Tips for Marketing Gift Cards Online Using InkSoft

Selling and offering gift cards can be an effective way to increase online sales, acquire new customers, and encourage return visits / purchases. The upcoming holiday’s provides a perfect opportunity to market gift cards from your InkSoft powered webstores.

Quick Stats*

• 81% of American adults will purchase at least one gift card this holiday season.
• A shopper using a gift card will likely spend 40% more than the value of the card.
• 41 percent of gift card recipients will visit a new store because of a gift card.
• 72 percent of gift card recipients would make a return trip to the store.
• 72 percent of gift card recipients would make a return trip to the store.
• Total Gift Card spending to reach $28.79 Billion (2012).

*Data from Nation Retail Federation and Shopatron

Tip #1: The ‘Kickback’

Kickback gift card promotions give money, in the form of a second gift card, back to the giver as a reward for buying the gift card.

Example: Buy a $100 gift card and get a $15 free gift card for yourself.

Why it works: Create a secondary selling opportunity. If someone is buying a gift card as a gift, and they receive a free gift card as a promotion the result is a high possibility of a second purchase.

Tip #2: Rewards

This one is simple: Reward loyal and regular shoppers / customers with a reward.

Example: Get a $25 free gift card when you spend $250 or more.

Why it works: Every consumer likes getting something for ‘free’. This effort induces customers to spend more in order to get the ‘free’ gift. Plus, this is a goodwill gesture and something unique.

Tip #3: Fundraising Gift Cards

Gift cards may also be marketed to schools or other organizations as fundraisers.

Example: The organization buys gift cards up front at a discount ($50 gift card for $40 each). Then the organization will sell the cards at face value or even at a small discount, keeping the difference.

Why it works: The effort is a win-win. The merchant is paid up front, the organization get fundraising revenue and the customer gets a gift card.

Using InkSoft to market gift cards

See our video on how to create and issue bulk gift certificates here and how to manage and issue gift certificate here.