Gift cards have become a strategic tool for eCommerce stores, and for good reason. They offer a flexible gifting option, boost customer loyalty, and can expose your brand to new customers through gifts. For WooCommerce store owners, enabling customers to purchase gift cards and email them directly to their friends can dramatically enhance sales and user experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create professional, customizable, and easily deliverable WooCommerce gift cards that customers can email to their friends.
Why Offer Gift Cards Through Your WooCommerce Store?
Before diving into the how-to, it’s important to understand the value that gift cards bring to your store:
- Revenue Boost: Many gift card recipients spend more than the card’s value.
- Customer Acquisition: Every gift card sent brings a potential new customer to your store.
- Reduced Returns: When customers choose their own products, return rates drop.
Given these advantages, implementing a gift card system becomes not just a feature, but a marketing and sales strategy.
Choosing the Right Plugin
The quickest and most efficient way to set up gift cards in WooCommerce is by using a plugin. Here are three high-quality, trusted plugins that offer email delivery of gift cards:
- PW WooCommerce Gift Cards – Simple to set up and supports email delivery.
- YITH WooCommerce Gift Cards – Offers various customization options, email templates, and scheduling.
- WebToffee WooCommerce Gift Cards – Lets you create physical or digital gift cards, ideal for diverse needs.
For this guide, we’ll use YITH WooCommerce Gift Cards due to its balance of features, ease of use, and solid support.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Email-Enabled WooCommerce Gift Cards
Follow these steps to set up a professional gift card system on your WooCommerce store:
Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin
- Navigate to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Add New. Search for “YITH WooCommerce Gift Cards.”
- Install and activate the plugin.
Once activated, you’ll see a new option in your menu labeled Gift Cards.
Step 2: Configure Gift Card Settings
Now, head over to YITH > Gift Cards > Settings. Key configurations include:
- Email Sending: Ensure you enable automatic email delivery to the recipient after purchase.
- Custom Sender Message: Allow customers to write a personal note when sending the gift card.
- Scheduling: Enable scheduling for birthday or holiday gifts.
- Uploadable Templates: Provide multiple design options for holidays and special occasions.
This configuration ensures the gift card experience is seamless and user-friendly.
Step 3: Create a Gift Card Product
- Go to Products > Add New.
- Title the product, for example, “$25 Gift Card.”
- Select the Product Data type as Gift Card.
- Set fixed price or variable pricing options (e.g., $10, $25, $50).
In the product details section, configure delivery options including:
- Recipient email address field.
- Allow sender to add a message.
- Choose a delivery date and time.
Once completed, publish your gift card product. It’s now available for customer purchase and delivery.
Step 4: Customize Email Templates
Next, customize the email that gets sent along with the gift card to align with your store’s branding. Navigate to:
YITH > Gift Cards > Templates
Here, you can edit the email layout, upload your logo, and adjust text formatting. Things you might want to customize include:
- Subject line: Personalize it for special occasions.
- Colors: Match your brand’s identity.
- Footer message: Add store hours or a call to action.
A thoughtful, well-designed email increases engagement and creates a lasting impression.
Best Practices to Ensure Success
Implementing gift cards is only the first step. To ensure you get the most out of them, consider these best practices:
1. Offer Multiple Price Points
Give your customers flexibility by offering various denominations. Standard options include $10, $25, $50, and $100.
2. Promote Them Clearly on Your Website
Create a dedicated spot on your homepage, menu, and footer for gift cards. Visual cues and call-to-actions can drive more sales.
3. Utilize Seasonal Campaigns
Run targeted campaigns during the holiday season, birthdays, and special events like Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. Add urgency by offering limited-time bonuses (e.g., “Buy a $100 Gift Card, Get $10 Free!”).
4. Simplify the Redemption Process
Ensure the checkout page accepts gift card codes and provides clear field labeling. Remember, a confused customer often becomes a lost customer.
Security and Tracking
Gift cards are essentially a form of currency, so security is crucial. Reputable plugins like YITH include built-in security features such as:
- Unique, random gift card codes.
- Redemption tracking to see usage.
- Expiration dates to encourage timely redemption.
You should also regularly monitor your WooCommerce dashboard to ensure that gift card redemptions are legitimate and that no misuse is occurring.
Reporting & Analysis
Once your program is operational, make sure to utilize built-in reporting tools. WooCommerce and many gift card plugins provide basic analytics, such as:
- Number of gift cards sold.
- Total value issued and redeemed.
- Customer acquisition from gift card usage.
Collecting and analyzing this data helps you understand the program’s effectiveness and make informed decisions.
Wrapping Up
Creating WooCommerce gift cards that customers can email to their friends isn’t just about giving people a way to spend money—it’s about building relationships, extending your brand reach, and creating new opportunities for sales growth. With the right plugin, a thoughtful strategy, and ongoing promotion, your gift card program can evolve into a high-performing asset within your overall marketing and sales plan.
Now is the perfect time to implement this feature and give your customers a flexible, modern gifting solution they can easily share with friends and loved ones.
Start today, and make your store part of your customers’ celebrations and special moments.