Common Black Friday Email Glitches: A Troubleshooting Guide

When the holiday season comes near, businesses depend heavily on email marketing to drive sales. According to Contentful, email marketing accounted for over 20% of online sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2024.

A polished, functional black friday email can mean the difference between converting a consumer and losing them to a competitor. However, marketing experts sometimes encounter frustrating glitches in email templates that can derail campaigns.

If you are also suspected of these glitches, and are looking for reliable preventive methods or ways to acknowledge and fix them. Then continue reading this write-up. In this article, we will walk you through some of these common issues and provide you with their straightforward fixes.

Do not wait, just read this article till the end!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Use absolutely secure URL and optimize file size to prevent these bugs.

Keep the design clean and concise to ensure fast loading and readability.

Don’t skip the final service quality test, and send a test email before launching.

1. Broken Images That Won’t Load

Nothing diminishes the value of your promotional email faster than missing or broken images. Since Black Friday promotions are all about visual appeal, this glitch can be costly.

Fixes:

Check hosting: Make sure that images are hosted on a reliable server with a secure (HTTPS) URL. Some email clients don’t allow non-secure links.
Use absolute URLs: While relative paths might work in a browser, they can break in email. Always use the full link.
Optimize file size: Large files may fail to load or create delays. Compress images effectively without compromising quality.
Include alt text: Even if an image doesn’t load, hopefully, the alt text will not only provide context to guide readers through the rest of the email.

2. Mobile Misalignment Issues

In 2024, it was estimated that 50-60% of email opens came from mobile devices. Misaligned text or distorted layouts are a major issue because the majority of consumers view promotional emails on mobile devices. A Black Friday campaign needs to be seamless across all screen sizes.

Fixes:

Embrace responsive design: Use flexible widths, fluid tables, and media queries so elements adapt to different screens.
Avoid complex layouts: Overly complicated columns or organized images often break on small displays. Keep it clean and minimal.
Preview before sending: Test the template on multiple devices and email clients to detect misalignment before launch.

INTERESTING FACT
During a black friday shopping sale in 2023 the email open rates increased by almost 30% compared to a normal day.

3. Buttons That Don’t Work

Call-to-action (CTA) buttons are the primary focus of a Black Friday email. If they’re broken or unclickable, customers won’t reach your sales page—leading to missed conversions.

Fixes:

Use bulletproof buttons: Build buttons with HTML and inline CSS, rather than depending on images. This ensures they render even when the images are blocked.
Check links carefully: Typos or redundant links can stop a button from working. Always double-check before hitting send.
Make them tap-friendly: Ensure buttons are spacious enough for easy mobile tapping (at least 44×44 pixels).

4. Font and Styling Errors

Having inconsistent fonts, styles that are missing, or unreadable text can make emails look unprofessional. Since multiple Black Friday promotions use bold typography to advertise discounts, these errors stand out.

Fixes:

Inline CSS: Not all email clients will render an external stylesheet the same way. Always use inline styles for reliable rendering.
Fallback fonts: Custom fonts may not display everywhere. Be sure to add fallback options such as Arial or Helvetica.
Test dark mode: More users are opening emails in dark mode, so it is important to test the light text suspend against background shifts.

5. Slow Loading or Cluttered Layout

A crowded, sluggish email is one fast way to lose your subscriber. During Black Friday, when customers are scrolling through dozens of offers, clarity and speed are critical.

Fixes:

Reduce heavy elements: Avoid using oversized GIFs, autoplay videos, or overly complex graphics.
Keep copy concise: Focus on one primary offer or discount, instead of overwhelming readers with too many details.
Prioritize hierarchy: Use subheadings, headings, and bullet points to make scanning effortless.

6. Testing and Quality Assurance

Even small glitches can slip through, especially if the testing is skipped. Comprehensive checks are the final step to assurance that your Black Friday email works perfectly.

Fixes:

Use email testing tools: Services like Litmus or Email on Acid allow you to see how templates render across different clients and devices.
Check accessibility: If a screen reader cannot read the message, it must be changed. Add descriptive labels and proper contrast.
Send test emails: Before the full campaign, send test emails to yourself and members of your team to discover all the hidden errors.

Final Thoughts

Email pans can be valuable, especially during Black Friday when every second counts. Time and money can be wasted via a glitchy email, and risk losing revenue.

By addressing common issues, you can ensure your Black Friday email is professional, polished, and ready to convert. With the right troubleshooting approach, it will be easier to stand out in the inbox and drive those sales you are hoping for.