Five Reasons Not to Distribute a Gift Card

Gift cards are convenient and flexible, however they have 5 key limits for your brand. 

 

Reason #1: Gift cards are no personal; they lack a story.

A gift card can not recognize employees for their personal achievements or express  appreciation. Managers and those directly involved with performance can not articulate achievement to a group. A physical gift becomes a iconic image associated with gratitude and praise; creating motivation to achieve goals.  

Reason #2 Gift cards lack emotion

Even if a gift card presented to an employee or business partner is from their favorite store, the gift does not have the emotional connection of selecting the ideal gift or award. In fact, many recipients can not recall what they purchased with the card, which in turn forms no emotional connection.  

 

Reason #3 Gift cards provide no memory

Gift Cards are not memorable symbols of accomplishment or gratitude with the recipient or fellow co workers. The reward is easily forgotten. In fact, many recipients use the card for a purchase that is not intended for them personally.  

 

Reason #4 Gift cards are not always redeemed
Lost cards are not redeemed. Cards that expire are not redeemed. Cards that require too many hurdles to activate are not redeemed. Cards that carry a balance deemed too small after an initial purchase to motivate user decrease the value of the card. Some recipients "re-gift". Some recipients sell or trade gift cards.

 

Reason #5 Gift Cards Provide Low return on your investment

Recognizing an employee for good work should always increase employee performance and customer satisfaction; in turn making the company more profitable. Giving a gift to a key client or referral partner should keep you top of mind because you've touched their daily routine in a personal, emotional, memorable and lasting way.  

 

Looking for additional ways to add value in 2016? Check out our earlier posts this month regarding growth strategies for an abundant 2016.

Are You Positioned For Growth - part 2

 Where do you start when developing your message?

What are common reasons to brand?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Business to business message-New product or service, re-brand, merger, promotion, acquisition, cross sell or up sell 

•  Business to Consumer message-Thanks, traffic builder, encourage use or trial offer, gift with purchase

•  Internal-Employee motivation, improve morale or performance, retain employees, performance rewards, recognition

Ever heard a coach or a successful entrepreneur interviewed? Many encourage one to write down their goals; making the goal "REAL"- in the last couple years traditional calendars and journals have been replaced by moleskin leather journals suggesting a "special" place to record your thoughts. 

Our suggestion for achieving goals? Write 'um, post 'um- you will own 'um - any method can work- here are a few suggested methods.

traditional

 http://www.promotionalpartnersinc.com/product/Select_Weekly_Planner_Triumph_Calendars_623548

 or contemporary- 
 http://www.promotionalpartnersinc.com/product/Color_Pop_Bound_JournalBook_574027

Wanna have fun? Share your goals in a picture story- 

http://www.promotionalpartnersinc.com/product/Magic_Oval_341702

What are your top goals? Who plans to collaborate with their brand consultant prior to implementing new campaigns for 2016?

Are You Positioned For Growth? Part 1

As we race to the end of the year, many of our clients will begin thinking of new strategies for 2016. We are no exception. Our industry grinds to a halt the last couple weeks of each year. Internally we use this time to re-tool, re-focus and re-fuel our direction for the coming year so we are "ready".

If you could find a money tree in 2016, what would it look like? How large would it need to be? What denomination of bills would need to be yielded each year? In other words, have you quantified the number of new clients needed to grow your company's revenue. How ill you achieve that growth? New clients or generating more revenue with your existing client base? Do know what the figures look like to implement changes in your operations? 

Being able to answer these types of questions helps us suggest the right types of promotional pieces. Knowing your objectives and the long term value of your ideal client base helps to determine the return on investment required to achieve your growth goals each year. 


Define your expect result, what action will occur due to your promotion?

• What is the message/call to action with the promotions you plan to implement

• Determine the medium for developing that message 

• Plan for when and how you will measure the results

• Do you have a mechanism in place or plan to process the leads using your promotional campaign? 

• Will have a plan to implement strategies when grown occurs?

• What major point do you want to communicate with branded pieces?  

• What change will occur with your message?

• What's the schedule and method of distribution you plan to use?

• Will you need fulfillment or inventory?

• How will this piece be part of your message related to your objectives?   

• What is your target audience? 
• Are there specific demographics related to age, income, gender, geography to consider in product selection?
• This there a theme tied to the promotion?
• What additional marketing collateral needs to be considered. 

           Part 2- where do you start with developing a message?