recently. 

Using this segment, create targeted messages like “Get Ready for Another Epic Black Friday” that showcase products that match the customer’s previous interests while promoting new and exciting offers.

Encourage dormant customers to return by offering a VIP tier or exclusive access for Black Friday as an incentive. This could include early shopping access, personalized recommendations, or exclusive deals that make them feel valued and appreciated.

Offering what is perceived as special treatment can help you re-engage inactive customers and encourage repeat purchases by making them feel valued.

When it comes to building trust with customers, social proof is irrefutably one of the most effective methods. Use paid media or email campaigns to showcase trending products or best-sellers that are similar to what the customer previously purchased or browsed.

For example, you could send an email saying, “These products are selling fast for Black Friday—don’t miss out again!” displaying the historical best-selling products alongside customer reviews and photos. 

Another way to reach inactive customers is by using paid media and search ads to retarget lapsed customer lists. These ads can highlight personalized product recommendations and Black Friday deals, reminding them of what they’re missing out on.

Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook allow you to retarget dormant customers with engaging content, such as shoppable videos or interactive product displays.

If any of your dormant customers previously abandoned carts, Black Friday is the perfect time to remind them about these items. Launch an abandoned cart nurture campaign offering an exclusive deal to complete their purchase.

Personalize the message to reference their previous shopping activity and include a Black Friday discount to sweeten the deal.

To reignite interest from inactive customers, try adding value to their shopping experience with enticing loyalty program upgrades. You could reward returning shoppers with extra perks for Black Friday, like offering them a chance to earn more points than usual or unlock exclusive deals.

Another approach could involve creating a special promotion where lapsed customers can access premium rewards or tier upgrades if they purchase before the big day. This method doesn’t just motivate them to come back but also shows appreciation by offering meaningful rewards tied to their participation.

No one wants to miss out on a good deal or product they’ve been waiting for. If certain popular items that your inactive customers previously viewed or purchased are coming back in stock for Black Friday, send personalized restock alerts to trigger re-engagement.

Frame the messaging around urgency and FOMO to encourage action, such as “Your favorite item is back and available only for Black Friday!”.

With the clock ticking, taking a proactive approach to reactivating dormant customers is essential for making the most of Black Friday. Personalization, exclusive offers, and AI-driven insights can all help you bring lapsed customers back, boost sales, and strengthen customer loyalty this BFCM.

Ready to get started? Contact us to learn how Blueshift’s AI marketing platform can help you re-engage your customers ahead of Black Friday 2024.