Must-have automations to set and forget before Black Friday

Black Friday is around the corner. If your list is already clean and warm (read how to get there →), now’s the time to ensure your automations are ready to run while you focus on selling, supporting or sipping cocoa.

Automations help you show up at just the right moment, without needing to hit “send” in real time. Whether it’s a warm welcome, an abandoned cart nudge or a post-purchase thank you, these behind-the-scenes workflows help you drive more revenue, build deeper customer relationships and stay visible through all the holiday noise.

Here’s what to set up now so your emails can work for you—before, during and after the biggest shopping weekend of the year.

This should be obvious, but you don’t need to be glued to your laptop during Thanksgiving dinner.

Scheduling your emails ahead of time means your audience gets the right message, at the right time—even if you’re offline. It’s the simplest way to stay consistent and timely without burning out.

Before the holidays, set up scheduled sends for:

👉 Why scheduling works:
Scheduled emails pull in whoever is in that segment at the moment of send—ideal for time-sensitive campaigns. And because new subscribers won’t be added retroactively, you’ll avoid flooding inboxes with outdated promos.

Whether someone signs up for your newsletter or grabs your Black Friday discount, they’ll expect an email right away. Your welcome or confirmation workflows should still be active, even in the middle of a busy sales weekend.

But here’s the key: keep it timeless.

These flows should introduce your brand, set expectations and build trust—not overload your audience with expired deals or urgency that’s no longer relevant.

What to include:

💡Tip: Skip the Black Friday countdown in these flows. Instead, let your scheduled or promotional emails handle the timely stuff.

People get distracted. Tabs get closed. Dinner gets served.

Your abandoned cart workflow is the nudge they need to come back—and it’s one of the highest-converting automations you can set up.

Make sure your workflow includes:

💡Tip: Already using Shopify, Wix, ThriveCart, or Flodesk Checkout? Turn this on in minutes with our native integration—no code needed.

Don’t let things end at checkout—keep the connection going. A solid purchase follow-up workflow builds trust and repeat business, turning holiday buyers into year-round customers. Plus, it’s a great way to gather social proof you can use in future emails.

Here’s what to include:

Automations are your behind-the-scenes magic. While they’re working in the background, you’re free to focus on running your business or simply soaking up the season—without missing a beat (or a sale).