Black Friday 11.11: how to avoid losses and earn on the hype

How to Use Black Friday Without Losing Money: How the SpintoWin Wheel and Gamification Boost Average Order Value and Prevent Unprofitable Sales

Black Friday Is Not About “50% Off”

You’re already familiar with this scene:
— the website is dressed in black and red,  
— banners scream “HOT DEAL!”,  
— everything is discounted from 30%,  
— and the result is:  
✔️ lots of orders,  
❌ but almost no profit,  
❌ and customers disappear after the holiday.

Black Friday (and 11.11) isn’t just a reason to hand out discounts. It’s a strategic test: Can you turn hype into profit — not chaos? Because the real goal isn’t the number of sales. It’s healthy sales.

Why Businesses Lose Money on Black Friday

Because:

Discounts are now expected — users wait for them like New Year’s.  
Low margins — the deeper the discount, the closer to zero profit.  
Clearance of weak inventory — selling what wasn’t moving anyway.  
Onetime buyers — they purchase and vanish. LTV = 1.  

And most importantly: you’re trading longterm loyalty for shortterm traffic.

How to Avoid Losses: 4 Proven Tactics for Lead Generation and Sales

Instead of simply slashing prices, offer a game, a choice, and value. Here are proven strategies that work with Widgenta:

1. SpintoWin Wheel + Personalized Prizes

Don’t give everyone 30%. Give them a chance.

Set up your wheel like this:

Highvalue prizes (5–10%): 30% off or a gift  
Midtier (30%): free shipping, bonus points  
Small rewards (60%): 10–15% off, VIP content access  

💡 Why it works:  
— creates a sense of exclusivity,  
— you control who gets big discounts,  
— even “no luck” feels pleasant.

Where to show it: on entry, at cart addition, on exit intent.

2. “Spin the Wheel” + Email Collection

“Spin the wheel, win a prize.”  
Example setup:  
3 sectors: discounts (10%, 15%, 20%)  
1 sector: free shipping  
1 sector: “Better luck next time”  

💡 Benefits:  
— higher CTR (+40%),  
— increased trust,  
— build your list for postBlack Friday campaigns.

3. Loyalty Progress Bar + Retargeting

Create a mechanic:  
“Make 2 purchases — unlock the grand prize.”

How it works:

User makes a purchase → activates progress bar  
Retargeting reminds: “Just 1 more purchase to get your bonus!”  
They return — and spend more to “complete the mission”  

💡 Impact:  
— higher average order value,  
— repeat purchases,  
— builds loyalty.

(Note: The progress bar is an external feature. Widgenta can send events like “user won,” but the progress bar itself must be implemented separately — via your site, email automation, or CRM.)

4. SpintoWin + Triggered Emails

What they win is just the beginning. Set up an automated sequence:

1. “You won! Here’s your promo code”  
2. “Time is running out — use it now”  
3. “You were so close… Come back and claim your prize!”  

💡 Result:  
+35% conversion to purchase among participants.

How to Keep Your Profit: Black Friday Rules

✅ Don’t discount everything  
Leave some items fullprice — for comparison.  

✅ Don’t give max discounts to all  
Use gamification to control how much you give away.  

✅ Focus on average order value, not order count  
Prizes like “free shipping on orders over ₽5,000” encourage upsells.  

✅ Collect data  
Emails, behavior, chosen sectors — this is gold for postsale marketing.  

✅ Plan life after November 11  
Those who participated are your warm audience. Don’t lose them.

The Key: It’s Not a Sale — It’s an Experience

People don’t remember how much they saved.  They remember how they got it.

If it came with excitement, anticipation, and the feeling of winning — they’ll come back. Not for another discount. But for the emotion.

Ready for a profitable Black Friday?  

Create your interactive campaign today on Widgenta!

P.S. The smartest brands in 2025 doubled their profits — without cutting margins. Are you still just hanging banners?