While we are all online marketers, we are consumers, too. So, as you enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday tomorrow – hopefully with a big turkey dinner and some football on the TV – I thought I would help you prepare for the shopping insanity of Black Friday. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of this year’s annual shopping extravaganza.
1. Check out the deal sites in advance
If you want to get the best deals on Black Friday, you will want to do a little advance research. One of the best ways find out about all of the Black Friday deals is to check out a few of the many sites that let consumers know about every store’s specials during the big shopping day. Here are a few sites for you to look at before deciding to stand in line at some store at 3:00am.
BlackFriday2010
BlackFriday
TheBlackFriday.com
BlackFriday.org
iBlackFriday.com
BlackFridayAd
BFads
2. Make a plan
If you are considering heading to a number different stores on Friday, make sure you have a plan to get to the most important stores first. If there is a screaming deal on a plasma TV at Best Buy, you should plan to make that your first stop (and probably get in line early) rather than trying to come back after the lines go down. Most stores only carry a limited number of those crazy deal items and once they are gone, you are out of luck. So, don’t miss your chance to pick up the biggest bargain item on your list by waiting too long.
3. Check the store hours
Make sure you know when the stores open, especially if you are trying to get in on one of the bigger promotional offers. Most stores will open early on Friday – sometimes as early as 6:00am. Take this simple step and avoid missing out on the best deals.
4. Avoid the craziness and just shop online
If the entire idea of lining up at dawn and dealing with masses of sleep-deprived holiday shoppers doesn’t really appeal to you, then you might just want to do your shopping online. Some stores will offer online only deals during Black Friday, so take advantage of your professional knowledge of the interweb and get some great deals from the comfort of your own home or office.
Best of luck on your holiday shopping this year!
