For some, Black Friday shopping is a day after Thanksgiving tradition. For others, it is an opportunity to snag a highly coveted item at a deep discount. Regardless, harnessing the web can make your Black Friday even more productive.
Black Friday Getting Increasing Attention
Both consumers and retailers have discovered that Black Friday is the most special day for shopping of the entire year. Retailers can get their bottom line back into the Black (meaning they can get out of the red from an accounting standpoint by greatly increasing their revenues by kicking off Christmas sales in November). Consumers who have patiently waited for Black Friday can take advantage of the most deeply-discounted items of the year by helping hype a store by word of mouth, when they tell friends or family about the items they bought and where they got them.
Black Friday Planning in 2009
Several factors, including a weak economy and technological advances, combine to make Black Friday completely different this year. BlackFriday.com put it best:
For Black Friday shoppers, ad hunting is expected to change completely in 2009. In addition to early looks at online store flyers and ad scans, shoppers are expected to share with their network of friends real-time shopping tips on: line lengths, available parking, item quantities, shopping strategies, and online discount codes.
To make your Black Friday more successful, keep an eye on the top Black Friday sites. The best way to discover them is to search for "Black Friday" in your favorite search engine and keep an eye on the sites listed on the first page. Also watch the online sites of your favorite retailers, especially ones that typically participate.
Using Twitter for Black Friday
When Black Friday arrives, Twitter will be your best friend. Set up an account if you don’t already have one, then follow your trusted friends. Assuming they can tweet from their cell phone, they can automatically alert you when lines are long or if stores are worth visiting. Also follow the top Black Friday twitter accounts for breaking news.
According to the wefollow directory, the top five Black Friday twitter accounts are:
Using Facebook for Black Friday
Much like Twitter, Facebook is an excellent source of up-to-the-second Black Friday information from trusted friends. If you have an iPhone, download the Facebook app so you can keep an eye on the status updates for your friends. Also use it to update others on where you are as your friend might be in the same line 100 people ahead of you.
Knowledge is power. With these new tools at your arsenal, you’re sure to have an edge for Black Friday this year.
