How to Prepare for Amazon Black Friday 2026: A Week-by-Week Plan for Influencers

Black Friday rewards the influencers who are ready before it starts. Amazon’s 2026 event is expected to run from around November 19 to November 30, so the next three weeks decide how much you earn during it. Here is a simple Black Friday prep plan, one week at a time.

Your plan at a glance

When	Focus	What to get done
Late October	Plan	Pick categories and products, contact brands
Early November	Film and upload	Record videos and upload them for review
Mid November	Get ready	Check your top videos, update your storefront, draft social posts
November 19–30	Share	Post on day one, share live deals, watch your reports
December	Keep going	Shift to gift content and note what worked

Late October: decide what to film

Start with two or three categories that fit your niche and sold well last year, such as electronics, home appliances, toys or beauty. Then make a short list of products to film, and favor the ones likely to be discounted. A video on a product with a real deal converts much better during the event.

If you work with brands through Creator Connections, message them now, before they get busy with the event. Ask whether the product will be part of their Black Friday deals.

It also helps to plan a few comparison and gift videos. Shoppers who have been waiting all month are choosing between options, and many are buying for someone else. I explain why sellers like comparisons in Why Amazon Sellers Want Comparison Videos.

Early November: film and upload

Amazon reviews videos before they go live, so upload in the first half of November. That leaves time for the review, and for a quick fix if a video is rejected.

When you film, show each product clearly and say its name, so Amazon can match the video to the right product page. Only tag products that actually appear in the video, and if a brand gave you the product or paid you, say so clearly in the video.

Mid November: get your storefront ready

The week before the event is for cleanup. Open the product pages behind your best-earning videos and make sure each one is still active and still the product you reviewed. Take down videos on products that are discontinued or have moved to a different page.

Then put your Black Friday picks and gift ideas where shoppers will see them first, and draft your YouTube, Instagram or TikTok posts for the first days of the sale, with your links ready.

November 19 to 30: share while deals are live

Shoppers who held off all month start buying when deals go live, so post on day one. Many deals are time-limited or sell out, so point your audience to them early.

Keep an eye on your reports. If a video that usually earns well goes quiet, check whether the deal ended, the product sold out or the listing changed. And keep disclosing any affiliate links you share outside Amazon.

December: keep the momentum

Gift shopping continues after Cyber Monday, until the shipping cutoffs before the holidays, so gift videos can keep earning for weeks. Take a few minutes to note which products and formats earned most. That is your starting plan for next year.

If your sales feel slow right now, that is normal. I explain why in Why Amazon Influencer Sales Slow Down Before Black Friday.