According to the National Retail Federation, gift cards have been the most requested holiday present for a decade now. Running a successful gift card campaign during the holidays can be a fantastic way to give your business’s year-end numbers a significant boost. There are three steps you should take to execute a rewarding gift card campaign this holiday season.

1. Prepare

“One out of every three buyers purchases a gift card for themselves.”

Gift cards and certificates provide an easy gift solution to those buying for loved ones with particular interests or for flustered shoppers looking for a last-minute option. With that in mind, keep the customer experience as streamlined as possible. Using a software program like Inspire Desktop or Inspire allows businesses to offer instantaneous gift transactions to their customers. Plus sending a certificate or eGift via email allows recipients to have easy access to the gifts on their smartphones, eliminating the possibility of losing a physical card or accidentally swapping it with another one.

Inspire Desktop users can setup their system to allow for the purchase of both gift cards and gift certificates — both are customizable to the business and also offer multiple design options for buyers to choose from. With certificates, a purchaser can choose to print the certificate or receive it via email; with gift cards, the business owner receives notification of purchase and mails the card to the address provided.

Inspire users can setup eGifts in their systems, which allows purchasers to choose whether to have the gift card instantly emailed to the recipient or to themselves.

2. Promote

Once you know how you’re going to sell your gift cards, you have to create a marketing strategy. Bold, clear signage should be placed throughout your business, both physically (on the front desk, in windows, at work stations, in waiting areas) and digitally (posts on social media platforms, call-to-action banners or buttons on your website).

If your business is located in a heavily trafficked area, consider placing a sign outside alerting passersby of the great deals you’re offering. Utilize Inspire Desktop or Inspire to create custom newsletters alerting past and present customers of the specials you’re running. And be sure to have employees mention the campaign (as well as any additional incentives) to guests during their visits.

3. Perks

While most consumers buy gift cards for friends and family, one out of every three buyers purchases a gift card for themselves. Why? Because of the incentives being offered by the respective businesses.

Consider running a cross-promotion in addition to your regular gift card campaign to see an increase in sales. Offer free services or service discounts with the purchase of a fixed amount of gift cards or certificates. Another option is to incorporate gift cards into a loyalty program, like those available to Inspire Desktop and Inspire users. Reward loyal customers with points that can be exchanged for a gift card for themselves or someone else.

Note: The majority of gift cards are used within the first 60 days, so be sure to account for a spike in redemption rates when allocating cash flow in your business.

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The Three P’s to Running a Successful Gift Card Campaign