Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren't simply big shopping days; they're also great for marketing. There are doorbusters in stores and exclusive online deals, each of which is interesting to both brands and shoppers. In this tutorial, we'll explain Black Friday vs Cyber Monday, provide you with 10 crucial distinctions, and discuss clever shopping tips. Plus, learn how Pippit can help you create marketing campaigns that get people's attention and turn them into customers. These campaigns can include videos of your products and pictures that make people stop scrolling.
What is Black Friday
Black Friday is a big shopping day in the United States that happens the day following Thanksgiving. It marks the start of the holiday shopping season. It draws millions of shoppers to its stores and websites with steep discounts, doorbuster bargains, and specials that are only available for a short time. It started as a way to boost in-store sales, but now it also includes e-commerce promotions globally. Black Friday marketing is a chance for firms to make a lot of sales, clear out old stock, and bring in new clients. Retailers still make a lot of money on this day every year, whether they sell things in person or online.
What is Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is a big day for online shopping that happens on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It was created to get people to shop online. It has huge discounts on everything from electronics to clothes, making it one of the busiest days for digital sales. Unlike Black Friday, which started as a day for shopping in stores, Cyber Monday is all about internet deals, flash sales, and free shipping offers. A good Cyber Monday marketing campaign can help brands sell more, clear out old stock, and attract customers who like the ease of shopping from home or on their phones.
Black Friday vs Cyber Monday: 10 key shopper differences
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are close together on the calendar, yet they draw different kinds of buyers, provide different bargains, and require different sales strategies. This section lists 10 important key differences so that brands can make their ads as effective as possible.
Event origin
The narrative of Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday began decades apart, with each day having its own cultural and commercial foundations that led to the retail frenzy we see today.
Black Friday: Black Friday started in the U.S. in the 1960s, as the day after Thanksgiving, when people rushed to retailers to get huge discounts. It developed a worldwide shopping tradition over the years, representing unmatched in-store savings.
Cyber Monday: The National Retail Federation introduced Cyber Monday in 2005 to encourage people to shop online after Thanksgiving. It was the beginning of a revolution in online shopping that changed what people think about holiday sales today.
Primary shopping format
When comparing Black Friday vs Cyber Monday sales, the most significant difference lies in how shoppers make their purchases.
Black Friday: Based on in-store shopping traditions, Black Friday is all about the excitement of buying in person. Before daybreak, people line up outside stores to get limited stock and doorbuster deals. The event is as much about the ambiance as the discounts because of the commotion, energy, and real chase.
Cyber Monday: Made for the digital age, Cyber Monday gives you the same bargains without the trouble of going to the store. People look through thousands of laptop and smartphone bargains, many of which are only available online. It makes buying from home a smooth, easy, and tech-savvy experience.
Typical timing
The Black Friday vs Cyber Monday difference often comes down to the types of products that see the most significant discounts.
Black Friday: This day has always been a great time to buy electronics, household goods, toys, and other big-ticket products. Retailers cut prices on TVs, gaming consoles, and kitchen appliances, making it the best place to buy big things for the home.
Cyber Monday: Electronics are still the most popular items, but Cyber Monday is great for tech accessories, fashion, beauty products, and smaller gadgets. Bundles and digital downloads that are only available online are often the primary focus, which attracts a broader range of buyers.
Best product categories
The nature of Black Friday vs Cyber Monday deals differs, influencing what shoppers wait for each year. Black Friday often pushes large-ticket bargains, while Cyber Monday thrives on tech-focused price drops.
Black Friday: This day is recognized for its amazing deals on electronics, home goods, and clothes. It's an excellent time for people who want to save a lot of money on expensive stuff. To make room for seasonal stock, several stores lower the cost of previous models.
Cyber Monday: Cyber Monday is a day when you may acquire a lot of things on sale, but the primary focus is on gadgets, software, and packages that are only available online. To attract tech-savvy bargain hunters, stores often run flash deals or give out coupon codes that are only good for a short time.
Price discount patterns
The Black Friday or Cyber Monday format defines how each event engages buyers; one thrives on the buzz of physical crowds, the other on digital convenience.
Black Friday: Black Friday is a day when people shop in stores for hours on end. Stores open early, offer doorbuster deals, and lines start developing hours before sales begin. Many firms now provide both in-store and online offers to reach more people.
Cyber Monday: Cyber Monday is purely online, so there are no crowds to deal with, and people can shop and buy from the comfort of their own homes. To deal with the growing traffic, stores make their websites faster and easier to use on mobile devices.
Shopping experience
When comparing Black Friday vs Cyber Monday sales, product categories show clear distinctions in their appeal and timing.
Black Friday: Black Friday is a day when those who are ready to spend a lot of money on gifts can get substantial discounts on oversized items like TVs, gaming systems, and home appliances. The offers usually last into the weekend.
Cyber Monday: More concentrated on smaller electronics, fashion accessories, and niche tech items, Cyber Monday appeals to shoppers looking for mid-range deals without breaking the bank. Discounts often stack with online promo codes.
Stock availability
Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday employ aggressive pricing, but the strategy behind discounts varies by retail channel.
Black Friday: Black Friday is famous for its busy stores, huge lines, and fast-moving aisles. The excitement of literally getting a deal is hard to beat. Many people consider it a social event, and many do bargain hunting as a ritual with their friends or family.
Cyber Monday: This event lets you shop online without having to deal with traffic or parking issues. You can look at as many things as you like from the comfort of your own home. The ease of use includes quick checkout, personalized suggestions, and immediate access to exclusive online discounts.
Duration of deals
When it comes to Black Friday vs Cyber Monday returns, retailers often have different timelines and conditions based on the nature of the sale.
Black Friday: Many retailers offer shorter return periods or specific rules for clearance and doorbuster items, so it's essential to read the receipts and policies before you buy. Deals that are just good for the holidays might only be good for exchanges, so it's crucial to choose carefully.
Cyber Monday: Most of the time, online purchases can be returned like regular e-commerce purchases, but with more extended holiday periods for more customer flexibility. Many sites also offer prepaid return labels, which makes the procedure quick, easy, and stress-free.
Target audience
Tech deals dominate Black Friday vs Cyber Monday marketing, but the emphasis on each event varies based on shopping behavior and platform.
Black Friday: Stores prominently market high-demand gadgets like 4K TVs, gaming consoles, and high-end appliances, typically with accessories or in-store deals that are only available for a short time. These big-ticket deals make people want to get there early and acquire things that are on sale.
Cyber Monday: People who purchase online can enjoy special deals on laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart home gadgets, as well as software and subscription deals exclusive to Cyber Monday. The focus is on digital services and portable technology that can be delivered immediately or shipped easily.
Global presence
The Black Friday vs Cyber Monday trend has expanded far beyond the U.S. borders, influencing retail calendars and sales strategies globally.
Black Friday: Many countries now participate in the in-store discount frenzy, combining local customs with substantial price cuts to encourage people to shop in-store. Retailers change the model to include product categories that are distinctive to each region to meet local demand.
Cyber Monday: On this day, e-commerce companies around the world target both domestic and international customers with cross-border delivery, currency-adjusted pricing, and support for several languages. This makes online discounts available to a truly global audience.
Whether you're planning a Black Friday blowout or a Cyber Monday online rush, Pippit gives you the creative edge to design, launch, and optimize campaigns that stand out in the holiday shopping chaos.
Create Black Friday or Cyber Monday campaigns with Pippit
Pippit is your all-in-one creative platform for high-impact marketing, perfect for brands, e-commerce sellers, and agencies looking to stand out during peak shopping seasons. From product image generation to its latest product showcase video feature, you can bring your promotions to life, complete with an AI avatar holding your product, delivering a script-based voiceover, and turning it into a polished marketing video. With tools for instant customization, realistic visuals, and on-brand messaging, Pippit helps you craft campaigns that capture attention and drive sales. Now, let's explore how you can make your Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions truly unforgettable.
Make product showcase videos with Pippit
Bring your products to life with Pippit's AI-powered video tool, featuring avatars that present your items and deliver natural voiceovers. The steps for the same are mentioned below.
- STEP 1
- Open the Product showcase tool
Click on the link above to begin with your product showcase video in Pippit. Head to the homepage and open the Video generator option from the left panel. From there, scroll down to the Popular tools panel and select "Product showcase." This feature uses AI avatars and built-in voiceovers to instantly transform your product images into dynamic, attention-grabbing marketing videos for Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.
- STEP 2
- Pick a video style, select an avatar and product, then add voice narration
When you land on the "Make a product showcase video page," begin by selecting your preferred video style. Open the dropdown beside "Make a" and choose between a product-holding video or a virtual try-on video, depending on how you want to present your product.
Next, pick a presenter model or avatar to feature in your video. Click the dropdown beside "I want" and select from the various available AI avatars, such as Aurelia, or upload your static image if you prefer to use yourself as a presenter.
Click the "Choose a product" dropdown and decide whether to upload from your device or select an item from your workspace assets. Here, you'll add the image or video of the product you want to feature in your AI-generated marketing video.
Once you've chosen your presenter and product, complete the two essential fields to bring your video to life. Start with "Action details," where you'll guide how the presenter interacts with the product, such as holding the handbag gracefully, turning it slightly to highlight its design, or making smooth, natural gestures to emphasize key features. Then, move to the "Voice over" section to add your script and select a fitting voice from the library that complements your brand's tone. A warm, confident narration can enhance the product's appeal and storytelling. When both sections are finalized, the "Generate" button will activate, allowing you to produce a professional, polished product showcase video instantly.
- STEP 3
- Preview key frames and produce your video
Once you click "Generate," Pippit processes your inputs and creates three still frames of the chosen avatar presenting your uploaded product. Each still offers a unique pose variation, showcasing the presenter engaging naturally with your uploaded product image. Browse through these options and select the pose that best matches the visual style you want. Then, click "Generate" again in the bottom-right corner to render the complete video. In about a minute, you'll have a polished product showcase video for Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales, featuring the avatar showcasing the product with a perfectly synced voiceover of the earlier given script.
Create eye-catching product photos with Pippit
Pippit's AI image generation lets you instantly create stunning product visuals tailored for marketing, social media, or e-commerce. Click on the link and follow the steps below to generate catchy product images.
- STEP 1
- Select AI Design from the Image studio
On the homepage, from the left panel, click on "Image studio" and select "AI design" under "Level up marketing images panel," to start creating unique marketing visuals or product showcase images tailored for Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaigns with ease.
- STEP 2
- Enter prompt and generate design
On the AI design canvas, type a clear prompt describing the marketing visual you want to create—for example: "A sleek, modern headphone displayed in a stylish Black Friday sale setup with bold text and festive lighting". Use the Enhance prompt to refine your input for more creative results. Select "Any image" under Image type, explore different styles, adjust the aspect ratio using the "Resize" option, and finally click Generate to produce a striking, ready-to-use marketing image.
- STEP 3
- Select, customize, and download
Once your design is generated, Pippit provides several versions for you to choose from. Drag it onto the main canvas and fine-tune it using tools like Flip, Isolate, Upscale, Opacity, and more. Add headlines or sale text with "Add text" on the left panel, and explore extra editing options through the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner. When your Black Friday or Cyber Monday promotional image is ready, click Download at the top right to save and use it across your marketing channels.
Top Pippit features for generating high-converting marketing content
- One-click video generation
Create professional marketing videos in minutes with just a single click. Pippit allows you to generate videos by uploading a product link, image, or script document, seamlessly combining avatars, animations, and voiceovers for high-impact content.
- AI poster generation
Easily design eye-catching and high-quality posters or marketing visuals using powerful AI-powered tools. Customize backgrounds, text styles, product placements, and branding elements to produce professional, platform-ready graphics that genuinely stand out.
- AI script generation for videos
Instantly create compelling, audience-focused video scripts with AI that align perfectly with your branded voice. This ensures your voiceovers are professional, persuasive, and tailored to your specific product, marketing goals, and storytelling style.
- Ready-made background templates
Gain access to an extensive library of pre-designed, high-quality background templates that instantly enhance your visuals. These time-saving templates help you maintain a consistent, polished, and professional look across all your creative projects.
- AI avatars with AI voiceover
Pippit offers a vast library of AI avatars and voiceovers, allowing you to experiment and select the ones that best fit your project. This feature brings your products to life with natural, engaging presentations that capture audience attention.
Smart selling tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
For online sellers, Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren't just about slashing prices; they're about strategic selling that maximizes profit while keeping your brand strong. Planning ahead, monitoring market trends, and offering value beyond discounts can help you stand out in the crowded holiday shopping season.
- Set your priorities early
Identify your best-selling products and focus your promotions on high-demand, high-margin items to avoid overwhelming your operations. Align marketing campaigns, inventory, and fulfillment timelines well before the holiday rush begins.
- Bundle products for a higher order value
Instead of relying solely on discounts, create irresistible bundles that encourage customers to buy more in a single purchase. This not only boosts your average order value but also helps slow-moving products without slashing prices too steeply.
- Watch for early or extended sales
Launching promotions before Black Friday or extending them beyond Cyber Monday can help you capture customers who shop outside of traditional shopping periods. This strategy avoids the traffic surge bottleneck and spreads out your order fulfillment workload.
- Look for extra perks
Boost your Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by adding irresistible add-ons like free shipping, bundled deals, or bonus products. These small incentives can tip the scales in your favor, encouraging shoppers to choose you over competitors. The goal is to increase perceived value without significantly cutting into profit margins.
- Stay safe online
Protect your store and customers from cyber threats by ensuring secure payment gateways, enabling two-factor authentication, and monitoring for unusual transaction activity. A secure shopping experience builds trust and prevents costly breaches.
Conclusion
This article explored the key differences between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, covering their origins, shopping formats, timing, product focus, discount styles, global impact, and several other key aspects. We also shared smart shopping tips to help buyers make the most of these sales events. For brands and marketers, we highlighted how Pippit can simplify campaign creation through AI product image generation and product showcase videos with avatars and voiceovers, making your marketing stand out during these high-traffic periods. Don't miss out, start creating your Black Friday or Cyber Monday campaigns with Pippit today!
FAQs
- 1
- How do Amazon's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals differ in terms of discounts and product variety?
Amazon's Black Friday deals often focus on big-ticket electronics and home appliances with deep in-store and online discounts, while Cyber Monday emphasizes smaller gadgets, fashion, and online-exclusive products. Cyber Monday typically offers more tech and digital deals. With Pippit, brands can create eye-catching product images and videos to showcase both types of deals, making them stand out in crowded online campaigns.
- 2
- How can brands tailor their marketing campaigns differently for Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Black Friday campaigns benefit from highlighting urgency, in-store exclusives, and doorbuster items, while Cyber Monday campaigns should focus on online convenience, flash sales, and digital-only offers. Pippit allows brands to quickly generate professional product visuals and AI-powered showcase videos to match the unique theme of each event.
- 3
- What types of promotions work best for Black Friday vs Cyber Monday deals?
Black Friday thrives on limited-time in-store discounts, bundles, and clearance deals, whereas Cyber Monday excels with online-only discounts, coupon codes, and flash promotions. Using Pippit, marketers can craft attractive promotional videos and marketing images to highlight these deals across social media and e-commerce platforms effectively.
- 4
- What are effective ways to measure the success of Black Friday vs Cyber Monday sales campaigns?
Tracking metrics like conversion rates, average order value, website traffic, and engagement on promotional content provides insight into campaign performance. Pippit not only helps create high-quality visuals and videos but also offers in-tool analytics, allowing brands to monitor views, clicks, and engagement directly, making it easier to evaluate and optimize each campaign.
- 5
- Is Cyber Monday better than Black Friday?
Neither event is universally "better," as each serves different shopper needs: Black Friday appeals to those hunting big-ticket items in-store, while Cyber Monday focuses on online bargains and digital convenience. For brands looking to maximize Black Friday vs Cyber Monday sales, Pippit helps create striking product images and showcase videos that drive engagement and conversions across both events.