Cyber Monday is one of the year’s biggest shopping events, with millions of customers looking for deals and promotions online. Offering Cyber Monday gift certificates is a strategic way for BigCommerce merchants to attract new customers, increase the average order value, and encourage repeat purchases. This article will walk you through actionable steps to create, customize, and promote these for your BigCommerce store.
Understanding the Value of Cyber Monday Gift Certificates
Convenience for Shoppers
One of the greatest advantages of these is the convenience they offer shoppers. A digital gift certificate is the perfect solution for customers looking for quick and easy gift options. It allows recipients to choose what they want, reducing the stress of finding the perfect gift.
Boosting Sales and Engagement
Cyber Monday gift certificates don’t just benefit customers; they can significantly boost your sales. You’re opening the door to multiple future purchases by offering gift certificates. The initial sale may be for the certificate itself, but when customers redeem them, they often spend more than the certificate value, increasing your average order value.
How to Create Cyber Monday Gift Certificates in BigCommerce
Creating Cyber Monday gift certificates on BigCommerce is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to get started:
Step 1: Enable Gift Certificates in BigCommerce
Before selling these, you must enable the feature in your BigCommerce admin panel. BigCommerce provides this as a default feature, making it easy for merchants to offer gift certificates as part of their product offerings.
Guide to Enable Gift Certificates:
- Log in to your BigCommerce admin account.
- Navigate to your BigCommerce store’s admin dashboard, where you can manage all aspects of your store.
- Access Store Settings.
- Go to the Store Setup section on the left-side menu and click on Store Settings.
- Locate the Gift Certificates Tab.
- In the Store Settings section, find and select the Gift Certificates tab. This is where you can enable and configure gift certificate options.
Step 2: Customize Gift Certificate Options
Once you’ve enabled gift certificates, you can customize the options to suit your store’s needs. Offering customizable gift certificates gives your customers the flexibility to select the amount, expiration date, and include a personalized message, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
Key Customization Options:
- Certificate Value:
- Set default price values for your gift certificates. Commonly used amounts are $25, $50, $100, and custom values that customers can enter. This flexibility allows customers to choose how much they wish to spend based on their budget.
- Expiration Date:
- Decide whether you want to set expiration dates for your gift certificates. Many merchants offer certificates that expire within a year, while others allow gift certificates with no expiration date. This can create a sense of urgency for customers to use their certificates sooner, driving quicker sales.
- Personalized Messages:
- Allow customers to include a personalized message with the gift certificate. This feature adds a thoughtful touch to the gift certificate, especially during the holiday season when many people are buying gifts for others. Customers can add messages like “Happy Holidays” or “Enjoy your shopping spree!”
Step 3: Design Your Gift Certificate
The design of your gift certificates plays a crucial role in attracting customers. A well-designed certificate can entice customers to purchase, especially if it aligns with your brand’s style and the holiday season’s festive spirit.
Tips for Designing an Attractive Gift Certificate:
- Branding:
- Make sure your gift certificate reflects your brand identity. Use your store’s logo, colors, and fonts to ensure the certificate design is consistent with your brand image. This builds trust and makes the gift certificate feel like a natural extension of your store.
- Holiday-Themed Design:
- Since Cyber Monday kicks off the holiday shopping season, incorporating festive elements in your gift certificate design can make it more appealing. Consider using holiday colors like red, green, gold, or blue and winter-themed illustrations such as snowflakes, gift boxes, or Christmas trees. A festive design will resonate with customers who are buying holiday gifts.
- Professional Layout:
- Ensure that the layout is clean, professional, and easy to read. Include all relevant information, such as the certificate value, expiration date, redemption instructions, and space for personalized messages.
Promoting Cyber Monday Gift Certificates on Your BigCommerce Store
Creating Cyber Monday gift certificates is only half the battle. Promoting them effectively is essential for driving sales and ensuring your customers know this option. Here are some strategies to promote your gift certificates:
Create Dedicated Landing Pages
A dedicated landing page for gift certificates can significantly boost visibility and sales. Use this page to showcase the benefits of buying gift certificates, display your custom designs, and explain how easy it is to purchase and redeem them. Include calls-to-action (CTAs) encouraging shoppers to buy gift certificates as holiday presents.
Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing is an effective way to promote these certificates to your existing customer base. Create a targeted email campaign highlighting gift certificates’ convenience and flexibility, especially for last-minute shoppers. Include a link to the dedicated landing page or direct customers to buy gift certificates straight from the email workflows.
BigCommerce Automation – Best solution for Preparing Cyber Monday Gift Certificates for customers
Managing Cyber Monday gift certificates efficiently can be a time-consuming task, especially during the holiday rush. However, using automation tools like BigCommerce Automation by GritGlobal can make the process smoother and more efficient.
BigCommerce Automation allows you to automate repetitive tasks, such as sending gift certificates to customers, managing promotions, and tracking sales. You can set up workflows that trigger automatic gift certificate emails after a customer purchases, ensuring a seamless and personalized shopping experience. By automating the management of these certificates, you can focus on other aspects of your business and ensure a smooth operation during the busiest shopping day of the year.
Conclusion
Preparing and promoting Cyber Monday gift certificates on BigCommerce is a smart strategy for increasing sales, enhancing customer loyalty, and driving engagement during the holiday season. For more information on how GritGlobal can help you to prepare these, contact us today!
