In eCommerce business, it’s important to earn your customers’ trust as well as to increase the money they spend on your products. Gift marketing is one way you can do that. In fact, it is among the most effective approach that you can apply to your dropshipping business and see what it can bring to your online store. But what gift marketing is and how to implant it into your marketing campaign? So, let’s dig into the details.
What is gift marketing?
The purpose of marketing, in general, is to draw the attention of potential customers, to make them interested in your products or services then as a result boost the number of sales or the average purchase size for your business. A marketer can use different methods to achieve this purpose, which mainly is about offering something free in return.
These techniques are essentially gift marketing when the store gives away gift cards or free products to their people in an attempt to fulfill the mentioned marketing purposes. When you get your audiences’ attention, they are more likely to listen to your message, consider your products or services, and spread the word about your offers. Giving away gifts to your audiences can connect you with your customers much more than a banner.
Why does gift marketing work?
Gift-giving is a natural instinct in every human. People want to give and take to feel attention, warmth, and love. People like to exchange gifts on holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays, which makes gift-giving a strong and evolving part of our culture. So, it’s no wonder marketers want to use this gift-giving need to reach out to their existing and potential customers.
Gift marketing works in attracting and stimulating customers to buy for two reasons:
First, people like free stuff. If you offer a product or service for free to your customers, they will greatly appreciate the benefits of this generous offer. Given that, you already take a step forward in the competition and leave all your competitors behind.
Furthermore, gift-giving builds an emotional connection with your customers. Gifts can make them remember about your brand at least to consider for further purchase or refer it to their community over other stores in the same niche.
Do’s and Don’ts of Gift Marketing
It’s important to note what you should and should not do when it comes to gift marketing. There are some rules that you need to follow if you want to make the most of the gift marketing campaign to win over your customers as well as to boost your sales.
Do’s of Gift Marketing
First, take the extra step to personalize your gifts and send them to your customers. People love being treated specially. And those personalized gifts can help establish a stronger relationship with your potential customers. This is really important since the emotional connection to a brand can have a much higher lifetime value.
Second, be creative with your gifts. Any gift you choose will represent your brand. So be careful and creative to choose a good one that can be totally mind-blowing. You need to make your customers excited about your marketing gifts. Then your product branding surely can go a long way.
Finally, it’s a good idea to include a handwritten note addressed specifically to each recipient of your gift. You should also briefly explain why you’re sending gifts to them. Your customers will definitely appreciate your gifts and have a good impression on you.
Don’ts of Gift Marketing
First, you should not blow through your budget. You don’t have to spend a big amount of money on marketing gifts for your customers. Good gifts do not mean the expensive ones. Even a small gift can work really well.
Second, you should not send your gifts at last minute. Careful preparation is all you need if you want your gift marketing campaign to go well.
Lastly, you should not forget to follow-up. Don’t think that your job is just sending gifts. And that’s it. In fact, the follow-up process is an important step to your direct mail campaign. In your note, let your customers know that you will be following up, and how. After that, check if they receive your gifts and if they like them or not.
Marketing Gift Suggestions
We have mentioned that you should be creative to choose the right gifts for your customers, though we understand that it will be difficult for you sometimes to think of a nice one. So, in this part, we will give you some suggestions you can use for gift marketing in every industry that seem useful and practical to your customers. So, let’s check it out.
Marketing Gifts for Small Businesses
Your goal is to raise brand awareness and brand recognition. However, for small businesses, you don’t have much budget for your gift marketing campaign and you can feel hard to choose a good one. So, the best gift you should send is some affordable items that introduce customers to your company in a memorable way. In that way, a simple hand-written note, or a tote bag or backpack are highly recommended.
Marketing Gifts for Healthcare
Gifts we recommend for healthcare industry are printed collateral or posters which briefly explains your company’s products, or any sharable, savory treat or a Charity Choice eGift which can allow your customers to choose a charity they’d like to donate.
Marketing Gifts for Baby Products Industry
For baby products industry, we would recommend a specially designed baby bib or shirt, or blanket. Those gifts would tell your customers a lot about your product quality as well as your services so that they can have a good impression on your store.
Final Word
Gift marketing is now widely used in every marketing campaign to attract customers’ attention and raise brand awareness. Gift marketing has been playing an important role to build a good relationship with your customers and well as boost your business. As such, you should always be careful and creative with your marketing gifts and how you send them out.
No matter what marketing gifts you choose and what industry you are in, gift marketing will always bring you good results if you spend enough time and effort into it. It’s time to reach out to your potential customers and leave all your competitors behind!
Private Agent for Dropshipping Success