How to Create Successful Black Friday Promotions for Your Classes and Online Courses

How to Create Successful Black Friday Promotions for Your Classes and Online Courses

Black Friday is one of the most powerful moments of the year for creators, instructors, and small online businesses to attract new students, boost online course sales, and grow their community. Whether you sell online courses, run in-person workshops, or offer creative experiences, this is the time to make your offers shine with clever marketing strategies and irresistible discounts.

By planning your Black Friday promotions carefully, you can turn seasonal sales into long-term success. With Baluu, it’s easy to set up discount codes, create special deals, and track results — all while saving time and keeping your business organised.

Let’s explore how to create, promote, and manage your Black Friday deals step by step.

Why Black Friday Matters for Course Creators

The Black Friday period generates massive online traffic, and potential customers are ready to buy. It’s not just about retail anymore — experiences, classes, and online courses are now top searches during the sale season.

For creators and teachers using Baluu, this is a golden opportunity to:

• Increase direct bookings for your classes or workshops.
• Drive more students to your course sales page.
• Raise your average order value through bundles or add-ons.
• Build awareness among potential students looking for skill-based gifts.

Offering a discounted price or a free mini course can encourage first-time visitors to act fast and even re-engage previous customers. The right Black Friday marketing strategy can help you sell more courses while growing your loyal community.

For example, a photography instructor might offer 25% off a full course and a free mini course for beginners. This builds trust, introduces the teaching style, and gently leads new customers toward the premium offer.

How to Create a Special Black Friday Promotion in Baluu

Baluu makes it simple to set up Black Friday promotions that suit your needs. Whether you’re offering online courses or in-person sessions, you can easily create discount codes that apply to selected listings.

To create your special Black Friday promotion, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Baluu dashboard.
2. Go to Services → Discount Codes.
3. Click Create New Discount.
4. Choose between a percentage discount (e.g., 20% off) or a fixed amount (e.g., £10 off).
5. Give your offer a clear, attractive name like Black Friday Deal 2025.
6. Set your start and end date to control your Black Friday sale period.
7. Apply it to your chosen classes or online courses.
8. Click Save to publish.

That’s it! Your special Black Friday promotion will now appear during checkout, ready for your customers to use.

For more details, read our step-by-step guide: How to Manage and Create Discount Codes.

This simple setup helps you manage your marketing efforts, track results, and stay organised throughout your campaign.

Choosing the Right Type of Discount

Not every discount needs to be massive — what matters is offering value that aligns with your goals. Think about your target audience and what motivates them to purchase. Are they potential students exploring your online courses for the first time, or existing students looking to continue learning?

Here are some examples of Black Friday deals that work well for different goals:

• 20–30% off popular courses – great for attracting new customers.
• Buy one, get one 50% off – ideal for large groups or families booking together.
• Bundle offers – combine a full course with a shorter one at a discounted price to increase your average order value.
• Free mini course or free access – give a taste of your teaching style to convert potential customers into paying students.
• Loyalty reward deals – offer existing students an early access code or extra special deal as a thank-you.

When you plan your price promotions, focus on what will genuinely appeal to your audience. Avoid lower prices that undervalue your work — instead, create urgency with limited-time availability and clear communication.

How to Promote Your Black Friday Deals

Creating the offer is only half the job — now you need to get the word out. Your marketing strategy should combine multiple channels to reach as many customers as possible.

Start with email marketing. Send an email that clearly highlights your Black Friday sale, includes the discount code, and links directly to your course page or website. Remind your subscribers how long the deal lasts to encourage them to act fast.

Use social media to build excitement before and during the sale. Post teasers, countdown graphics, and behind-the-scenes videos on your social network channels. If you have a YouTube channel, mention your offer in your YouTube videos or add it to your video descriptions.

Join relevant Facebook groups or online communities where your target audience spends time. Sharing your Black Friday promotions there can bring in new customers who are actively looking for online courses or experiences.

If you want to scale your reach, consider running Google Ads or other paid ads to increase visibility during the Black Friday period. Paid campaigns can help you drive traffic to your site and boost online sales from people who may not yet know your brand.

To build anticipation, launch a countdown campaign a few days before the sale starts. Add a countdown timer to your Baluu listings or website. This small visual element creates urgency and reminds customers that time is running out to grab your special deals.

Build Trust Through Social Proof

Nothing converts better than confidence. Sharing positive reviews and success stories from current students is one of the best marketing strategies you can use. Highlighting feedback on your course sales page or in your email marketing gives new potential students reassurance that your online course or workshop is worth it.

Include real photos, video testimonials, or short quotes from previous customers who enjoyed your classes. If you’ve been featured in media or have strong feedback on Google, include that as well. This kind of social proof helps you build credibility and encourages customers to book without hesitation.

If you run an affiliate program, this is also a great time to activate it. Affiliates can help promote your Black Friday promotions, bringing in more leads and new students while earning commission.

Build Anticipation Before You Start Advertising

Don’t wait until the day of your Black Friday sale to promote it. Start advertising early to build anticipation. A few teaser posts or sneak peeks can warm up your audience and ensure your marketing efforts get noticed.

Here are a few content ideas to create buzz:

• “Something exciting is coming this Black Friday — stay tuned!”
• “Limited-time offer launching soon — make sure you’re subscribed!”
• “Our biggest sale of the year is almost here!”

These posts don’t reveal the discount but prepare your followers to look out for your announcements.

You can even write a short press release or blog post on your website to announce your upcoming special Black Friday promotion. The earlier you start promoting, the better chance you have of standing out in the crowded Black Friday traffic.

Analyse Your Results and Keep the Momentum Going

Once your Black Friday sales wrap up, take time to review how everything performed. Check your Baluu dashboard for booking data and note which offers resonated most with your audience.

Ask yourself:

• Which discounts generated the most sales?
• Which channels brought the most potential customers?
• Did your marketing strategy bring in new students or mainly returning ones?

These insights will help you refine your best marketing strategies for future campaigns — whether it’s Christmas, Boxing Day, or any other key season.

Keep in touch with everyone who booked during your Black Friday promotions. Send them a thank-you note and suggest more courses they might love. Nurture these relationships with email marketing so they continue learning with you long after the Black Friday period ends.

Key Takeaways

To recap, here are the essential steps to Black Friday success:

• Start planning your Black Friday deals early to capture online traffic.
• Offer meaningful, limited-time discounts that motivate customers to purchase.
• Use a strong marketing strategy with email marketing, social posts, and paid ads.
• Add countdown timers to your website and course page to create urgency.
• Share social proof through positive reviews and testimonials to boost trust.
• Follow up after your Black Friday sales to turn new customers into repeat buyers.

Baluu’s all-in-one tools make it easy to plan, create, and track your Black Friday promotions without stress.

This season, don’t just offer discounts — create an experience that attracts more students, strengthens your community, and builds loyalty beyond the sale.

Make your Black Friday your most successful campaign yet — and watch your online courses and bookings thrive well into the new year.