Cost Effective Digital Gift Card Marketing: Better Tools For Better Campaigns

Digital gift card marketing has been gaining a lot of traction, and with good reason. Now that gift card platforms can automate sending, it’s never been easier to leverage the benefits of gift cards in marketing campaigns.

The conventional (and often manual) method of managing gift cards campaigns typically involves heavy administration, delays, and limited options.

Meanwhile, smart marketers today are able to leverage all-in-one digital platforms to create efficient and streamlined gift card promotions that drive sales and customer loyalty.

Simply put, if you’re going to use gift cards in marketing, then you need modern tools to do it right. In this article, we’ll explore 7 ways you can use a gift card platform to dramatically simplify and improve your digital gift card marketing efforts.

We’ll also include some tips to help you optimize your platform once you’re up and running.

Go online to boost your gift card marketing strategy: 6 benefits

E-gift cards have always been popular, and their use is only growing. The industry has enjoyed a 200% annual increase over the past five years, according to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF). In 2022, sales reached a staggering $15 billion. And the latest incentive rewards research shows 55% of program managers expect their gift card programs to grow in 2025.

What’s driving this growth? Of course, marketers have always understood the power of a good incentive. But it’s only with the latest gift card platforms that they’ve been able to simply and easily leverage the benefits of incentives—without breaking the bank. 💪

Clearly, as businesses evolve their consumer marketing in our digital and AI-driven age, more and more are integrating a digital gift card platform into their tech stack, for a variety of reasons.

Here are six ways that working with a reputable gift card distributor can help your marketing efforts specifically.

1. Customizable rewards 

Offering gift cards is a powerful way to connect with your customer base, especially when you can personalize them to suit their individual preferences. By delighting your customers with personalized offers, you can build stronger, longer-lasting relationships with your brand. Plus, customization boosts the perceived value of your rewards, which helps drive engagement, boost sales, and keep your brand top of mind.

Specifically, modern gift card platforms make it simple to create customized digital cards that align with your brand and your customers' needs. From using pre-designed templates to adding your own logo and a personalized message, use gift card designs that leave a lasting impression.

And the flexibility doesn’t have to stop there. A good platform will let you tailor delivery options to match your audience’s preferences, whether that’s via a thoughtful email, a quick text, or even a QR code for in-person redemption. You can also curate rewards to offer your customers exactly what they want—think a selection of popular digital cards, tailored to their interests.

2. Streamlined compliance and added security

We’ve all gotten those spam emails, asking us to purchase gift cards for our CEO. Despite all the benefits of using gift cards, there is potential for abuse.

To counter these concerns, find a SOC 2 compliant gift card distributor. This will add an enhanced layer of security and compliance for your recipients, plus safeguard yourself from expenses resulting from reward-claiming fraud. Making this safe choice also makes it easier for your financial and security teams to buy-in to your proposed loyalty program.

3. More efficiency

Using a gift card API and other integrations can dramatically improve your gift card program. They let you get gift cards into the hands of your loyal customers immediately, without having to lift a finger (or having to assign a new daily task to someone on the already-swamped marketing team 🙌).

When assessing different gift card distributors, look for those that offer more ways than one to integrate into your system. For example, Giftbit’s RESTful API offers 3 ways to integrate to cater to your specific needs and streamline functionality. Or, you can use a Zapier integration for a no-code option.

This is how Eirik Hernes Berre, COO & Co-Founder of Curipod, set up his company’s most effective sales and marketing channel in just ten minutes.

“I watched the Zapier video on Giftbit's website and set it up in 10 minutes,” he remembers.

4. Increased engagement and redemption rates

At the end of the day, effective gift card marketing all comes down to offering gift cards to highly desirable brands.

Simply put, your new and potential customers want awesome digital rewards. That’s why it’s often a good idea to offer your recipients hundreds of brands to choose from, giving them total control over their rewards. It’s often when you give recipients the options to choose from a massive and enticing global rewards catalog that you you start to see that engagement and repeat business tick up.

5. Continuous programs and real-time rewards

As marketers, we know that instant gratification drives results. So if you want your digital gift card marketing to be effective, you need your program to run 24/7. If someone earns a reward at midnight on a Friday night, they shouldn’t have to wait til Monday morning to get it.

Digital platforms ensure that your recipients can receive digital gift cards anytime, day or night, ensuring your marketing strategy works around the clock.

6. Actionable metrics

One of the most strategic advantages of digital gift card distribution is the ability to manage your program's goals and success seamlessly.

For example, Giftbit’s gift card tracking provides full visibility into your transactions, including gift card redemptions and the brands and gift card options your users choose. Analyzing these essential metrics from your results generates valuable insights, empowering you to take actionable learnings and closely measure campaign ROI.

Maximize the potential of your digital gift card platform

Like we’ve covered, embracing a digital gift card platform can transform your rewards and incentives, driving engagement, repeat purchases, and customer loyalty while creating a seamless experience for recipients. But how to get started?

See the full guide  Launch an Incentive Program: 5 Drill-Down Questions From an Expert

First, to align your platform with your consumer marketing goals, start with a clear strategy.

Define your objectives—whether you're rewarding loyalty, increasing customer engagement, or incentivizing purchases. Match these goals with the right rewards. And don’t be afraid to get specific. Lead activation is going to require different types of gift cards than, say, a Valentine’s Day giveaway.

Understanding your audience is also critical. What motivates them? What incentives resonate most? Offering a variety of digital gift cards relevant to their interests ensures rewards feel personal and valuable. Segment your approach by customer type or seasonal campaigns, such as holiday discounts, to maximize impact. Flexibility in reward options helps create memorable experiences, particularly for small businesses wanting to stand out.

Delivery timing and messaging are equally important. Craft personalized messages for loyalty or referral programs and deliver rewards through the right channels—email, text, or social media. Immediate rewards create a positive, lasting impression and encourage repeat engagement.

The key to success is a thoughtful, customer-first approach—delivering the right rewards, at the right time, in the right way. Digital gift card platforms empower you to do just that, helping you build loyalty, increase engagement, and efficiently reach new audiences.

Pro-tip: Remember, finding a rewards partner with added security will mitigate your risk, help with leadership buy-in, and build brand trust with your recipients.. 

Simplify digital gift card marketing

When adding any technology solution to your business, it’s crucial to align your decision with your company’s objectives and needs. A thoughtful digital gift card platform can help you streamline rewards and incentives, enhance brand awareness, and create meaningful connections with your audience.

Whether you’re looking to attract new customers, celebrate employee anniversaries, improve your email campaigns, or drive repeat purchases, offering a variety of digital and physical gift cards—like popular Amazon gift cards—can make your programs more engaging. By bundling different reward options, you’ll cater to diverse preferences and create memorable customer experiences.

Giftbit gives you the tools to deliver, track, and optimize your digital gift card marketing—all while saving time and resources. Get started by creating your free account now.