Side hustlers: Here’s how to hack BFCM with high-ROI, low-effort tactics 

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

You don’t spend all week running your store – you build it in the margins. 

Before the morning commute. After the kids are asleep. On weekends when your mind is already juggling a dozen other things. 

So when BFCM rolls around, it can feel overwhelming and the pressure hits differently. You’re not just competing for sales, you’re competing against time itself.

That’s why side hustlers don’t need more tactics. They need the right ones: moves that work while you work, automate tasks without a second thought, and build trust without constant attention.

This isn't a list of “growth hacks.” This is a blueprint built around one question: How can a part-time merchant look full-time ready during BFCM?

Before we dive in – to help you make these strategies actually possible – we’re giving one month free of Judge.me Awesome, so you can activate every trust feature during BFCM without committing a penny. 

Trial all our features with confidence, then see if it’s worth the $15pm.

And now, let’s get in to it!

Making the most of the best Judge.me features

As a side hustler, it’s fair to assume that you probably don’t have hours to design landing pages or write long sales copy – right? 

Ultimately, you need easy-to-use trust signals that speak for you. 

That’s where using review content intelligently becomes your secret weapon, and we’d recommend that you start with AI review summaries and review carousels. 

Instead of leaving shoppers to scroll through long reviews, AI puts them into clean, easy-to-read snippets to give an instant credibility boost, especially for new visitors skimming on mobile.

To bring this trust forward across other pages, tools like Ecomposer help you build BFCM landing pages in minutes using drag-and-drop blocks, including review sections powered by Judge.me. 

No code, no freelance designer, no late nights. Just plug your best reviews into a flash sale page, and suddenly your brand looks bigger, more established, more prepared.

Let reviews do the talking and enable the layout to support them – not the other way around.

You can now get 30% off all Ecomposer paid plans for three months

Furthermore, if you’re a maker, creator, or side hustler selling on both Etsy and Shopify, you already know that each platform has its perks. 

Etsy gives you exposure to a massive global audience, while Shopify gives you the freedom to build your own brand, control your customer experience, and grow on your own terms.

But did you know that every new Etsy review can be synced to Judge.me automatically every 7 days? 

This means that your Shopify shoppers see the same social proof that your Etsy customers already know and love!

Retention even when you’re not paying attention

The biggest problem side hustlers face during BFCM isn't traffic – it’s time. 

You simply don’t have bandwidth to personally follow up with every new customer. So retention has to run on rails. Here’s the simplest loop you can set up:

Customer buys → Leaves review → Automatically receives a reward or referral invite.

With our BON Loyalty integration, anyone who leaves a review can instantly earn points, rewards, or referral offers – no manual setup required. 

It’s the most low-effort way to turn a one-time BFCM buyer into someone who comes back in January.

Instead of thinking, “How do I keep them?” Build a system that quietly says, “Come back when you’re ready.”

Get 1 month free of Judge.me Awesome and set everything up before BFCM hits

Sometimes, a little extra incentive can turn a casual shopper into a repeat customer. That’s where a bundle specialist app like BOGOS comes in. 

This app makes it easy to add strategic offers to your store without much effort, helping you grow your revenue and giving back to your customers. 

And, whatever incentive you offer (whether that’s a promotion, free gift or upsell), you can be sure that your reviews will shine bright alongside them. 

BOGOS are offering Judge.me users 20% off for 3 months

Ads are expensive, look to SEO for long term gains

Side hustlers don’t always have budget for paid traffic. But organic visibility – especially during BFCM – can be a game-changer if you’re showing up with review stars in Google.

Now this might not bring results first time around, but by laying the foundations now, you can see the gains in the new year.

Plus, with some decent research, you might be able to take control of a couple of search terms today!

For example, with Judge.me and SEOAnt, your reviews can be pushed into rich snippets and Google Shopping feeds, helping your products display with gold stars and review counts.

When shoppers search “best gift under £50” or “wireless earbuds review,” your listing isn’t just another blue link, it’s proof in motion.

It’s easy to underestimate how much those star ratings influence clicks, but during BFCM, when comparison shopping is rapid and ruthless, stars equal trust. 

And trust equals traffic. You may not rank first on all your key terms, but you can still stand out above your competitors.

Increase your reach with SEOAnt’s BFCM deal giving all Judge.me users 30% off

Automate like a pro (even if you’re not one!)

The biggest advantage big brands have? They automate everything. But with the right setup, you can do the same.

Start with smart review requests from Judge.me. Schedule them to send automatically after delivery, which is the perfect time when your customer has unboxed or tried the product. 

No manual outreach. No reminders to write emails on your lunch break.

Pair this with an established email provider like Omnisend, and reviews become part of smarter post-purchase flows. It can be as simple as: 

• “Thank you for your order,” 

• “How are we doing?”

• “Use your £5 reward before it expires.”

And all of this can run without you hovering over a keyboard. The goal isn’t constant activity – it’s consistent output.

You shouldn't have to chase trust, you should encourage it.

Scream your social proof from the rooftops

Your customers aren’t just on your website during BFCM – they’re on Instagram, Facebook, scrolling silently and deciding who looks credible. 

If your reviews are hidden only on product pages or left on the homepage, you’re missing out on some easy wins.

With Judge.me’s Meta integration, your best reviews can automatically publish to Instagram and Facebook – as posts, highlights, or feed embeds. 

What was once locked on your site becomes part of your social presence without you lifting a finger.

Imagine someone discovering your brand on Instagram, doubting you… then seeing real customer proof without leaving the app. That’s trust without interruption.

Start your BFCM trust engine for free

To make this simpler, we’re giving you one month free of Judge.me Awesome, so you can set up all the features above and more. 

Use BFCM not just to sell – but to set up systems you’ll still benefit from in February.

You may be building this on the side, but trust can work full-time.