An electronic gift certificate is becoming a much accepted and very popular present in the modern, hectic and crazy world that we live in. No longer are gift cards and gift certificates thought of as impersonal and unimaginative. An increasing amount of people are choosing to give them out as gifts based on sheer convenience and knowing that a gift like that can't go wrong. The recipient can use it towards whatever it is they like.
Since the online gift market is increasing so fast throughout the past few years, providing an electronic gift cards program is turning out to be an essential aspect of major ecommerce businesses. Selling gift certificates is no longer an exclusive option offered by well established online retailers. In fact small online businesses need to include it just to remain competitive. It's a great way to increase sales revenue both during key holidays and regularly throughout the year.
There are a number of advantages of providing your customers with a gift cards program. Most importantly it's one more channel for you to make a sale which equals more purchases and more income for you. There is no inventory therefore no returns to worry about. For the customer, you are offering them more convenience and choice. The traffic to your website will increase, because both the sender and recipient must go on your website, and a recipient who has never visited your website before is considered a free customer acquisition. Last but not least, any unredeemed credits turn into bonus profits.
Specific features are necessary in order to properly handle the giving and receiving of an online gift certificate. The main features of a gift cards program include:
- Auto generation
- Customization options to mimick the overall look of your
- Secure distribution
- Accept different forms of payment
- Online gift certificate or by mail options
In addition, it is important to not just provide gift cards or gift certificates to your customers, you must also think of creative ways to distribute and promote it to either retain existing customers or acquire new ones. An online gift cards program can be a great tool for your customer service. Use them strategically as compensation for unsatisfied customers who have complaints about your product or service. It is critical to not only make sure they remain a satisfied customer but even more important to prevent them from spreading their negative feedback regarding your site all over the web.
An online gift card can also be a great promotional tool. Increase awareness about your online store across the internet by holding contests and rewarding the winner with a specific dollar amount to spend on your products. The great thing about this tactic is that not only will the winner be exposed to your products, but all the other participants who were unfamiliar with your business now have a good idea of what you have to offer. The biggest benefit of starting contests is the ability to acquire the contact information of all of the participants. You can then further build a relationship with them and get them to become a potential customer. Another cool tip is to use it as a reward or thank you for customers that are involved in promoting your store to their friends and family members. All of that free word of mouth advertisement is well worth the price of the card.
Providing your customers with the option of purchasing an electronic gift card does not have to be difficult. As long as you have the right gift cards program, you will be able to sell gift cards alongside your store products with just a few clicks in the admin area. It's almost effortless for you and adds a whole new dimension to your business.
What you need is a full service all-in-one hosting, design, and marketing software made specifically for e-commerce businesses. One that lets you set up your store in minutes, and provides powerful tools to help with not only electronic gift cards, but also SEO, product marketing and mobile commerce. Check out the best possible e-commerce solutions available at http://www.makeanonlinestore.com and try them out yourself absolutely free, no credit card required!
