There are so many reasons to start selling gift cards. It builds awareness in your band, gives customers a reason to work or shop with you, expands your reach, gives you a great promotional opportunity, generates revenue and so much more.

Basically, selling gift cards is a no-brainer. And, with a little know-how, you can make selling gift cards even easier by doing so through your website. Here’s how:

7 steps to start selling gift cards online

Step #1. Build an online store

One of the best ways to start selling gift cards online is by building your very own online store that allows you to start selling digital gift cards. The Marketing 360® Shop App makes the process quick and easy.

Having an online store for gift cards is tremendous because it allows you to branch out to selling other products online as well. This is perfect for branded merchandise, like caps or bags, and anything else you may want to sell.

Alternatively, you can sell gift cards on virtually any website platform — from Marketing 360 Websites to WordPress — with the help of Payment Forms. Payment forms allow you to skip the shopping cart and start selling gift cards, fast.

Step #2. Create a dedicated page on your website

Having a simple, professional online store — or a Payment Form — is a great start, but you’ll sell more gift cards (and bring more attention to the fact that you’re selling gift cards), by creating a dedicated page on your website for gift cards.

A gift card page will make it easy for your customers to buy gift cards for themselves, as well as their friends and family. Send your visitors right to your gift card page from ads, social media posts and beyond to boost sales and drive results.

Step #3. Send out digital gift cards via email

Gift cards are a wonderful first product to start selling online, because they don’t have to be physical. There’s no need to track or calculate shipping costs, and there’s no inventory that you need to keep track of. You merely need to email your customers their digital gift card.

With the Marketing 360 Nurture app, you can create automated emails with branded digital gift cards that are automatically sent to customers right after they purchase a gift card on your website. They can use their gift card to make other purchases on your website or show you the email when they visit your business in person.

Step #4. Keep track of digital gift cards

Once you start selling gift cards, you need a good way to keep track of them — how much money is on each gift card, how much has been spent on the gift card, how much is left on the gift card, etc.

Managing gift cards can be a lot to keep track of, but the good news is that the Marketing 360 Shop App makes it easy and allows you to do it all from one place. It’s the ideal solution for local businesses looking to simplify gift card sales and management.

Step #5. Monitor used gift cards

Gift cards can be a fantastic way for small businesses to drive revenue, but only if you have an effective way to mark used gift cards as used. The last thing you want is to redeem a gift card over and over again without knowing it.

Whether a customer has used their gift card online or in person, you need a good way to designate which gift cards have been used and which gift cards are still open. You can do that — and so much more — in the Shop App.

Step #6. Advertise your gift cards

Selling gift cards is a great idea for small businesses in a variety of different industries, but it won’t do you much good if no one knows that you’re selling gift cards. Just as you would with any other new service or product, you need to advertise.

Get the word out about your gift cards by launching multi-channel ads on the channels most popular with your customers, like Google, Facebook, Instagram and beyond. Plus, don’t forget to spread the word organically with social posts and blogs.

Step #7. Grow with a high-margin product

There are so many benefits to selling gift cards on your website, but one of the biggest reasons is that it’s a high-margin product that can help to drive revenue and grow your business.

Digital gift cards don’t cost you anything to sell. Plus, when someone buys a gift card, they’re spending money before actually purchasing a product or receiving a service, and since at least some of the gift cards you sell will go unspent partially or wholly, it’s a great way to increase your bottom line.

Start selling gift cards online today with the Shop App! See plans and pricing.