Black Friday Lessons From Munif Ali: Strategy Over Hype
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Black Friday is loud. It’s fast. It makes people hurry. Retailers light up offers and shoppers rush for deals. But if you’re a professional—an agent, a founder, or someone building a brand—this moment is less about flash and more about choice. Black Friday is an opportunity to apply a strategy mindset, not get swallowed by noise.
Last year, U.S. online Black Friday sales hit a record $10.8 billion, and holiday-season online spend topped $240 billion (Forbes, 2024). Those numbers mean attention; however, they won’t build a career. You need a plan.
So what does “strategy over hype” actually look like? First, adopt the strategy mindset: decide what you want this period to do for your business. Are you building short-term revenue or long-term credibility? The right answer is both, with priority on the long term. Next, prioritizing focus over hype: don’t get caught up in the frenzy. Instead, convert one-click-offs to lasting relationships that extend beyond the weekend.
3 Black Friday Lessons To Embody
- Lead with value, not just discounts: Show why your product or service matters before cutting the price. When people understand your value, the discount becomes a bonus. This is the heart of a strategy mindset, finding clarity about what you’re selling and why it matters.
- Turn attention into relationships: Use Black Friday to capture leads and guide them to the next step, such as a checklist, mini-training, or a consult. Email lists, text follow-ups, and a simple process will beat random discount hunters every time (remember: focus over hype).
- Protect your brand and customers: Black Friday brings scammers and bad actors. More often than not, shoppers are targeted with fake deals and phishing attempts every season (TechRadar, 2025). Secure checkout, clear refund policies, and honest marketing build trust—keep your promises, and your reputation grows stronger.
Techniques to Boost Your Black Friday Sales
1. Offer a Result, Not Just a Discount
While it’s common to slash prices during Black Friday, this is a better time to showcase your real value. Make your offer tangible and outcome-focused:
- Eco-friendly packaging start-up? “Starter Kit to Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Office.”
- Business coach? “1-on-1 Strategy Call to Get Your First 5 Clients in 30 Days.”
Lead with the benefit. Make it obvious what customers gain.
2. Capture Leads with a Meaningful Next Step
Turn clicks into connections, not just sales. Give something valuable for contact info:
- Marketing start-up: “DIY Social Media Plan Template.”
- New café: “Home Coffee Brewing Guide.”
These freebies keep potential customers engaged beyond one transaction.
3. Plan Follow-Ups After the Weekend
Momentum doesn’t end at midnight. Send emails or quick tutorials to expand on your offer:
- After a template download → “3 Quick Hacks to Grow Your Page in a Week.”
- After a café guide → Video showing how to brew the perfect espresso.
Consistent follow-ups turn interest into real sales.
4. Test Your Systems Before Going Live
Small businesses can’t risk broken links or confusing flows. Check everything:
- Landing pages, checkout, download links.
- Online courses → “Enroll Now” works, payments go through, and the course delivers instantly.
A smooth experience builds trust, encourages repeat visits, and strengthens your brand.
Consumers spend record amounts online during the holiday seasons. But shoppers are also cautious in finding the right thing for themselves. Meet them where they are with a plan to win twice: you secure a sale, and you build credibility for the next one.
This is why I say again: strategy mindset over reactive price-chasing. Focus over hype will outlast lazy promotions. Black Friday is a moment—use it to practice discipline, clarity, and follow-through. Do that, and you change how people see your business.
Black Friday is here! Discover how top performers turn opportunity into lasting results. Learn from Munif Ali and see what it takes to lead with value, not just discounts.
Key Takeaways
- Approach Black Friday with a clear plan that focuses on long-term credibility and results, not just short-term sales spikes.
- Highlight the results and benefits of your product or service before offering a promotion to maintain trust and perceived worth.
- Use Black Friday to capture leads and nurture them into repeat clients rather than chasing one-time buyers.
- Apply the same intentional thinking used during Black Friday to every aspect of your business: plan, execute, follow up, and refine.
References
Adobe. (2024, September 25). Adobe forecasts record $240.8 billion U.S. holiday online sales [Press release]. Adobe. https://news.adobe.com/news/2024/09/092524-adi-holiday-forecast
Adobe. (2024, December 3). Cyber Monday hits record $13.3 billion in online spending [Press release]. Adobe. https://news.adobe.com/news/2024/12/120324-adi-cyber-monday-recap
Forbes. (2024, November 30). Black Friday online sales up 10% as in-store traffic falls 8% (J. Verdon). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanverdon/2024/11/30/black-friday-online-sales-up-10-as-in-store-traffic-falls-8/
National Retail Federation. (2025, November 6). NRF expects holiday sales to surpass $1 trillion for the first time in 2025 [Press release]. NRF. https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-expects-holiday-sales-to-surpass-1-trillion-for-the-first-time-in-2025
Bitdefender. (2025). Black Friday scams and phishing trends (summary). TechRadar reporting on Bitdefender research. https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/too-good-to-be-true-be-careful-when-looking-through-those-black-friday-offers-they-might-be-a-scam
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