Selling gift cards online is an excellent way to create a new revenue stream and keep your brand top of mind. That is, if your customers know you’re offering them! If you’re not leveraging social media to do this, you’re likely missing out on easy sales and exposure. In this guide, we’ll show you how to promote gift cards on social media to capture shoppers’ attention and encourage more gift card purchases.
Let’s get started!
Why Use Social Media To Promote Gift Cards?
The use of social media has evolved–these platforms are no longer just hubs for entertainment or connection. They also influence the buying decisions of customers. According to industry insights, a whopping 82% of shoppers use social media for product discovery, and 87% say it plays a role in their shopping decisions.
As more customers use social media to shop and research products, social commerce revenue is expected to skyrocket, projected to hit over one trillion U.S. dollars by 2028. This is a massive opportunity you don’t want to miss!
Beyond the numbers, social media gives you the space to get creative with gift card marketing. You can play around with videos, collaborate with influencers, and feature user-generated content to showcase your gift cards to shoppers (more on these strategies in a bit!). Gift cards also make great content–they’re easy to feature during seasonal promotions and occasions.
Want to learn more about gift cards and how to offer them? Check out our complete guide here. 👉
How To Promote Gift Cards On Social Media
Now that we understand why social media is a valuable tool for gift card promotion, let’s dive into the action part! It doesn’t have to be complicated. Below, we’ll discuss practical yet creative ideas you can implement today to spark interest and drive more gift card sales.
1. Host a social media gift card giveaway
If you’re looking to generate buzz and create excitement around your gift cards, you can’t go wrong with hosting a giveaway! Social media giveaways give shoppers a compelling reason to interact with your brand. Gift cards also make great prizes– they’re flexible, useful, and encourages winners (and participants) to explore your store!
Give customers a chance to win by asking them to like your post, share it with a friend, or follow your account. These actions boost engagement and introduce your brand to potential new customers. There are a lot of ways you can structure your giveaway, but here are a few tips to make it more impactful:
- Set a giveaway deadline to create urgency
- Tie it to a special event like your store’s anniversary, a product launch, or a holiday
- Get clear with your prize (ex: a $50 gift card)
- Use eye-catching visuals of your gift cards or products
- Pin the post to keep it visible during the promo period
If you’re using a plugin like WooCommerce Gift Cards, you can easily create custom-value gift cards to give away. Once the winner is selected, you can send the gift card via email instantly.
2. Pin gift card posts on your profile
Social media moves fast, and even a well-timed post can easily get lost in the shuffle. An easy way to keep your gift card promotion visible is by pinning it to your profile.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) allow you to “pin” your posts at the top of your brand’s page. This is especially useful if you’re running a limited-time gift card offer or promoting it during key seasons like the holidays.
When exploring how to promote gift cards on social media more consistently, this is one of the easiest strategies to start with. By doing this, every shopper who visits your brand profile sees your gift card promotion.
3. Collaborate with influencers
Influencer marketing is one of the most powerful ways to build brand trust and reach new audiences. According to industry data, nearly half (49%) of today’s shoppers make purchases at least once a month because of influencer content.
By partnering with content creators, you can introduce your gift cards (and your brand!) to people who may not have discovered your store otherwise. Begin by identifying influencers who speak to your target market and align with your brand values. Then, reach out with a compelling offer, such as a gift card in exchange for a post about their experience shopping with your store.
Like most of the strategies in this guide, there are many ways you can go about this. For example, you can:
- Ask them to include your gift card in a holiday gift guide or themed post
- Encourage them to share an unboxing or shopping haul using your gift card
- Invite them to run a joint gift card giveaway for even more exposure
4. Link gift cards to your brand bio
Here’s another easy yet impactful tip: Include gift card links on your brand’s social media bio. It’s one of the first things shoppers see when they land on your page, making it a prime spot to promote special offers. This is especially useful during the holiday season–shoppers are on the lookout for the best gifts, and gift cards are one of the most popular options!
📝 TIP: You can also use link-in-bio tools like Linktree or Later to compile your shop’s most important links. Just make sure to add a compelling call to action for each link (e.g., “Shop Gift Cards here!”) to guide shoppers. If you’re using WooCommerce Gift Cards, you can link directly to your WooCommerce gift card product page.
5. Feature user-generated content
User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool, not just for trust-building but also for conversions. Industry research reveals that UGC results in 29% higher web conversions compared to other types of campaigns.
It adds up when you really think about it! Customers who see real people using your products or sharing their positive experiences with your brand are more likely to trust you, explore your offerings, and make a purchase. Here are some creative ways to use UGC in your gift card marketing:
- Repost customer content showing what they bought with a gift card
- Share testimonials or reviews from gift card recipients or buyers
- Highlight stories from people who gave your gift cards as presents
- Create a custom hashtag and encourage customers to tag you when they redeem a gift card
You can even gamify the experience to encourage more participation. For instance, you can reward customers who tag your account and use your hashtag with store credits they can use for their next order.
📝 TIP: Looking for an easy way to add a store credit system to your WooCommerce store for free? Try Advanced Coupons! This powerful plugin extends the default WooCommerce coupon features and lets you issue store credits with ease–perfect for rewarding customers or managing refunds.
6. Run gift card campaigns during holidays and special occasions
Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and other special occasions naturally encourage gift-giving, making them a perfect opportunity to let shoppers know you offer gift cards! There are plenty of creative ways to use your social media platforms to promote gift cards, depending on the occasion.
For instance, you can:
- Post holiday gift countdowns and highlight gift cards as the perfect last-minute gift
- Create a gift guide carousel showcasing products that pair well with a gift card
If you’re wondering how to promote gift cards on social media more consistently, building them into your holiday content calendar is a great place to start! Customers are already in shopping mode–a little nudge can encourage them to choose your store for their gifting needs
Frequently Asked Questions
How to run a gift card promotion?
Begin by identifying your business goal for running the offer. For instance, do you want to drive more sales during a specific sales season or reward loyal customers? Once your goal is clear, decide on the type of promotion that supports it.
For example, if you’re aiming to boost sales during a specific season, you can create limited-edition themed gift cards. If your goal is loyalty-related, consider offering a free gift card after a certain number of purchases. Use all your marketing platforms to spread the message and let customers know about the offer.
If you’re using WooCommerce Gift Cards, it’s easy to set custom values, personalize your gift cards, and deliver them instantly via email, making your promotions easy to set up.
How to boost gift card sales?
Visibility is key, so make sure your audience knows you offer gift cards. Promote them regularly on social media, highlight them on your website, and include them in special announcements and promotions. Some creative ways to boost visibility include running a gift card giveaway, collaborating with influencers, or running an exclusive gift card promotion to drive urgency.
How to easily sell gift cards?
The easiest way to sell gift cards on your WooCommerce store is by using a plugin like WooCommerce Gift Cards. This plugin allows you to set custom gift card values, send digital gift cards via email, and manage everything directly from your dashboard.
Conclusion
If you’re already selling digital gift cards on WooCommerce, make sure your audience knows about them! Leveraging social media can help you boost visibility, spark interest in your gift cards, and engage your customers. In this guide, we learned how to promote gift cards on social media through six creative ways:
- Host a gift card giveaway
- Pin gift card posts
- Collaborate with influencers
- Link gift cards to your brand bio
- Feature user-generated content
- Run holiday gift card promotions
We also introduced you to helpful tools like WooCommerce Gift Cards, a plugin that makes it easy to sell and manage digital gift cards directly from your WooCommerce store!
Which of these ideas are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments!
