AN award-winning digital marketing agency has broken all its Black Friday records before the day has even begun – thanks to exceptional early sales activity.
Alphageek, which has offices in Derby and Dubai, says that so-called “Fake Friday” the week before saw 80% of its clients’ targets already hit, signalling the strongest start to the peak sales period the agency has ever recorded.
To support this surge, Alphageek is operating a dedicated support hotline for its digital marketing clients throughout the entire Black Friday and Cyber Monday period.
The service gives brands and online retailers instant access to real-time troubleshooting and live campaign optimisation, keeping performance steady as global markets open and stock fluctuates.
Operations director, Kieran Flynn said: “Black Friday has evolved from a high-pressure weekend into a highly structured season. In the past, much of the work happened reactively and Black Friday was all about a 24-hour buying window.
“Now, brands are launching earlier, consumers are shopping earlier, and the entire trading period has become a sustained, month-long campaign. Hitting 80% of targets before Black Friday itself shows just how much buyer behaviour has shifted and how crucial it is for us to stay ahead of the curve for our clients.
“Our 24-hour hotline is part of that commitment. When sales are happening every second, clients need immediate support to fix issues, optimise campaigns and protect revenue.
“There’s no room for downtime during peak season and our team is ready all weekend to keep everything running smoothly.”
Alphageek expects demand to continue rising as the Black Friday weekend gets underway, with results already outperforming previous years.
The firm, which counts companies such as HUUB, Casio and Built for Athletes among its clients, says consumer behaviour has shifted dramatically in the last year, with shoppers researching deals and connecting with brands well in advance.
They report that shopping journeys are now firmly multi-channel, with consumers using TikTok, Google, Amazon, Snapchat, email and creators to inform their decisions.
And this year, more than ever before, people have increasingly been asking ChatGPT to help them find the best price, check if a deal is genuine, compare products, analyse reviews and summarise pros and cons.
Tim Brogan, managing director said: “People are now letting AI do the research for them. Instead of just using Google, they’re asking tools like ChatGPT what to buy. That means brands are being judged through AI, not just through ads, websites and social media. It’s a new layer of influence that brands will have to understand and learn how to optimise for.
“Next year, people won’t just search, they’ll ask and ads will be delivered to them directly. And when customers ask ChatGPT what they should buy, brands will need to be ready to appear in those answers.
“That’s where Alphageek will be going next: into a world where performance marketing meets ‘Generative Engine Optimisation’ – making sure brands show up when AI is doing the recommending.”
