As rewards and loyalty advocates, we love thinking about new and innovative ways businesses can use Visa and Eftpos gift cards for that purpose. Working with such a wide range of clients has exposed us to the endless possibilities out there and given us the opportunity to run some really great programs.
Often, we find our clients wondering how gift cards can be used to meet multiple business objectives, but not quite knowing where to start. To help with the process, we’ve compiled a list of the best ways to use gift cards.
1. CUSTOMER ACQUISITION
Objective: Increase the size of your customer database.
Ready to grow your customer database? Attract new customers to your business by sending an engaging DM with a fully branded eftpos gift card. This will give them incentive to shop. Even use a customised activation portal to collect customer data for future use.
2. PRIZES AND RAFFLES
Objective: Generate positive brand association.
Looking to generate brand awareness and positive brand association with your customers? Create a campaign that promotes a sweepstakes with purchase. Collect customer details through an online entry form and send a branded eftpos gift card to the winners. Extend your sweepstakes with a second chance draw for the non-winners to keep them engaged.
3. CROSS-SELL CAMPAIGNS
Objective: Increase sales of a specific product or service.
Have you identified opportunities where your business can increase sales? Then a cross-sell campaign is just what you need! You’ve chosen the product, now all that’s left is to identify the right customers to target and send them an incentive. A letter with a branded eftpos gift card will be just the right motivation for that customer to buy your new product.
4. CASH-BACK PROMOTIONS
Objective: Generate sales during a specific time frame.
Is there a time each year when business is slow? Would you like to increase sales during that time? Run a cash-back promotion that offers customers a branded eftpos gift card with their purchase. With the promise of a reward they can spend anywhere, you’re certain to get customers in the door. Support your campaign with a customised cardholder portal and cross-channel communications to maximise impact. To learn more about using gift cards, click here.
5. COMPETITIONS
Objective: Engage new and existing customers.
Ready to maximise engagement and show customers a little fun? Run a competition that offers a cash prize in the form of a branded eftpos incentive. Create an air of mystery and give customers incentive to purchase by hiding the cards in some of your products. Build a customised online portal for winners to claim their prize. Make sure to give everyone that extra seed of hope by offering different valued rewards, with smaller-valued rewards being easier to find than the large ones.
6. EVENT DAYS
Objective: Increase event attendance.
Events are a great excuse to engage your customers or staff. If your company has an upcoming milestone or there’s an event on your marketing calendar that should be promoted, you’ll want to communicate the details and provide incentive to attend. Include an eftpos gift card with your invitation – it’s a great way to say thanks to staff at company milestones or to encourage customers to shop during your event.
7. MARKET STUDY INCENTIVES
Objective: Increase participant quality.
If you’re organising a market study or survey, you’ll want to give people an incentive to participate, especially if it’s going to be a long and time-consuming process. Gift cards are an excellent alternative to petty cash. They will give your staff a more secure way to reward participants and even offer branding options to add your design or logo.
8. LOYALTY PROGRAMS
Objective: Increase revenue without increased costs.
Everyone knows that it’s cheaper (and often easier) to keep existing customers than to acquire new ones. Instead of increasing your budget for advertising, allocate a portion for customer loyalty. Create your program, build your database, and watch the sales roll in. You’ve already built the relationship, you just need to remind them that you’re there!
9. MEMBER RETENTION
Objective: Increased growth in return members.
The key to member retention is ensuring your member feels welcomed and recognised. Some of the simple but highly effective ways you can do this is include an eftpos gift card for paying multiple years of member fees in advance or introducing more members. Even recognising length of membership in the form of a branded eftpos gift card to say thanks can have a substantial impact on member retention.
10. PARTICIPANT REWARDS
Objective: Improve the quality of research data.
You already know that researching your target market and evaluating results is the best way to understand your customer. Optimise your results by offering participants an Eftpos or Visa gift card reward thanking them for their time and commitment. A versatile incentive will increase your pool of participants allowing you to choose those who qualify.
11. RESELLER REWARDS
Objective: Strengthen relationships with resellers and boost sales.
If you’re struggling to meet sales targets, a reseller reward program powered by gift cards can provide just the right incentive. Reseller reward programs can be set up very quickly and you can even use different reward denominations based on the sale size. Including your logo and or branding on the card will ensure maximum brand impact and remind your resellers how good you are to them!
12. REFERRAL PROGRAMS
Objective: Engage existing customers and acquire new ones.
One of your biggest brand ambassadors are the customers you already have. Why not use them to help grow your business? Contact your customers via direct mail or email and encourage them to spread the word about you. When one of their referrals makes a purchase, reward your customer with a branded eftpos gift card. This will show your appreciation and encourage them to make even more referrals. This is a great option for resellers as well!
13. STAFF RECOGNITION
Objective: Improve productivity
A happy staff member equals better performance. Sometimes we are so caught up in our own work, that we often forget to make time to recognise others. Implementing a staff recognition program can be very simple and achieve amazing results. Recognise your top performers with eftpos gift cards. They’ll love a reward they can use anywhere and you’ll even notice other employees striving to receive one. Tight budget? Design options are flexible – choose from standard, co-branded, or fully customised designs.
14. SALES INCENTIVES
Objective: Increase sales and staff motivation.
We can all fall into a pattern when it comes to our profession. And, despite our intentions, giving 100% can be a bit of a challenge, especially if we lack the proper motivation. If your sales team seems less than enthusiastic, it’s probably time to give them something bigger to work towards. Start a sales incentive program that rewards the top performer with an eftpos gift card. Denominations can even be customised as a percentage of the sale to encourage your team to go that extra mile.
