6 Reasons Your Black Friday SEO Isn’t Working – And How ChatGPT Can Save It

by Jeremy Tang

The crunch time of Black Friday often exposes the shortcomings of many SEO strategies, which tend to overlook essential factors like regular audits, early preparation, and appropriate keyword targeting. During this crucial shopping period, you need to ensure everything is done right to maximize visibility and profit. 

 

ChatGPT can help you identify and rectify these missing pieces early, so you can secure visibility and maximize profits during this sale period.

 

Table of Contents:

Why you’re struggling with SEO during Black Friday

During Black Friday, every marketing team wants the same thing: get visitors, traffic and sales. However, most marketing teams will be busy with managing inventory, planning promotional campaigns etc. and would not have the resources to ensure the website is optimized sufficiently to capture online visitors.  

 

To address why your Black Friday SEO strategy might not be performing as expected, we’ve rounded up six reasons that may be contributing to this – but beyond that, we’ll show you just how tools like ChatGPT can help nip these common problems in the bud.

 

Reason #1: You’re not performing regular SEO audits.

Regular SEO audits prevent critical Black Friday issues.

If you’re not doing regular SEO audits, you’re setting yourself up for trouble – especially before big events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Skipping them can lead to some major headaches down the road, where small issues snowball into major problems. 

 

But here’s the deal: generic audits are a waste of time. 

 

We need prioritization.

 

You need to customize those audits to match your business type and SEO goals. Doing so allows you to focus on easy, high-impact wins that will give you the best returns on your time and resources.

 

AI can help you identify and resolve SEO gaps before Black Friday.

If you’re at a loss on how to do effective SEO audits, AI tools like ChatGPT can be invaluable. They can help you in crafting bespoke SEO audit checklists tailored to your website’s distinct needs. 

 

Of course, two different businesses can have vastly different requirements. But getting a fully personalized SEO audit checklist is possible as long as you know what you’re doing. Here are examples for two different businesses:

 

Ecommerce baby apparel store

B2B logistics provider

If you want to get the most out of AI tools like ChatGPT, you’ve got to feed them the right information about your website. AI thrives on details, and the more you share, the better it can help you pinpoint and fix any SEO gaps before the big shopping rush. 

 

Below are a few key details you should provide, though you can always add more:

 

  • Website name and type: Is your site an eCommerce platform, B2B service or maybe a blog? Each type of site has different SEO requirements, and this detail shapes how the AI approaches your strategy.
  • CMS platform: WordPress? Shopify? Or maybe something more custom? Your CMS can dictate what kind of SEO tools and techniques will work best. For example, some platforms may support more seamless integrations with AI tools than others.
  • Number of pages: Is your site small and focused, or does it span thousands of pages? The AI needs to know the scope of the website to prioritize what to optimize first.
  • Target audience: Are you targeting local customers or is your market global? This information helps the AI to fine-tune strategies like local SEO optimization, voice search targeting and global keyword strategies.

 

Reason #2: You’re not starting your Black Friday SEO early enough.

Why should you prepare your Black Friday SEO months in advance?

Black Friday interest starts to pick up as early as October, if not sooner. Consumers are getting in the mindset to shop, looking for deals and mapping out their purchases well before the November frenzy. 

This is exactly why your SEO game needs to be on point early – waiting until the last minute can leave you scrambling while the competition snags those early shoppers.

 

Remember, Google needs time to crawl and index your pages. That’s not going to happen overnight. If you wait until November, you’re missing out on all the pre-Black Friday traffic. 

 

On the other hand, if you start your Black Friday SEO months in advance, you’re ensuring your products and deals are front and center when search volumes spike. Plus, you give yourself room to tweak and optimize your SEO and PPC campaigns before the shopping madness hits full swing.

 

In the end, early prep means more visibility and better results when it counts.

 

Discover quick wins using ChatGPT.

Once you receive the SEO audit checklist from ChatGPT, you can ask it to help you pinpoint which tasks to prioritize so you’re ready for the upcoming event. Let’s use the ecommerce baby apparel store from earlier as an example.

ChatGPT can even help you craft a Black Friday content plan that can help boost your site’s visibility and conversions as the big day gets closer.

Pretty handy, right? 

 

With just a few prompts, you have a proactive game plan all ready to go to help you make the most of Black Friday. 

 

 

Reason #3: You’re targeting the wrong keywords.

Most businesses make this common keyword mistake during Black Friday.

When it comes to keyword strategies for Black Friday, many businesses go straight for the big flashy terms, like “Black Friday deals.” 

 

It’s easy to see why – they promise high traffic and tons of eyes on your products. But here’s the catch: those head terms are a magnet for big ecommerce giants with bottomless budgets. Competing against them is like stepping into the ring as an average Joe against a heavyweight champion – realistically, you just don’t have a shot. 

More often than not, you’ll just end up burning through your budget without seeing the conversions you expected.

 

Long tail keywords help you stand out from larger competitors.

Long tail keywords like “baby clothes Black Friday” or “baby clothes Black Friday deals” might not get the same number of searches as broader terms, but they’re absolute gems when it comes to SEO. 

 

Why? These specific searches often come from people who know exactly what they want and are ready to buy. So, while the search volume is lower, the chances of conversion are much higher.

Think of it like fishing in a secluded lake rather than casting your line in the middle of a busy ocean. 

 

In the ocean (broad keywords), you’re competing with tons of other fishermen, all vying for the same big catch. But in the lake (long tail keywords), the fish are fewer and you have the whole place to yourself. This is how you can reel in your success without fighting for attention.

 

Over 46% of Amazon’s organic traffic comes from long tail searches, and it really shows just how powerful these specific phrases can be for driving sales.

 

AI tools can help uncover niche Black Friday keyword opportunities.

AI-powered tools are like specialized scouts that can uncover those hidden Black Friday keyword gems your competitors might miss. With platforms like Semrush or Ahrefs, you can plug in basic keywords, set filters for search volume and difficulty and uncover less competitive, high-intent options tailored to your audience. 

 

You can use ChatGPT to brainstorm unique, high-intent keyword ideas that might just fly under the radar as well, giving you a leg up for the season. Check out the example below.

Once you generate a solid list of potential keywords, try running them through traditional keyword planners like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush. This step can help you validate the search volume and see which terms are actually worth targeting. 

 

Reason #4: You’re ignoring structured data.

Structured data can enhance your product page visibility.

Are you ignoring structured data, by any chance? If so, that’s a big miss. 

 

Structured data highlights critical info, like product pricing, ratings or availability, directly in search results. 

 

If you’re doing it right, structured data helps your pages get featured more prominently on the search results as rich snippets, which bring in higher click-through rates (CTR). 

 

Nestlé, for example, saw an 82% jump in CTR just by using rich snippets (Source: Google Search Central). 

 

Use ChatGPT to quickly generate and implement structured data.

 

All you have to do is provide ChatGPT with the key details – things like your product’s name, price, availability, any special discounts and more. See the example below.

If you’re interested in a more in-depth look at this process, our guide to using ChatGPT for structured data breaks it all down, step-by-step, so you can maximize your Black Friday performance without the usual hassle.

 

Once you’ve got your structured data ready, it’s as easy as popping the code into the <head> section of your HTML. After that, just run it through Google’s Rich Results Test to make sure everything’s good to go. 

 

Reason #5: You’re not leveraging local SEO for in-store shoppers.

Businesses with physical locations can thrive with local SEO.

When was the last time you just made a big purchase without checking it out online first?

 

The truth is, most people don’t just buy things without doing some recon these days. They hop online first, scanning for who’s got the best deals close by, especially on big shopping days like Black Friday. 

 

In fact, 83% of U.S. shoppers who visited a store in the last week used online search before going in (Source: Think with Google). And here’s the kicker: businesses that aren’t showing up when people search for local deals are missing out on that critical pre-visit check-in. 

 

So, how do you get on the radar? It all starts with updating your Google Business Profile. Make sure that all the details are accurate, especially these:

 

  • Business name and category
  • Opening hours
  • Address
  • Contact information
  • Product or service listings
  • Any special Black Friday promotions

 

Remember: shoppers are hunting for real-time info, and if they don’t see it, they might just skip over you for the next business that’s easier to find.

 

Once that’s all sorted, sprinkle in some geo-targeted phrases across your website – think phrases like “Black Friday deals near me” or “[City] holiday sale.” Make sure you’re including them in your meta descriptions and headers, too. 

 

These phrases tell search engines exactly where you are and what you’re offering, putting you directly in front of local deal-seekers.

 

Use AI to optimize local search terms and boost visibility.

ChatGPT can help you craft content tailored to each of your store locations and make sure your Black Friday promos get the spotlight they deserve. 

 

Pro tip: don’t just throw up this generated content as-is. 

 

Make sure that it’s accurate, aligned with your brand voice and isn’t just a repeat of what’s already out there. Your goal should be to give your audience something valuable while keeping everything in line with legal and industry guidelines. Cookie-cutter content may save you a lot of time, but it rarely lands well with your target audience. 

 

Reason #6: You’re neglecting post-sale SEO strategy.

Black Friday SEO shouldn’t stop after the sales period.

Just because Black Friday’s over doesn’t mean your SEO should take a holiday. 

 

Even though the main rush is done, a lot of people are still browsing, buying and checking out the latest deals well into the post-holiday season. Data backs this up: more shoppers go online for post-holiday deals and missed items than you’d think, with digital interactions actually seeing significant increases during this period (Source: Think with Google).

 

Maintaining your Black Friday or Cyber Monday SEO efforts means you’re there to catch those potential customers who are still in shopping mode, whether they’re hunting for last-minute gifts or coming back for more. Keep giving people a reason to visit your site long after the peak season, and you’ll make the most of those holiday sales – plus, you’re laying down the groundwork to hook new customers all year round.

 

Use post-sale analytics to refine future SEO strategies.

Post-sale analysis is an important part of Black Friday SEO in Sydney and beyond. You’re going to have a lot of data at your fingertips once the dust settles, and post-sale analytics can help you turn that mountain of numbers into a roadmap for success. 

 

Tools like Google Search Console are your best friends here. Use them to see which pages and keywords drove the most clicks, conversions and overall traffic, and then consider why they stood out. 

 

Were these pages and keywords tied to high-conversion products, specific offers or maybe an underserved search intent? Once you understand why they consistently pulled in customers, you can then double down on them to make your site even better. 

 

Don’t just focus on what worked either – the gaps in your Black Friday SEO strategy matter just as much. If certain keywords or pages didn’t pull their weight, ask why. Did the content lack relevance? Were the keywords too broad? 

 

These gaps could reveal huge untapped opportunities or areas for adjustment, and you can use these insights to fine-tune your SEO strategy for the next big season.

 

AI-driven insights can turn Black Friday customers into repeat buyers.

Google Search Console metrics like clicks, impressions and average position are pure gold, but the magic lies in what you do with them.

 

When you feed this data to ChatGPT, you can get strategic guidance tailored to your business goals. Think of it as having a built-in digital consultant that takes what worked (or didn’t work) on Black Friday and translates that into actionable steps for better engagement and customer loyalty.

 

You can start by compiling the relevant data into a sheet, like this: 

Then, you can give ChatGPT access to the sheet and use a prompt similar to the one below.

ChatGPT will give you targeted suggestions like these:

 

These AI-driven insights can make a big difference, helping you connect with shoppers long after the Black Friday rush.

 

Visibility that lasts – even after Black Friday.

 

Black Friday’s the high-stakes season that every business wants to dominate in. But how many of those SEO “solutions” out there have you pouring time and money down the drain? 

 

You don’t want to settle for fleeting visibility; you want the kind of staying power that keeps customers coming back for more long after the holiday hype has died down.

 

Area Ten is a leading SEO agency in Australia that’s here to make sure you don’t miss a beat. Unlike the cookie-cutter approaches that churn out generic advice, we combine cutting-edge technology with human insight to craft a dynamic Black Friday SEO strategy that’s tailored to your needs and laser-focused on growth.

 

While tools like ChatGPT can be handy for Black Friday SEO ideas, they’re just that – ideas. It takes expertise to turn those ideas into real success. Real, tangible outcomes hinge on flawless implementation, and that’s where Area Ten excels. Our team brings the perfect balance of insights and seamless execution so you get results, not just recommendations. 

 

Turn Black Friday into a launchpad for long-term success – one where your investment for programmatic SEO goes the extra mile.

 

What you’ve learned

  • Regular SEO audits are vital for identifying and resolving issues early. Customizing audits to focus on high-impact areas can save time and optimize your Black Friday performance.
  • Black Friday SEO should start months in advance to capture early search traffic. Beginning preparations early ensures your pages are indexed and ready for high visibility when traffic surges.
  • Instead of competing for high-traffic terms, focus on specific, long tail keywords to attract ready-to-buy customers. This also allows you to stand out from larger competitors.
  • Structured data improves your product page’s chances of getting featured as rich snippets in search results, enhancing click-through rates and making your deals more visible.
  • For businesses with physical locations, local SEO helps attract shoppers searching for nearby deals, especially through an optimized Google Business Profile.
  • SEO efforts should continue post-Black Friday to capture customers seeking last-minute deals, with post-sale analysis refining future strategies and customer retention.
  • Specialized AI technology like Area Ten’s CMAX platform can go beyond what generic tools offer, enhancing keyword research, structured data implementation and local SEO. CMAX’s automation can also help maintain optimized content, keeping your SEO effective year-round.

 

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