Woocommerce How To Do Gift Cards

WooCommerce: A Complete Guide to Selling Gift Cards

Introduction:

In today’s e-commerce landscape, offering gift cards is a *no-brainer* for driving sales, increasing brand awareness, and attracting new customers. Gift cards provide a versatile solution for last-minute shoppers, those unsure of what to buy, and even for businesses looking to reward employees or clients. WooCommerce, being a powerful and flexible platform, allows you to easily integrate gift card functionality into your online store. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to sell gift cards on WooCommerce, covering everything from choosing the right plugin to customizing your gift card options. We’ll also explore the benefits and potential drawbacks, ensuring you make an informed decision for your business.

Selling Gift Cards with WooCommerce: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are primarily two methods for implementing gift cards in WooCommerce: using a dedicated gift card plugin or leveraging a more complex e-commerce solution that includes built-in gift card features. For most users, a dedicated plugin provides the most streamlined and cost-effective solution. We’ll focus on that method here.

1. Choosing a Gift Card Plugin:

The WooCommerce plugin repository offers various gift card plugins. When selecting a plugin, consider the following features:

Customizable Designs: The ability to customize gift card templates with your branding, colors, and images. This allows for a consistent brand experience.
Variable Amounts: Allowing customers to choose custom gift card amounts is essential for flexibility. Look for plugins that support this.
Delivery Options: Consider whether you want to offer digital delivery (via email) and/or physical gift cards (shipped to the recipient).
Scheduling: The ability to schedule gift card delivery for specific dates (birthdays, anniversaries) is a great feature to have.
Reporting and Tracking: Good plugins provide reporting tools to track gift card sales, usage, and outstanding balances.
Compatibility: Ensure the plugin is compatible with your current version of WooCommerce and any other essential plugins you use.

Popular and well-regarded options include:

YITH WooCommerce Gift Cards: A robust plugin with a wide range of features.
Gift Cards by SomewhereWarm: A more basic option, suitable for simple gift card implementations.
WooCommerce Gift Cards: Developed by Woocommerce, a solid starting point.

For this example, we’ll assume you’re using a plugin with similar settings and options, though the names and specific settings might vary. Refer to your chosen plugin’s documentation for detailed instructions.

2. Installing and Activating the Plugin:

The installation process is the same as for any other WooCommerce plugin:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.

2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.

3. Search for your chosen gift card plugin (e.g., “YITH WooCommerce Gift Cards”).

4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

3. Configuring the Plugin Settings:

After activation, you’ll typically find a dedicated settings page for the gift card plugin under the WooCommerce menu. This is where you’ll configure the key aspects of your gift card offering. Here are some common settings:

General Settings:
Gift Card Product Type: The plugin might automatically create a custom product type for gift cards.
Gift Card Code Prefix: Define a prefix for the generated gift card codes (e.g., “GIFT-“).
Gift Card Code Length: Determine the length of the gift card codes.

Design and Customization:
Gift Card Templates: Upload your own images or use pre-designed templates for the gift card design.
Colors and Fonts: Customize the colors and fonts to match your brand.
Message Options: Allow customers to include a personalized message with the gift card.

Delivery Options:
Email Delivery: Enable or disable email delivery of gift cards.
Physical Delivery: Configure shipping options for physical gift cards (if offered).
Scheduled Delivery: Allow customers to schedule gift card delivery for a future date.

Pricing and Amount Options:
Predefined Amounts: Set specific gift card amounts (e.g., $25, $50, $100).
Custom Amounts: Allow customers to enter a custom gift card amount.
Minimum and Maximum Amounts: Set limits for custom gift card amounts.

4. Creating a Gift Card Product:

Many plugins automatically create a gift card product for you. If not, you may need to create a standard WooCommerce product and designate it as a “gift card” using the plugin’s options.

Go to Products > Add New.
Give the product a clear and descriptive title (e.g., “Gift Card”).
Write a compelling product description explaining the benefits of your gift cards.
Set the product type (if required by the plugin).
Configure the price options (if applicable – some plugins handle this dynamically).
Upload an attractive product image that represents your gift card.
Publish the product.

5. Testing the Gift Card Functionality:

Before officially launching your gift cards, thoroughly test the entire process:

Purchase a gift card using different amounts and delivery options.
Check the email delivery to ensure the gift card code and message are displayed correctly.
Apply the gift card code during checkout to verify that the discount is applied.
Monitor the gift card usage in the plugin’s reporting dashboard.

Example Code (for adding a custom amount field with PHP):

While most plugins provide these features, you can also use code for customization. This example adds a custom amount field. Use with caution and only if you’re comfortable with PHP and WordPress development.

 // Add a custom field to the product page for custom gift card amounts add_action( 'woocommerce_before_add_to_cart_button', 'add_custom_gift_card_amount_field' ); function add_custom_gift_card_amount_field() { global $product;

// Only show on gift card products (replace ‘gift-card’ with your product category/tag/ID)

if ( has_term( ‘gift-card’, ‘product_cat’, $product->ID ) ) {

echo ‘

‘;

echo ‘Enter Gift Card Amount:‘;

echo ”; // Example: Min $10, Max $500, Default $50

echo ‘

‘;

}

// Process the custom amount and add it to the cart

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_cart_item_data’, ‘add_custom_amount_to_cart’, 10, 3 );

function add_custom_amount_to_cart( $cart_item_data, $product_id, $variation_id ) {

if ( isset( $_POST[‘custom_amount’] ) && ! empty( $_POST[‘custom_amount’] ) ) {

$custom_amount = sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘custom_amount’] );

$cart_item_data[‘custom_amount’] = $custom_amount;

// Force the price to the custom amount (Requires further validation and security checks in a production environment)

$cart_item_data[‘line_total’] = $custom_amount; // Requires Woocommerce version compatibility check. This property may be deprecated or changed.

$cart_item_data[‘line_subtotal’] = $custom_amount; // Requires Woocommerce version compatibility check. This property may be deprecated or changed.

$cart_item_data[‘line_subtotal_tax’] = 0; // Requires Woocommerce version compatibility check. This property may be deprecated or changed.

$cart_item_data[‘line_tax’] = 0; // Requires Woocommerce version compatibility check. This property may be deprecated or changed.

// Prevent WooCommerce from grouping identical products by adding a unique ID

$cart_item_data[‘unique_id’] = md5( microtime().rand() );

}

return $cart_item_data;

}

// Display the custom amount in the cart and checkout

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_get_item_data’, ‘display_custom_amount_in_cart’, 10, 2 );

function display_custom_amount_in_cart( $item_data, $cart_item ) {

if ( isset( $cart_item[‘custom_amount’] ) ) {

$item_data[] = array(

‘name’ => ‘Gift Card Amount’,

‘value’ => wc_price( $cart_item[‘custom_amount’] )

);

}

return $item_data;

}

//Update the cart price based on the custom amount

add_action(‘woocommerce_before_calculate_totals’, ‘update_cart_item_price’);

function update_cart_item_price( $cart_object ) {

if ( is_admin() && ! defined( ‘DOING_AJAX’ ) )

return;

// Iterate through each cart item

foreach ( $cart_object->get_cart() as $cart_item_key => $cart_item ) {

// Check if the ‘custom_amount’ data exists in the cart item

if( isset( $cart_item[‘custom_amount’] ) ){

// Set the cart item price to the custom amount entered

$cart_item[‘data’]->set_price( $cart_item[‘custom_amount’] );

}

Important considerations when using the code:

* Security: Thoroughly validate and sanitize the `custom_amount` input to prevent malicious code injection. Check if the amount is within a reasonable range and doesn’t contain special characters.

* Error Handling: Implement error handling to gracefully handle cases where the customer enters an invalid amount.

* Woocommerce version compatibility: Woocommerce API changes regularly. Any changes to the cart object properties (`line_total`, `line_subtotal`, etc.) must be investigated and updated as appropriate.

6. Promoting Your Gift Cards:

Once your gift card system is set up, promote it effectively:

Display prominent banners and calls to action on your website.
Send email newsletters announcing your new gift card offering.
Promote gift cards on social media with eye-catching visuals.
Offer discounts or incentives for purchasing gift cards.
Consider running contests or giveaways featuring gift cards as prizes.
Highlight gift cards during the holiday season (Black Friday, Christmas, etc.).

Benefits of Selling Gift Cards:

Increased Sales: Gift cards drive sales by encouraging recipients to spend money in your store.
Attract New Customers: Gift cards can attract new customers Explore this article on How To Accept Tax With Woocommerce who might not have otherwise discovered your business.
Improved Cash Flow: You receive money upfront when a gift card is purchased, improving your cash flow.
Reduced Returns: Gift cards minimize the risk of returns since the recipient chooses what they want.
Brand Awareness: Gift cards increase brand awareness as they circulate among potential customers.
Great for Last-Minute Gifts: Gift cards provide a convenient solution for last-minute shoppers.

Potential Drawbacks:

Liability: Unredeemed gift cards represent a liability on your balance sheet.
Fraud: Gift cards can be susceptible to fraud, so it’s important to implement security measures.
Discounting: Gift card redemption can effectively act as a discount on your products.
Technical Issues: Learn more about How To Link Woocommerce To Etsy Plugin compatibility issues or technical glitches can disrupt the gift card process.
Maintenance: Regularly update the plugin and monitor its performance to ensure smooth operation.

Conclusion:

Selling gift cards on WooCommerce is a *valuable strategy* for boosting sales and expanding your customer base. By carefully selecting the right plugin, configuring its settings properly, and actively promoting your gift card offering, you can leverage its benefits to drive significant growth for your online store. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential drawbacks and implement appropriate measures to mitigate risks. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a successful gift card program that enhances your WooCommerce store and delights your customers.