Optimize your student discount in time for Black Friday

The countdown to Black Friday and Cyber Monday is officially on. Gen Zers around the world will be pulling wishlists and checking their bank accounts ahead of one of the biggest shopping periods in the student calendar. Buckle up, everyone. It's gonna be a big one.

Whilst students are ready and eager to spend, there’s always more you can do add value and elevate their shopping experience. We've previously discussed everything from how you can optimize your email marketing to how to go viral on TikTok this Black Friday, but let's not forget the thing that every student lives for: discounts.

In this blog post, we'll be discussing why this is an important time for marketers and sharing how brands can optimize their student discounts to drive conversions this BFCM (Black Friday, Cyber Monday).

Why is Black Friday important for marketers? 

There are a handful of key spending periods in the average students’ academic year: loan drops, festive, back to school, and Black Friday. They’re times for discounts, sales, bargains, and high spending. And for marketers, it’s an opportunity to acquire new customers, win over loyalty, and increase revenue. 

Traditionally, Black Friday was a one-day affair. But now, it’s a week-long spending bonanza. Sometimes a month long. It’s for the online and offline worlds, and it’s the perfect time to secure a bargain ahead of the festive season. In other words, it’s VERY important. 

When is BFCM?

This year, Black Friday falls on Friday 28th November 2025.

Cyber Monday falls on Monday 1st December 2025. 

6 quick tips to optimise your student discount this Black Friday

1. Upgrade your Call to Action 

A simple but effective one. Using an eye-catching and prominent CTA is vital when it comes to driving conversions, but you need to make sure that they're also tailored to each consumer group. Some fun facts: Pion brands that improve their CTA positioning have seen 309% more student sales, a 20% increase in AOV and 67% of student shopping again in 30 days. 

Need more convincing? 89% of student spending is with brands that promote their own discount. Chop, chop!

2. Keep imagery fresh 

It may feel early, but in the grand scheme of marketing, Christmas isn’t that far away. 

From TikTok wishlists to Pinterest moodboards, the Christmas spirit is well and truly alive amongst young people in 2025, so it’s time to get thinking… ASAP. 

Of those who celebrate Christmas, 50% of US Gen Zers (48% UK) will be starting their Christmas shopping in November — in other words, just in time for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Make sure your imagery is seasonally relevant to entice these young spenders.

3. Create separate offers for specific products 

Is your Black Friday offer available across several products or services? Great news! But make sure you’re creating separate offers for the most popular products to help shoppers understand the full value. 

{{ctaNeon}}

4. Shout about your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

From email marketing to social media content, deliver your discounts straight to the screens of Gen Z. Our research revealed that when it comes to engaging with a brand, 54% of Gen Zers favour email content, followed by YouTube videos and branded content.  

And lest we forget social: 86% of UK Gen Zers use Instagram, 82% use YouTube and 80% use TikTok, making these key platforms for you to take your offers to.

5. Include student-focused words in the search bar 

A huge 92% of students check for brand discounts while they shop, so make the most of it! 

Tailor the experience to your target audience, so start with words like ‘student’, ‘black friday’, ‘student discount’, and ‘black friday discount’ and build out your keyword research from there. 

6. Offer percentage discounts rather than monetary 

Like the rest of us, students don’t want to be tied into spending. In other words, they’re more likely to commit to a spend this BFCM if they feel like they’re getting a percentage discount which is proportional to their spend. Basically, the more they spend, the bigger the discount. 

And don’t forget to boost the discount; 89% of UK students and 90% from the US want to see special offers and discounts this BFCM, so make sure they get some extra bang for their buck!

And there you have it: six tips that will help you optimise your student discount and increase customers in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

And remember: support Gen Z now with great deals and they'll reward you with their lifetime loyalty.

Like what you’ve read? Check out our Black Friday Hub for more tips, tricks and insights on how you can engage Gen Z this BFCM.

‍