Marketers Need Black Friday Deals, Too
A quick roundup, plus my favorite Black Friday campaign this year (you really need to see it)
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Today’s issue is pretty light:
1. Black Friday-Cyber Week for marketers
2. My favorite brand is back at it for Black Friday…
3. A roundup of interesting stuff from around the web
No, I’m not going to talk about Twitter today.
I think we’re all tired of that topic. Although I thought you might find the stats above interesting.
Given the US observation of the Thanksgiving holiday, today warrants a lighter topic.
So instead of my usual deep dive or case study, here are great Black Friday deals – especially for marketers – that you should take advantage of.
1. Grammarly Premium subscription: Loads of marketers and copywriters swear by this marketing tool. It helps you level up your writing with suggestions for stronger grammar, word choice, plagiarism checks, etc. For Black Friday, you get 55% off an annual Premium account. (Full disclosure, I’m part of the Grammarly Ambassador program. But I honestly stumbled on this sale and haven’t been asked to share this.) (Update: This BF sale was extended for Cyber Week!)
2. Yoast SEO plugins: I wish I was a Yoast ambassador. I’ve loved their tools ever since my days managing websites for small startups. The free version of the Yoast plugin has always been my first installation when starting a new SEO or digital content program. It’s one of the few plugins I pay for on my own website. So definitely check out their sale today if you’re also looking to be serious about growing a website.
3. VideoScribe editing app: This tool helps you easily create and edit animated or whiteboard videos, like the explainers that are so popular for B2B websites. Use code SAVE33 and pick a plan that works for your business.
4. Coursera Plus learning modules: Looking for training to beef up your resume or knowledge set? Coursera has a wide selection of courses in partnership with orgs like Google and Meta that you can choose from, like the Meta Marketing Analytics course. The Plus subscription, $100 off as a special, gives you unlimited access to many of the courses automatically.
5. Calm meditation app: One of the best apps for meditation, anti-stress, and sleep aid exercises has an offer on its annual subscription. You can get half off, thanks to this BFCM deal.
6. AppSumo sales & marketing software: This website rounds up great offers on software around the year. So it’s a great place to swing by for a collection of BFCM highlights. Check out their full list (I spotted some interested AI-powered tools that look quite handy).
7. GetResponse email marketing: I’ve been exploring email marketing solutions. Some of them can get quite pricey. If you’re looking to test a new one, take advantage of the 40% lower pricing plans for this option.
Honorable mention:
Both Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million have a sale on some contemporary and classic hot titles. Grab something for readers of any age, from Atomic Habits to the Magic Tree House series (my little one loves book #1 - Dinosaurs at Dawn).
One more bonus:
If you’ve been seeing all the recent mentions of Clear (a service that lets you skip lines at the airport), you might have developed a bit of FOMO. Or maybe that’s just me. In any case, here’s a 2-month free trial (courtesy of The Points Guy website).
But wait, there’s more!
I also put together a gift guide specifically for marketers and copywriters. Make sure to check it out if you want some neat gear.
Want to enjoy a look back at some of the best holiday ads of recent years?
I compiled a mega list here. (Here’s the B2B version as well.)
My Favorite Black Friday Brand is Back at it…
You need to subscribe to the Cards Against Humanity email list. You’d think the marketing strategy for a simple card game wouldn’t be that interesting.
But every year they impress me with the various campaigns they pull off.
Especially for Black Friday.
A few years ago, they ran a Black Friday “offer” that gave you the privilege of giving them $5. For nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
And it was bizarrely successful.
As in $71k generated for no product or service at all.
This year, they’ve got a hot 200% off sale.
So essentially they pay you to buy one of their products.
But there’s always a catch.
First you have to make it through their complex series of CAPTCHAs. 😂
Please try it for yourself if you’ve got a few minutes (or more) to spare.
Other Interesting Things From Around the Web
This automaker sells 16 cars every second and offers over 20,000 different models for sale. Take a look at their evolution over the years and how they maintain creativity, even at such a high rate of output.
As you’re putting together your 2023 book list, here’s a list of the most banned books in the US. I have fun seeing which books spark the most outrage (and why) over the years. Read it here.
Following the recent Disney drama? Having lived in Orlando for a big chunk of my childhood, Disney has always been a big part of my life. Beyond just the movies. I saw the impact it had on the community from an economic standpoint. Anyway, here’s a recap of the recent direction the brand started taking. Is the Disney theme park magic still going strong?
My fellow Millennials likely understand the place Batman: the Animated Series holds in my heart. I used to scramble to watch it throughout the 90s. Voice actor Kevin Conroy (Batman himself) passed away recently. In his memory, this article recalls what went into making this show a success.
Thanks for reading again this week!
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Fuck this, I'll pay full price! 😂😂😂