How To Sell Gift Cards Woocommerce

How to Sell Gift Cards with WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

Want to boost your sales and attract new customers? Selling gift cards is a fantastic way to do it! They’re a popular choice for presents, and offering them on your WooCommerce store is easier than you might think. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Think about it: your friend Sara loves your handmade jewelry. Her birthday is coming up, and her husband, Mark, is stumped on what to get her. A gift card from your WooCommerce store solves his problem! Sara gets something she truly wants, and you get a guaranteed sale. That’s the power of gift cards!

Let’s dive in and learn how to implement this winning strategy.

Why Sell Gift Cards on Your WooCommerce Store?

Before we get into the “how,” let’s quickly cover the “why.” Gift cards offer several benefits for your business:

Increased Sales: Gift cards bring in upfront revenue. People buy them, and eventually, someone will redeem them for a purchase.
Attract New Customers: Gift cards often end up in the hands of people who haven’t shopped with you before, introducing your brand to a new audience.
Boost Brand Awareness: When someone gives a gift card, they’re essentially recommending your store to the recipient.
Reduce Returns: Recipients can choose exactly what they want, minimizing the chances of returns and exchanges.
Improved Cash Flow: You receive payment when the gift card is purchased, even if it’s not redeemed immediately.

Choosing the Right WooCommerce Gift Card Plugin

WooCommerce doesn’t have built-in gift card functionality, so you’ll need a plugin. There are several options available, both free and paid. Here are a few popular choices:

Gift Cards by SomewhereWarm (Premium): A robust and feature-rich option with advanced customization options.
YITH WooCommerce Gift Cards (Free & Premium): A popular choice with a free version for basic functionality and a premium version for advanced features like scheduling.
WooCommerce Gift Cards (by WebToffee) (Premium): Another strong contender with a focus on user-friendliness and customization.

For this guide, we’ll use the Gift Cards by SomewhereWarm plugin as it’s a comprehensive and well-supported option. The principles are similar across most plugins, so you’ll still find this guide useful even if you choose a different one.

Important: Always read reviews and check the plugin’s compatibility with your WooCommerce version before installing.

Installing and Configuring the Plugin

1. Purchase and Download: Purchase the Gift Cards by SomewhereWarm plugin from their website and download the plugin ZIP file.

2. Upload and Install: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin. Upload the ZIP file and click “Install Now,” then “Activate Plugin.”

3. Configure Settings: Navigate to WooCommerce > Gift Cards. Here, you will find various settings to configure the plugin. Let’s go through some of the key settings:

General: Configure the gift card product type, code length, and other general settings.
Email: Customize the email that is sent to the recipient when a gift card is purchased.
Design: Design how the gift card looks on your website. This includes colors, fonts, and images.
Pricing: Configure the predefined gift card values your customers can choose from.

Creating Your First Gift Card Product

Now that the plugin is installed and configured, let’s create your first gift card product.

1. Go to Products > Add New: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Products > Add New.

2. Give Your Gift Card a Title: Give your gift card a descriptive title, like “Gift Card” or “eGift Card.”

3. Set the Product Data: In the “Product data” dropdown, select “Gift Card.” This is where the plugin’s features become active.

4. Pricing: Set the pricing options for your gift card. The SomewhereWarm plugin allows you to configure predefined prices, or let the customer Discover insights on How To Configure User Registration Woocommerce choose their own amount within a specified range. Example: predefined prices of $25, $50, $75, and $100.

5. Delivery Method: Choose how the gift card will be delivered:

Email: The gift card code will be emailed to the recipient.
Printable: The customer can download and print the gift card.

6. Email Settings: Customize the email subject and message that will be sent to the recipient. You can use placeholders like `{giftcard_code}` and `{sender_name}` to personalize the email.

7. Set a Product Image: Upload an attractive image for your gift card. This will be the image displayed on your product page.

8. Publish: Click “Publish” to make your gift card product live on your store.

Promoting Your Gift Cards

Now that your gift cards are available, it’s time to promote them! Here are a few ideas:

Feature them prominently on your homepage: Add a banner or section dedicated to gift cards.
Include them in your email marketing campaigns: Send out emails promoting gift cards, especially around holidays and special occasions.
Promote them on social media: Share images and videos of your gift cards on your social media channels.
Offer discounts on gift card purchases: Run promotions like “Get 10% off when you buy a gift card.”
Add them to your navigation menu: Make it easy for customers to find your gift card product.

Example: A Holiday Gift Card Promotion

Imagine it’s December. You could run a campaign like this:

Subject: Stuck on Gift Ideas? Give the Gift of Choice with [Your Store Name] Gift Cards!

Body:

“This holiday season, give the gift of something they’ll *really* love! A [Your Store Name] gift card is the perfect present for anyone on your list. They can choose from our wide selection of [mention product categories, e.g., handmade soaps, vintage clothing, gourmet coffee].

Plus, for a limited time, get 10% off all gift card purchases! Use code HOLIDAYGIFT at checkout.

Click here to purchase a gift card: [Link to your gift card product page]”

Testing and Troubleshooting

Purchase a test gift card: Make sure the purchase process is smooth and the recipient receives the email correctly.
Redeem the gift card: Test the redemption process to ensure it works as expected.
Check your error logs: If you encounter any issues, check your WooCommerce error logs for clues.
Contact plugin support: If you’re still having trouble, reach out to the plugin developer for assistance.

Conclusion

Selling gift cards with WooCommerce is a powerful way to boost your sales and attract new customers. By choosing the right plugin, configuring it correctly, and promoting your gift cards effectively, you can unlock a valuable revenue stream for your business. So go ahead, give it a try, and watch your sales soar!