Many people love getting birthday cards in the mail. Even Millennials and Gen Z-ers say they prefer to receive physical greeting cards over digital ones.
Now imagine their excitement when they open their personalized birthday card and find a gift card to one of their favorite establishments.
Client gift cards give your most loyal customers a reason to treat themselves on their special day, whether that’s grabbing a coffee or enjoying a meal out. They also create a positive association with your brand. Gift cards are a little token of appreciation that show clients you value their business.
However, there are some who view gift cards as excessive or impersonal. Let’s cover some of the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself!
Choosing whether gift cards are right for your business
Experts valued the global gift card market at $984.3 billion in 2023 and expect that number to reach $3.09 trillion by 2030. Gift cards can be a great way to start a conversation with a client you haven’t interacted with in a while, or reward the client who recommends you to their friends and family.
The beauty of gift cards is their versatility. Not everyone likes coffee, but almost everyone can find a tasty treat for themselves at a coffee shop.
Wondering whether sending gift cards for business clients is the right tactic for you? Here are some of the pros and cons to consider.
Pros of sending gift cards
Boost customer loyalty
The market is crowded with businesses vying for our attention 24/7. Businesses that differentiate their services and offerings will rise to the top. This is also true for businesses that go the extra mile to make their clients feel special.
Customer loyalty is a wildly underappreciated aspect of customer relations. Companies have a 60 to 70 percent chance of selling to an existing customer and only a 5 to 20 percent chance of selling to new prospects.
Gift cards can boost customer loyalty and make customers feel more connected to your business.
Improve top-of-mind awareness
A birthday gift, no matter how small, can be a pleasant surprise that delights your customers. When they have a positive experience with your brand, they’re more likely to associate your business with those positive emotions.
Maybe they think of your brand while going through the drive-thru and redeeming their gift card, or when they take the first bite of a delicious meal, compliments of your business. Either way, sending client gift cards can cement your business presence in customers’ minds so that when they need your service, your name is the first to come to mind.
Build a more personal relationship with clients
Many client relationships are transactional. A client might engage with your business frequently and then drop off after you’ve delivered a product or service. In many industries, this is a normal part of business. But too little contact may lead to an increase in customer churn.
Sending gift cards to your business clients can help keep them engaged. They show clients you view them as more than a transaction and want to stay connected. Many business professionals find that sending client gift cards can also help them shed their corporate persona and interact with clients on a more personal level.
Cons of sending gift cards
Investing in the expense
Gift cards may be too expensive for some businesses. For newer businesses especially, gift cards may not fit into their marketing budgets.
However, with a set gift card budget, you can strategically choose which clients will receive gift cards. A well-defined budget can make client gift cards attainable for any business.
Choosing a thoughtful gift card
You could send Amazon gift cards to all of your clients. But the lack of originality can come back to haunt you. Your clients may view the gift as impersonal or insincere. At the same time, hand-selecting a gift card for every client can be too time-consuming.
The key is often personalizing the birthday card. For example, if you’re sending an Amazon gift card and you know the client recently bought a new home, you might include a note like, “Here’s a little something extra to make your new house a home.”
Send a gift card that your clients will love
If we’ve convinced you that you should be sending gift cards to your clients, you’re probably wondering about the logistics, like when and how to send your gift cards.
We’ve included some recommendations below.
What type of gift card should you send?
Start by brainstorming some gift card ideas that complement your business, along with a few universal ideas.
Let’s say you’re a financial advisor and you send a Starbuck’s gift card to a client. Your message might say something like, “A personalized financial plan is like your favorite coffee—brewed just for you. Enjoy a cup on me!”
You may also want to give yourself different dollar amounts to work with. While a $10 gift card to Starbucks might be perfect for one client, a $50 gift card might be more ideal for a client who’s constantly sending new business your way.
When should you send gift cards to clients?
Timing is important when you’re sending a gift card. You’ll want to send a birthday gift card at least a week before the client’s birthday to make sure it arrives in time. The Birthday Company also offers greeting cards and digital gifts you can send to clients for major holidays and milestones.
If you’re sending a card and gift for a major holiday, be sure to plan ahead so you can beat the rush. You might even send out a gift card for one of the random holidays throughout the year to make your business stand out.
How should you send your gift cards?
You can either send your gift card in an email or mail it out. We recommend dropping it in the mail. Postal mail requires a little extra effort, but it’s well worth it. Your recipient will appreciate the gesture and be more likely to remember your thoughtfulness.
With The Birthday Company, you can send out automated birthday gifts without adding more tasks to your to-do list. We take care of the entire process, from choosing a gift card to shipping it to the client.
Start sending automated birthday gifts to clients
Gift cards can be a great investment for companies that want to build stronger relationships with their clients. A gift card—especially one inside a personalized birthday card—can show clients you value them and care about their business.
Request a free sample birthday card for your business today!
Still not convinced?
Have a free sample of one of our business birthday cards mailed to you and see for yourself why you should use The Birthday Company for all your corporate birthday card needs.