If you run an eCommerce store, and you don’t have a Shopify gift card program setup, the pertinent question to ask is, “Why not?” You are losing revenue, goodwill, and an excellent marketing channel, without a gift card program.

We believe that this article will help you create gift card program success stories and improve the gift card program user experience.

What Do Customers Want in a Gift Card?

• They don’t want to pay any activation or maintenance fees
• Customers want gift card program security so that it is safe from malicious actors
• They want the option to redeem it online or in person
• The gift card can be used any number of times as long as it has value in it
• If the card is lost, a replacement for it must be available
• They must be able to load the cards from anywhere

10 Gift Card Program Best Practices For Shopify:

For creating a successful gift card program, you must track gift card program metrics and KPIs, for which there are best practices to follow.

• Suggest Gift Cards to Customers:

The best thing you can do to promote your gift card program aggressively is to let people know about it. Persuade them to purchase gift cards; the task is easier during the holiday season. Include gift cards in customer’s shopping carts and use an incentive or two to make them go through it. Make sure there are regular promotions for gift card programs to make it easy for reluctant customers to make the switch.

Add gift cards at the checkout page with an incentive to make customers buy them.

• Create a Separate Landing Page for Gift Cards:

One of the smartest things you can do to increase the sales of your gift cards is to come up with a landing page exclusively for it. Your gift card landing page should include the relevant details about the gift card options available. List the different ways they can purchase the gift cards and the incentives they can gain from them.

Offer as much information as you can on the gift card landing page. If there are personalization options available, make sure to include them in the landing page too. Include an FAQ section on the page to answer all gift card-related questions. This page can also be a place where customers can check their card’s current balance or reload the cards they presently own.

• Promote It in Multiple Places:

Most businesses set up their Shopify gift card program, but do not make the effort to promote it. If you don’t do this, you can be sure about not getting gift card sales as you intended. From the navigation bar to the footer, include every possible information about it and make sure it is visible at every part of the website without fail. Add popup windows or exit-intent screens to persuade your Shopify store visitor to check out your gift card offering.

• Use Gift Cards as Incentives:

The best way to make gift cards a resounding success for your Shopify store is to use them as incentives and rewards. Since they act as souvenirs and can be used instead of cash by the recipients, it is a fantastic offering as a gift. Gift cards can also be used to increase the order value by motivating customers to buy above a particular threshold to get it for free.

Gift cards can be used as prizes for social media contests for the customers of your Shopify store. It can be an incentive for completing a survey or being a part of your focused group interviews. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to using gift cards as incentives.

• Use Gift Cards for Returns and Refunds:

Converting your unhappy customers into ones that will come back again to your website is the way to do business. It is imperative that a misstep results in a disgruntled customer. How you handle them is a sign of how you would fare as a successful Shopify store. Apologize if there were issues in your service or product delivery. The next step would be to appease them with gift cards. It is an opportunity to offer a great solution while also upselling them a gift card.

You can make unhappy customers shop with you again by managing returns and refunds through gift cards. All you need to do is offer extra credit on the refund or return to make sure they accept it in the form of gift cards.

• Establish Clear Gift Card Policies:

The problem with implementing gift cards successfully is that the entire program might be an oversight. In such cases, you might not have a clear strategy on how to go about it. This is where things could go wrong. Ensure your customer success team is aware of how you intend to use the gift card. Give clear instructions to customers on how they can purchase with gift cards. If there are restrictions on its usage, highlight them as well.

• Choose the Right Gift Card Program:

You might end up with faulty gift card implementation if you do not use the right software. Maximizing gift card sales is only possible when you have a gift card software whose features you can leverage.

Below are a few things you must keep in mind when choosing the gift card software:

1. Choose a platform that supports a wide range of gift card options and campaigns
2. Make sure that it can integrate with your existing marketing stack. This will help with maximizing Shopify gift card integration strategies
3. The tool should offer analytics, tracking, and reporting capabilities so that you can get insights into customer behavior and sales patterns
4. Gift card customization on Shopify store must be available
5. It should be easy to set up
6. Use software that takes legal considerations for gift card programs into account

Once you take the above aspects into consideration, you will have almost zero problems in increasing your gift card program ROI on Shopify. The software should be easy for your holiday gift card program setup.

• Gift Card Program Gamification:

Gamification elements make the customers keep coming back for more and more. It keeps them engaged with your brand and can also persuade them to buy gift cards. Using game design elements in non-game environments stimulates engagement and retention. Some of the most popular gamification elements are: Points-based calculation, milestones, leaderboards, badges, quizzes, and punchcards. Gamification will easily feature in our list of top Shopify gift card marketing tips.

• Leverage Social Media:

Undoubtedly, most gift card program case studies will have social media sites as one of its main channels. Use the best practices for each social media website when you post them.

Below are social media best practices for selling gift cards:

• Let your fans know about your gift cards on your social media handles
• Create a community where you share gift card updates and promotions
• Get creative with your posts
• Invest in paid ads, especially if you are creating holiday-themed gift cards
• Invest in Influencer-Led Gift Card Campaigns

Setting up e-gift cards for your Shopify store is an easy process if you work with software like 99minds. The real challenge lies in spreading the word about it and driving the attention of your target audience towards it. Influencer marketing can be a game-changer for your brand, especially if you work with micro-influencers since they tend to have a more dedicated engagement.

Influencers who have the implicit trust of their followers can easily capture and sway the attention of their audience. They can recommend your gift cards to their audience. By partnering with the right influencer, you can reach your target market.

Wrapping Up:

The eCommerce gift card trends suggest that the consumption of gift cards is on the rise. Don’t play it safe when it comes to gift cards, you can be as creative as you want. Provide enough value to your gift card customers to increase the ROI of your Shopify gift card program.

If you look at Shopify gift card app recommendations, 99minds is one of the top tools. Why? Mainly because of its features, functionalities, and its ability to grow your store and drive revenue with its marketing automation capabilities. Get in touch with us to understand how we can help you with our gift card program software.