How to sell gift certificates online

3 min read

Introduction: The Growing Importance of Selling Gift Certificates Online

Giving gifts is a significant part of many events and celebrations. While physical presents are the norm, the popularity of experience-based gifts has recently surged. 

According to studies, about 40-50% of individuals prefer giving experiences as gifts instead of material items. To keep up with this trend, countless businesses have upgraded their gift certificate options to offer more experience-led choices.

Selling gift experiences online is an important business strategy. Consumers want high-quality, enjoyable purchases with immediate results. 

In this blog post, we cover the growing importance of how to sell gift certificates online. With easy-to-implement steps to begin selling online gift cards today! 

Gift card statistics

  1. The global gift card industry is rising, with a predicted market value of $1.9 trillion by 2027.  North America and Europe are leading the way with over 70% of sales in 2020. 
  1. E-gift cards saw an impressive 80.7% increase in November compared to 2019 – a testament to the industry's recent growth.
  1. 71% of people prefer to receive gift cards instead of physical gifts. 

Step 1: Choose the Right Platform to Sell Your Gift Certificates

Your gift certificate platform is the first thing to consider when selling gift certificates online., 

However, there are so many gift certificate system options available.

How to decide the right system?

Some main things to consider in a gift certificate platform are:

  • Simplicity of use
  • Customise options to meet your branding 
  • Payment processing/gateways in your area
  • Good reporting 
  • Multi-language support
  • Promotional features

There are two main areas of a gift card system that you’ll need to think about. 

  1. The gift card store where your customers can view and buy your gifts
  2. The admin side (where the bulk of how you manage your gift cards happens) 

How to make money with gift certificates?

Making money with gift certificates is simple when you know what sells to your audience.

Look for a gift certificate platform with reporting and analytics features.

Then, once every quarter, hold a 'gift certificate review meeting'. This is where you pull the sales reports from your gift certificate reports and review what packages and deals sold best and which flopped.

This is one of the most essential stages in making money with gift certificates, but it often gets overlooked.

Step 2: Design and Customise Your Gift Certificates for a Professional Look

Your gift certificate designs for your online storefront are vital to online selling. 

  1. Choose high-quality images to represent your gift 
  2. Design your storefront to match the branding of your website

A high-quality gift certificate system like Enjovia uses white labelling on the storefront. Enabling users to design and match the store to their website branding. 

Step 3: Set Up an Easy-to-Navigate Online Store on Your Website

Building an online store on your website can be manageable with the right approach.

Easy user experience

When customers visit your online store, it is crucial that they can find what they are looking for quickly and easily. This enhances their shopping experience and increases their likelihood of purchasing. To achieve this, there are several key elements you need to consider when setting up your online store.

  1. Make your store accessible from your website homepage 

We recommend making your store link from your homepage for easy recognition and a simple user experience.

  1. Navigation menu

Firstly, ensure your website has a straightforward and intuitive navigation menu. 

This menu should include categories or sections accurately representing your products or services. 

Organising your products into logical categories allows customers to effortlessly browse your offerings without feeling overwhelmed.

  1. Product descriptions 

Next, ensure each product has a dedicated page with detailed descriptions, high-quality images, and pricing information. 

Providing as much information as possible is essential to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.

  1. Search functionality

Consider implementing search functionality on your website. This allows customers to directly search for specific products or keywords and quickly find what they need. A well-designed search feature can significantly improve user experience by saving time and effort navigating different pages.

  1. Fast check-out 

Reduce the number of steps needed to check out a purchase. More barriers to processing a payment will increase the likelihood of abandoned carts. 

Have a quick-buy option that takes the customer straight to their basket. 

  1. Mobile compatible

Your website must work well on smartphones, as more people use them for online shopping.

Step 4: Promote Your Gift Certificates through Effective Marketing Strategies

Marketing your gift certificates well is crucial to drive sales and increase customer awareness.

By implementing effective marketing strategies, you can maximise the visibility and appeal of your gift certificates, ultimately boosting their sales potential. 

This section will explore key marketing strategies to help you successfully promote your gift certificates.

1. Social Media Promotion

Leverage the power of social media platforms to reach a wider audience. 

Create enticing posts that highlight the benefits and uniqueness of your gift certificates. Encourage customers to share these posts with their networks, increasing the chances of reaching potential buyers.

2. Email Marketing Campaigns

Utilise email marketing campaigns to target existing customers and subscribers. 

Craft compelling emails showcasing your gift certificates' value, including limited-time offers or discounts. 

3. Promotions and Discounts

Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time promotions or discounts on your gift certificates. This also works well around the major holidays such as Christmas or Black Friday. 

You can learn more about creating Black Friday promotions for gift experiences here. 

4. Search Engine Optimisation 

Optimising your store for keywords is a highly effective method of attracting website traffic. 

Using a platform like Enjovia allows for SEO on product pages.

Step 5: Easy Redemption Process for Customers and Staff

The redemption process is one of the most essential features of selling gift certificates. 

Fast and straightforward gift certificate redemption minimises delays at check-in desks while quickly checking gift certificates for legitimacy. 

Enjovia makes it easy to keep track of and use gift certificates. Each has a unique code you can access quickly and redeem easily.  

When checking in or out, you can manually enter the product code or scan a QR code for quicker redemption. 

Customers can easily use gift certificates in-store, and staff can quickly check and redeem their validity. This is important for keeping wait times down and providing fast service.

How to sell more gift certificates online?

  1. Create product promotions for significant events in the year

You can use many events yearly to promote your gift certificates for more sales!

Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Black Friday, Christmas, Birthdays, and so on! 

Enjovia offers a gift certificate system that lets you add product promotions and discounts. This makes it easier to sell during special events and attracts more customers. You can apply these promotions to specific catalogues or products.

Set up a percentage discount, group discount, Buy- One- Get- One- Free promotions and many more!

  1. Enable product personalisation

Consumers are all about giving personalised gifts and ensuring they are extra special. Our store offers this for customers to customise their experiences within your product permissions.

At the back system, managers can create product add-ons for shoppers to create unique gifts. You can add a bottle of champagne, a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries, flowers, and so much more!

What products or services to sell as gift certificates?

In your gift certificate store, you can offer any of your business's products or services as a gift certificate. 

Creativity with products

For example, is your business a gift store that sells products? Create a hamper, list all your favourite products, and sell this as a gift certificate on your online store for different occasions. 

E.g . A birthday hamper for her.

Creativity with gift experiences

One of the best things when creating your gift experiences is flexibility. 

You can combine a few of your services together to create unique experiences. You’ll stand out from your competition with a fun experience they won’t experience elsewhere. 

Review your gift certificates regularly

Assessing their sales reporting is essential to make informed decisions about your products. You can determine which experiences are selling well and which ones aren't. 

While maintaining the traditional experiences is significant, focusing on the profitable ones is equally vital. 

To stay popular with your customers and increase your sales, it's critical to monitor your sales regularly.

How do I sell a gift certificate?

Selling a gift card is easy once you have the right system in place, along with the proper marketing. Here's how to get started:

  1. Get your gift certificate management system.
  2. Select your products/ services to turn them into gift certificates for your store. 
  3. Create your gift certificate products in your store.
  4. Train your staff in the buying and redeeming of your gift certificates. 
  5. Promote your gift vouchers on multiple platforms. 

For more ideas on social media promotions for your gift cards, read here: 

Wrapping it up- How to sell gift certificates online

Learning how to sell gift certificates online is a must-have for businesses today.

The Enjovia gift certificate system will boost your gift certificate sales, so get in touch!

Create a store today for free with Enjovia.

Recent posts

February 28, 2024

Gift card refund law

Navigating the Gift Card Refund Law: What You Need to Know ‍Gift cards, gift vouchers, gift certificates, and gift experiences have become increasingly popular options for gifting. They offer flexibility and choice to the recipient, allowing them to select their desired items or experiences. It's crucial to know the gifting regulations to protect your rights. […]
Read more
February 11, 2024

How do e gift cards work?

Do you ever wonder how do e gift cards work? In this post, we delve into e-gift cards, how to use them online and how to sell e gift cards. What is an e gift card? Gift cards have become a popular gift-giving option. They offer flexibility and convenience for both the giver and the […]
Read more

Talk to Us About Our Gift Card & Voucher Management System Today

Call us now
Privacy policy