14 Cyber Monday email examples and tips for maximum sales

This article will help by introducing 14 of our favorite Cyber Monday email examples and key takeaways from each one. We’ll also dive into best practices, Cyber Monday email timing schedules, and marketing ideas you can use to make this your best year yet.

Cyber Monday is the busiest shopping day of the year. 

According to Adobe’s 2025 Holiday Shopping Trends, spending during the Cyber Monday sale in 2025 is expected to reach $14.2 billion. That’s $2.5 billion more than what’s been forecast for Black Friday!

Making the most of the shopping frenzy is the perfect opportunity to generate boatloads of extra income. Here are 4 essential Cyber Monday marketing ideas to get you started. 

Create a sale and promote it in your newsletter

An easy way to make sales on Cyber Monday is to promote your discounts in your newsletter. Since your email list is full of people already interested in your brand, a simple discount can be the encouragement they need to buy again. 

While promoting your sale with a newsletter seems like a simple strategy, it can have a huge impact. Online store KC Tool put off creating a post-Thanksgiving sale, but when it finally did, the brand had one of its best days ever: All thanks to promoting the sale in their email list.

Offer a lead magnet to generate new customers 

Cyber Monday is a great opportunity to bring new people onto your list. Create an offer that potential shoppers can’t resist and give it away in exchange for an email address. Use forms and pop-ups to promote the lead magnet on your website.

Once you’ve got someone’s contact details, you can promote your Black Friday sale and all future sales to them directly. 

Here are 2 Cyber Monday offers you could create to generate newsletter subscribers:

1. Give people who sign up for your email list early access to the Cyber Monday sale. Then send the offers to your list a day before you promote them on your website. The downside is this may cause people to put off buying until the day of the sale.

2. Offer an extra discount to anyone who signs up for your email list during the Black Friday period. The discount means you’ll earn less per purchase, but you’ll get the opportunity to make future sales and increase the number of sales you make.

E-commerce store Fridja used the latter strategy to boost revenue and grow its list during the holiday season. The brand used a pop-up to offer anyone who joined the mailing list an additional 10% off the sale price of its small home appliances. 

Fridja then used a simple welcome email automation to send the discount the moment someone signed up for the list via a relevant form. 

Encourage people to sign up for longer subscriptions

Cyber Monday isn’t just for e-commerce sellers. Subscription businesses like newsletters, online courses, communities, publishers and software companies can also bring in big sales with a Cyber Monday offer. 

That’s exactly what we did last year. Our Cyber Week offer included a 33% discount off on annual plans (that translates to four months free) to encourage people on monthly plans to sign up for a longer period. We had hundreds of people sign up for the latter offer, resulting in a big boost in retention.

Use interactive game elements

Gamification can be used to make your Cyber Monday offers more engaging. Simple games are highly effective for capturing attention and converting subscribers.

Quizzes: A quiz taps into a person's natural curiosity and desire to get a result. This highly engaging content makes your email stand out and provides a different reason to click than a generic discount. 

You can even use quizzes to boost Cyber Monday sales by building them to provide personalized shopping recommendations. This helps customers overcome decision paralysis and guides them to the exact products that are right for them. 

Also, the data you collect from quiz responses can be used to send highly personalized follow-up emails.

It’s a win-win! 

Here’s a quiz template from MailerLite:

Tip: Learn how to add quizzes to email campaigns. 

Spin the wheel: A spin–the-wheel is a classic gamification tool that can be used on your website to collect email leads and grow your sales. Customers enter their email to get a chance to spin the wheel and win a discount. It's a fun way to get customers to engage with your brand while controlling the discounts you offer (you can have more small discounts than large ones on the wheel).

Here are some spin-the-wheel templates you can straightway start using on MailerLite:

Tip: Learn how to create your own spin-the-wheel form.

Sending emails at the optimum times can help build sales. Here are some Cyber Monday email timing tips you can use to send your campaigns at the right time.

Start early

It’s common practice to tell people about your sale in the days leading up to it. This builds anticipation and lets people know not to spend their money elsewhere! 

Consider sending an email in the days before your sale opens mentioning your upcoming discounts and letting people sign up to be alerted when they start.

Send multiple emails

A good campaign involves multiple emails that build anticipation the week before Cyber Monday and continue until the sale ends. Many businesses combine Cyber Monday with Black Friday. In this case, your email sequence will include Black Friday promotions too.  

Here’s a typical series of emails you can use:

• Email 1: Send in the days before your sale to build anticipation (like we did last year with the email below)

• Email 2: Send as soon as your sale opens so people can buy right away

• Email 3: Send a reminder to give people who missed the first email a chance to buy. You may want to send multiple reminders or add sale reminders to other campaigns sent during this period

• Email 4: Send an update email if relevant. This could include information such as further discounts, new products being added to your sale, or new offers 

• Email 5: Send a message targeted at customers who showed interest in your product but didn’t buy. For example, send an extra discount to people who click on the link to your product 

• Email 6: Send a last-chance email letting people know they don’t have long left to take advantage of your offer. Build urgency with a countdown timer or limited stock warnings    

You don’t need to use all the above emails when creating your Cyber Monday email sequence. Just choose the ones that make the most sense for your business or product and adapt the ideas to your needs. 

Marketing automation can help 

If you're worried you won’t have time to send emails during such a busy time of year, you can use automation to streamline your Cyber Monday email marketing campaign. 

Start by using MailerLite to create and schedule your campaign to go out at the time of your choosing. Create your campaign as usual, then choose Send later from the Schedule your campaign section. Finally, set the time and timezone that your campaign will start sending. 

You can also create workflows to automate the sending of specific emails. Here are some Cyber Monday-related email automation examples:

• Send abandoned cart emails to people who start the checkout process but don’t complete the purchase. These are some of the highest converting types of emails as they go to people who have a proven interest in your product 

• Send follow-up emails promoting your product to people who have clicked on links in your campaigns but not made a purchase

• Resend your emails to people who didn’t open the first message to ensure as many people as possible see the offer

• When new customers sign up during your sale, automatically send them a welcome email sequence, as it could help turn a one-time holiday shopper into a loyal customer

These are just some ideas—you can automate emails based on a ton of different triggers. Read this article to find out more about 10 automation triggers you can use.

A final push: The Cyber Monday sale extension

While Cyber Monday is often the finale of the holiday weekend, you can extend your campaign's life to capture last-minute buyers. A short, time-limited sale extension can be highly effective for this.

Send a final email on Tuesday or Wednesday after Cyber Monday. The subject line and copy should clearly state that this is the absolute final opportunity. Here’s the last chance email from our 2024 Cyber Week campaign:

There’s no universal method for creating an effective Cyber Monday email campaign. But these Cyber Monday email examples highlight some of your best options. For each example, we’ve included a screenshot and an explanation of the key lesson.

1. Make a clear offer (they can’t refuse!): Herschel Supply Co.

This Cyber Monday email example from Herschel Supply Co. is a masterclass in clarity. 

Why it works: 

• The clean, high-contrast design minimizes distractions, making the offer instantly obvious 

• The use of a single, prominent CTA button and clear discount codes reduces friction and tells the reader exactly what to do next

How to implement:

• Use MailerLite’s drag-and-drop editor to create a clean layout with plenty of white space

• Use a single, large button for CTA with a contrasting color to draw the eye. Make the button text action-oriented (e.g., "Shop the Sale")

2. Capture attention through animation: Loft

This creative Cyber Monday email example uses interactive content to immediately capture the reader’s attention.

Why it works: 

• The animated loading bar GIF is effective because it introduces motion into an otherwise static inbox, drawing the eye and encouraging the user to keep reading 

• The bright pink highlights contrast with the black-and-white design, making the offer and CTA button highly visible and clickable

How to implement:

• Design or download a simple GIF animation, like a loading bar, a spinning icon, or a blinking arrow, to highlight a key element of your email

To add a GIF to your email, simply drag an Image block into the MailerLite Drag & drop editor, then upload your GIF file from your computer and insert it. It will play automatically when the email is opened

3. Use a countdown timer: MailerLite

Countdown timers create a sense of urgency—recipients know they must act soon to take advantage of the deal. We used one in our Cyber Monday promotion email.

Why it works: 

• By visually representing time running out, the countdown timer creates a fear of missing out (FOMO)

• The prominent call to action directly above the timer makes it easy for subscribers to convert right away

How to implement:

• Simply drag MailerLite’s pre-built countdown timer block into your email and set the end date and time for your sale, and the timer will automatically start

Tip: Check out this article to learn how to use an email countdown timer in your campaign.

• Pair the timer with urgent and specific copy, like in our email that mentioned just 1 day is left for our “biggest sale”. Use phrases like "Last Chance," "Sale Ends Today," or "Don't Miss Out" to reinforce the message

4.  Use personalization: Soccer.com

Soccer.com stands out by adding personalization to its Cyber Monday email. By including the subscriber's name and relevant offers, they make the message feel more targeted and less like a generic mass email.

Why it works: 

• Personalization makes the email feel like a direct communication, cutting through the noise

• Dynamic content allows the brand to feature products related to the recipient's past purchases or interests, increasing the likelihood of a conversion.

How to implement: 

• Use MailerLite's custom fields to insert the subscriber's name or other data into your copy and subject lines

• To send content based on user interests, use dynamic content blocks to show different products or offers to different segments of your audience

5. Connect email with your social media accounts: Quiz

Quiz extends the reach of its Cyber Monday email campaign by connecting its newsletter with its social media accounts. 

Why it works: 

• This strategy leverages the brand's engaged email list to grow its social media audience 

• It uses a value exchange—behind-the-scenes content on Snapchat—to incentivize the follow, building a deeper relationship with the customer beyond a single purchase

How to implement: 

• Add social media icons or embed social media posts to your email

• Clearly state the benefit of following you, such as early-bird access to sales or exclusive content, to encourage clicks and follows

Tip: Read our ultimate guide on how email marketing and social media work together to leverage social media to your advantage. 

6. Take a different approach: Everlane

Everlane took a different approach by sending an "anti-Black Friday" email. The brand stands out by opening with the line, "This is not a sale," immediately challenging the reader's expectations.

Why it works: 

• In an inbox filled with discount offers, this email uses a pattern interrupt to grab attention 

• It positions the brand's commitment to transparent, year-round pricing as a value proposition that is more authentic than a one-day discount

How to implement: 

• If your brand doesn't rely on steep discounts, create an email that promotes your online store by highlighting your core values, like sustainability or ethical production

7. Use cart abandonment emails: Perigold

Customers often forget about their order or leave your shop to browse other deals. When this happens, abandoned cart emails get them back to your store.  Perigold's email ticks all the boxes of an effective message by displaying the product left behind and providing a clear path back to the checkout.

Why it works: 

• This is a highly effective automation workflow because it's sent to a high-intent audience, i.e., people who were moments away from buying

• The simple design and single link reduce distractions and make the action of completing the purchase incredibly easy

How to implement: 

• Connect MailerLite with your e-commerce platform to set up an automated abandoned cart email to be triggered automatically when a customer leaves items behind

Tip: Read this article to learn more on how to create an abandoned cart email. 

8. Send a last-chance email: Zenni Optical

Zenni Optical reminds subscribers about its Cyber Monday offer by sending a last-chance email before the sale ends. 

Why it works: 

• This email leverages urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out). It provides all the necessary information—that the sale is ending soon and what products are available—to push interested buyers to convert immediately

How to implement: 

• With MailerLite, you can schedule a campaign to go out a few hours before your sale ends

• Include a clear headline, a countdown timer, and a strong CTA to drive final conversions

Tip: Read our article to understand how to create and schedule email campaigns 

9. Strategically extend your sale: Sleep Doctor

Sleep Doctor sent out an email extending its sale. This is the last chance for people who missed out on the original sale to finally make a purchase. 

Why it works: 

• A sale extension is a great way to capture last-minute conversions from subscribers who may have been busy during the official sales period

• The email is simple and personalized, with 4 main elements: a headline, an image, the offer, and a CTA button

How to implement: 

• Create an email campaign with a clear "Last Chance" or "Sale Extended" message, but don’t overuse this tactic, as it will lessen the impact of your original deadline

10. Create a VIP offer: Periodic Audio

There are so many Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales that it’s hard to make customers feel special at this time of year. Get around this by creating a sale just for VIPs. 

In a sea of generic sales, Periodic Audio made its customers feel special by creating an offer just for VIPs. This email gave existing customers a massive discount of 50% AND early access.

Why it works: 

• This “generous” strategy builds brand loyalty and customer retention. It makes loyal customers feel valued and rewards them for their business, which encourages them to return

How to implement: 

• If you know who your most loyal customers are, send unique offers to this VIP segment

•  If you don’t know your loyal customers, segment your email list to find out today

11. Use a limited-time offer: Ryanair

Many Cyber Monday sales run for a week, but Ryanair's email shows the power of a short, high-impact offer. By limiting the sale to a single day, the brand drives immediate conversions.

Why it works: 

• A 24-hour sale leverages extreme urgency to create a compelling reason to buy now. It's a classic "act or miss out" strategy that prevents customers from procrastinating and encourages impulse buys

How to implement: 

• Create a single-day sale and use a prominent countdown timer in your email

• Pair it with clear messaging that emphasizes the limited window, like "24-Hour Flash Sale" or "Ends Tonight at Midnight”

12. Team up with other businesses: Teachable

Teachable teamed up with a well-known influencer, Pat Flynn, to offer his course as a bonus with their Cyber Monday deal. 

Why it works: 

• By including a valuable, high-ticket bonus for new customers, Teachable makes its own product more appealing and helps customers feel like they're getting a valuable deal

•  It’s only available for the first 200 buyers, which gives the offer a sense of urgency 

How to implement: 

• Find a brand or influencer with a similar audience and partner with them to create a combined offer that’s appealing to potential buyers

13. Promote your SaaS or digital product offer: Later

Cyber Monday and Black Friday aren’t only for physical products. Software businesses and digital product sellers can also get involved. 

Social media tool Later created a special Cyber Monday offer and promoted it via email.

Why it works: 

• This email copy focuses on the value of the tool, not just the offer. The free trial offer and clear CTAs encourage conversions from customers who want to try the product and stay with it long-term

How to implement: 

• Create a Cyber Monday deal email that promotes your digital product offer

• Focus your copy on the benefits of the tool and use bold, clear CTA buttons to guide readers to the trial or purchase page

Tip: Did you know that now you can create and sell your digital products on the MailerLite platform? Check out our article to learn more. 🙂

14. Promote affiliate offers: GQ

You don’t need a product to sell to get in on the Cyber Monday action. GQ recommends other brands’ products in its newsletter and earns a commission when someone buys after clicking through one of its links. 

Why it works: 

• This strategy monetizes an existing audience without requiring you to have your own products

• In the email, the product boxes show an image of each item, the price, a description, and a clear link to the relevant store

• The email copy is fun and entices readers to buy

How to implement: 

• Choose affiliate products carefully so they appeal to your audience

• Create a clean email design with product blocks that include an image, a brief description, and a clear affiliate link

👀 Looking for an engaging way to learn about the best email marketing strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Our video producer Ace got you covered. Check it out below:

Get a head start on your Cyber Monday emails with a customizable template. We have templates built especially for Cyber Monday and Black Friday, as well as plenty of others that you could easily edit to be relevant. 

Use any of these templates today by signing up for a free 2-week trial of MailerLite, creating a campaign, and then choosing the template you want to use. You can then customize them by adding new content relevant to your offer and changing the fonts and colors so they match your brand.

(Note: Our existing free users will have to upgrade to the Growing Business or Advanced plans to use the email templates.)

Focusing on your subject line is a great way to increase the open rates of your Cyber Monday emails. There are many strategies you can use to make your emails stand out in the inbox. 

Here are some of our favorites.

• Use the word Cyber Monday 

• Add a discount percentage

• Use words like biggest sale, save, discount, off, coupon, now and deal

• Create a sense of urgency (“Black Friday sale starts NOW”, “Cyber Monday ends in 4 hours” or “Last Chance to Save”)

• Use personalization fields to add the recipient’s name to the subject line

• Create a sense of exclusivity

• Focus on the benefit 

• Use a curiosity hook (“What's in your Cyber Monday mystery box?”)

• Mention a specific product or category instead of a generic sale ("Our best-selling coffee machine is 30% off.")

You can also play around with emojis in your email subject lines, this is a great way to make your brand feel fun and friendly. 

If you’re unsure about the types of content that lead to more opens, use MailerLite’s A/B testing tool to discover the highest-performing Cyber Monday email subject lines. 

You choose 2 subject lines for your campaign and MailerLite sends each one to a small percentage of your audience. The tool then checks to see which version gets the most opens and sends the winning variant to the remainder of your email list.

You can use these subject lines as provided or customize them to further speak to your audience.

Use our free email subject line tester to check how effective your subject line is and get suggestions on how to improve it.

A great Cyber Monday email needs impactful copy. Here are a few examples of email copy you can adapt for your own campaigns.

1. The main offer email

This copy is perfect for the main Cyber Monday launch email. It's direct, focuses on the value, and makes the call to action clear.

2. The product showcase email

This copy is great for an email that highlights a selection of your top products or best-sellers. It's visual and helps customers discover new items they might want.

3. The last-chance urgency email

This is the final email in your sequence, designed to create a sense of urgency and push for last-minute sales.

Now you’ve seen some great Cyber Monday emails, it’s time to start crafting your own messages. Just be sure to keep these best practices in mind before you start. 

Take steps to avoid the spam folder 

47.3% of emails sent every day are considered spam. Even the best-planned emails are ineffective if they get lumped in with these emails and sent to the spam folder. 

The good news is that there are things you can do to stop this from happening. Take control of your email deliverability and reach the spam folder by cleaning your list, segmenting subscribers based on engagement, optimizing content for inbox placement and removing inactive subscribers from the list. 

Learn exactly how to do this in our Black Friday, Cyber Monday email deliverability course. 

Make your newsletter mobile-friendly

Over 56% of holiday sales are expected to come from mobile in 2025. If people can’t read your newsletter, it will kill your conversions. Make sure you send mobile-friendly newsletters so your email looks good on all devices. 

All emails designed with MailerLite’s Drag & drop editor are responsive and display well on any screen size.

Include a clear CTA and write impactful copy

When writing your Cyber Monday email, make sure your email copy drives readers to buy. 

You don’t have to be an expert copywriter to write effective emails. Just include the following points in your copy where relevant:

• What the offer is

• How the product benefits the reader

• Why they should buy now (limited stock, limited time offer, first 100 people get the offer, etc)

• How they can take advantage of the offer 

Once you’ve made your offer clear, finish off with an email call-to-action that encourages clicks and sends people to the exact page on your website where they can buy your product. Also, check out our list of copywriting tips to find out more about writing effective emails. Hit the link below to find out more.

Maximize sales with recommended products

Amazon generates a big chunk of its revenue from product recommendations. Take a page from the e-commerce giant’s playbook by promoting recommended products in your Cyber Monday emails.

MailerLite customers with a connected e-commerce store can send product emails with recommendations based on previously bought products.

Target messages with personalization and segmentation

Personalization and segmentation can help you send messages that are targeted at each subscriber. 

Personalization lets you add information from a custom field in a subscriber’s profile to your email text. Typically this will be the person’s name, but it can be any information you collect such as their company, interests, or industry. The text changes depending on the person who receives the email. 

Segmentation lets you group customers automatically based on any number of factors such as campaign engagement, custom field data, purchases, their location, or how they joined your list. You can even create segments based on multiple conditions. 

Once set up, you can then send different emails to each group that are designed to appeal to the people on the list. 

Cyber Monday is an important online shopping day for retailers, and holiday email marketing is an excellent way to promote your brand. Use the examples and tips in this article to spice up your campaigns and give them the best chance of success.

For more holiday-themed shopping email examples, check out our article on the best Black Friday emails here. We also have a library of Cyber Monday and other holiday email templates you can use to create your campaigns.