Everybody loves a gift card. For the recipient, it’s something special to swipe or scan for a celebratory experience. For the buyer, it’s a convenient gift-giving option that doesn’t entail driving all over town or purchasing a costly product destined to be returned or exchanged. For the merchant, it’s an invaluable opportunity to generate revenue instantly, whether the card gets redeemed or not. In short, everybody wins. But that begs the question, how does a local business optimize their selling process to increase gift card sales? Let’s take a look.
1. Online, All the Time: Leverage Your Website to Offer Gift Cards
Think of your website as a 24/7 extension of your business. A place where your customers can find out more information on what you have to offer, book a visit or special event, and ideally, purchase a gift card. If you’re not already selling gift cards on your site, giving your customers an option to buy outside of your physical location is an effortless method for advancing your sales by simply increasing visibility. At Hownd, we assist business owners by giving them the option of deploying gift card promos as website plugins (pop-ups). In addition to giving the visitor more incentive to increase the time spent on your site, a gift card plugin encourages them to conveniently buy right on the spot, effectively monetizing your website
2. Kind of a Big Deal: Offer Discounted Gift Card Promotions
Whether it’s a “Buy a $50 Gift Card, Get $10 in Bonus Value” or a “Buy One $25 Gift Card, Get One $25 Gift Card Free” promotion, nothing is quite like getting more for your money from a buying perspective. Consumers love a deal, and gift card promotions entice them not only for others, but for themselves as well. A recent gift card consumer report from The Blackhawk Network revealed that 78% of consumers surveyed said they would purchase a gift card for themselves if they were offered a discount. The better the discount, the better the results, so aim to offer savings of around 20-30%.
3. Good Timing: Leverage Your Email List to Deliver Gift Cards at the Right Time
Face it, your customers’ inboxes deserve better. Making gift card promotions a major part of your holiday marketing push gives them the option to stock up and cross off every name on their list. Be it for their families, employees, or friends, sending the right offer, at the right time, to the right person makes it simple for the consumer to secure a meaningful gift without spending a second in a busy mall. Additionally, an email gift card push shouldn’t just be limited to the holiday season. Consider similar strategies to send for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and even special events like during high school or graduation season in late May and early June.
Interested in learning more and getting your first gift card promo off the ground with Hownd? Click here!
