Maximizing Gift Card Sales During the Holiday Season

a present being held in front of a christmas tree

The holiday season is just around the corner, and for local restaurants and coffee shops, it’s one of the best opportunities to boost revenue—especially when it comes to selling gift cards. Think about it: gift cards are an easy win for your most loyal customers who want to share their favorite spots with friends and family. They’re also perfect for last-minute shoppers looking for a thoughtful gift. 

In fact, gift cards are one of the most popular holiday gifts every year. Studies from last year’s holiday spending show that 55% of holiday shoppers said they would like to receive gift cards, and nearly 30% of consumers said they planned to buy themselves a gift card.

But here’s the thing—plenty of places sell gift cards, and not everyone will rush out to buy one unless they’re nudged in the right direction. That’s where a creative, strategic approach comes in. At Olive + Leo, we love helping our clients think outside the box, especially when it comes to marketing around the holidays. With a little planning and some fresh ideas, you can get people excited about purchasing your gift cards.

Creative Campaign Ideas to Maximize Holiday Gift Card Sales

Here are a few creative online marketing campaign ideas to help boost your gift card sales this holiday season:

1. Gift Card Bundle Promotions

Create a sense of value and festivity by offering themed gift card bundles. Pair a gift card with a popular menu item or a holiday treat, such as a seasonal drink and a pastry. This type of promotion adds extra appeal for customers looking to gift an experience rather than just a card. You can promote these bundles through eye-catching social media posts and email campaigns that highlight the added value. 

For example, you might offer something like this: “Buy a $50 gift card and get a free peppermint latte and gingerbread cookie with your purchase.” This not only incentivizes the purchase but also encourages the recipient to visit your cafe or restaurant.

2. User-Generated Content Campaign

Leverage the power of your loyal customers by encouraging them to share their favorite moments at your restaurant or coffee shop. Create a holiday-themed hashtag like #GiftOfFlavor and ask your followers to post photos or stories of their best experiences with your food or drinks. Incentivize participation by offering a chance to win a gift card.

This type of user-generated content not only promotes your gift cards but also strengthens your brand by showcasing real customer stories. You can feature the best entries on your social media channels and email newsletters, giving participants the added bonus of being highlighted by their favorite local spot.

3. Countdown to the Holidays

Create excitement and urgency with a countdown campaign leading up to the holidays. Each day, offer a different promotion tied to your gift cards. For example:

  • Day 1: Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus
  • Day 2: Buy two $25 gift cards, get a free dessert
  • Day 3: Share our post and tag a friend for a chance to win a $25 gift card

This type of campaign can be promoted through email, social media, or text message marketing, encouraging your audience to check back daily for new offers. The sense of urgency and novelty each day drives engagement and can lead to increased gift card purchases.

4. Gift Card Giveaways

Who doesn’t love a good social media contest contest? Host a series of giveaways on your social media platforms where followers can enter to win a gift card by liking, sharing, or tagging friends in your posts. This can increase engagement while expanding your reach to potential new customers.

Consider hosting a themed series of giveaways—such as “12 Days of Giveaways”—where you give out gift cards or bundles each day leading up to the holidays. Giveaways can keep your audience engaged throughout the holiday season and build excitement around your brand.

For more insights, be sure to check out our resource on running a successful restaurant social media contest or campaign. 

5. Personalized Email Campaigns

Use your customer data to send personalized email campaigns that recommend gift cards based on previous purchases. For instance, if a customer frequently orders a specific dish or drink, send them a targeted email suggesting they gift that experience to someone special.

An example email might say, “Treat someone to your favorite meal this holiday season! Buy a gift card and let your loved ones experience the best [insert dish or drink] in town.” Personalization makes your marketing feel more genuine and can lead to higher conversion rates.

Best Practices for Promoting Gift Cards Online

When promoting gift cards through digital channels like social media, email, and text messaging, it’s essential to keep a few best practices in mind to ensure your campaigns are effective:

  • Use eye-catching visuals: Whether it’s a festive graphic or a well-designed email, make sure your visuals are engaging and convey the holiday spirit.
  • Incentivize early purchases: Offer early-bird deals or bonus incentives for those who purchase gift cards before a certain date.
  • Create a sense of urgency: Use countdowns or limited-time offers to encourage quick purchases.
  • Leverage storytelling: Share stories of customers who have given or received gift cards, making your promotions feel more personal and relatable.
  • Segment your audience: Tailor your email or text message promotions based on customer behaviors and preferences to make the message more relevant.
  • Optimize for mobile: Ensure that your emails, social media posts, and landing pages are mobile-friendly, as many holiday shoppers will be browsing and purchasing from their phones.

Make the Most of Your Holiday Marketing

At the end of the day, making the most of the holiday season isn’t just about offering gift cards—it’s about creating an experience that makes people want to share your restaurant with others. With the right marketing plan in place, you can turn gift cards into more than just a sale; you can use them as a tool to bring new customers through the door and keep regulars coming back for more.

We’d love to help you take things to the next level. Whether it’s coming up with engaging social media campaigns or making sure your promotions reach the right people, Olive + Leo is here to make sure your restaurant or coffee shop shines this holiday season. Let’s chat and see how we can work together! And for more timely holiday marketing tips for your restaurant or hospitality business, be sure to follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn!

Turn Likes into Lines: A Guide to Running Restaurant Contests on Social Media 

taking photo of bakery display with phone

In the bustling and competitive world of restaurant marketing, standing out from the crowd can feel like a never-ending challenge. But what if you could turn the buzz of social media into a steady stream of customers walking through your doors? Social media contests and promotions have the power to do just that. 

In fact, studies show that more than half of consumers have visited a restaurant because of an online contest, and 63% of consumers are more likely to visit a restaurant if they receive exclusive offers on social media. But here’s the catch: while these contests can be incredibly affordable and effective for driving foot traffic, it’s important to think strategically to ensure they foster long-term loyalty, not just short-term spikes.

You don’t want to rely on constant promotions to keep your tables filled—that’s a quick way to exhaust your resources and potentially devalue your brand. Instead, by running contests that align with your brand and engage your audience meaningfully, you can build lasting relationships that keep customers coming back, even when there’s no prize on the line.

A Guide to Running Restaurant Contests on Social Media

At Olive + Leo, we’ve seen firsthand how a well-executed social media contest can transform a restaurant’s visibility and enhance customer loyalty. Here’s our guide to running contests that turn social media “likes” into lines out the door.

1. Define Clear Objectives and Align with Your Brand

Before launching any contest, start by asking yourself: What do I want to achieve? Whether it’s increasing foot traffic on slow nights, boosting your social media following, or promoting a new menu item, having clear objectives will shape your entire contest strategy. Make sure the contest aligns with your brand’s personality and values. 

For instance, if you’re known for your farm-to-table dishes, consider a contest that highlights your fresh ingredients or asks customers to share their family’s tried and true recipes. This not only attracts participants but also reinforces your brand identity.

2. Create a Contest that Engages and Excites

To drive social media engagement, your contest should be simple, fun, and rewarding. Think about what your audience loves—maybe it’s a chance to name a new dish, share their favorite dining memory at your restaurant, or post a creative photo featuring your food. 

User-generated content (UGC) is a fantastic way to get your customers involved while spreading the word about your brand. For example, ask participants to post a photo on Instagram with a unique hashtag you’ve created for the contest. The more participants share, the more buzz you create, turning their excitement into real-world visits.

3. Leverage Cross-Promotional Channels

While social media is the star of the show, don’t forget about the supporting cast. To maximize the reach and impact of your contest, promote it across all your channels—text messages, email newsletters, in-store signage, and even on your website. 

Cross-promotion increases participation while reinforcing your message across multiple touchpoints, making it hard for your audience to miss. For example, send a text blast to your loyal customers with a link to your contest post or include a call-to-action in an email newsletter encouraging subscribers to participate. 

4. Keep It Fresh: Adapt and Innovate

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and what worked for your last contest might not hit the mark today. Stay ahead of the curve by regularly reviewing and updating your contest strategies. Look at what’s trending in the industry, experiment with different contest formats, and listen to your audience’s feedback. 

Maybe your audience is more active on Instagram than on Facebook now, or perhaps video content is driving more engagement than static images. By staying flexible and creative, you’ll keep your contests exciting and relevant, ensuring they continue to drive results.

5. Measure Success and Build on It

Once your contest has wrapped up, the work isn’t over. Take the time to analyze the results—did you meet your objectives? Which aspects of the contest performed best? Use metrics like engagement rates, new followers, and in-store visits and sales to gauge the success of your contest. 

Measuring the effectiveness of your mobile marketing efforts is essential for planning future promotions and understanding what resonates with your audience. Don’t just look at the numbers; consider the long-term impact on customer loyalty. If a contest participant becomes a regular customer, that’s a win worth celebrating!

From Contests to Customer Loyalty: We’re Here to Help

Running a successful social media contest is more than just a quick way to boost your likes—it’s an opportunity to build meaningful connections with your patrons that translate into long-term customer loyalty and sustained business growth. By following these best practices, you can create contests that excite your audience, reinforce your brand, and keep your restaurant top of mind.

If you’re ready to take your digital marketing efforts to the next level or need help crafting the perfect social media strategy, Olive + Leo is here to support you every step of the way. Let’s turn those likes into lines at your door.

From Opens to Orders: Measuring What Matters in Restaurant Mobile Marketing

restaurant cook reading order tickets

In today’s fast-paced digital world, restaurant owners and general managers understand the importance of mobile marketing. With smartphones in nearly every pocket, it’s a powerful way to reach your customers. But with so many options—social media, email, text marketing—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How do you know what’s working? How can you be sure your efforts are translating into more customers, more orders, and more revenue?

At Olive + Leo, we love helping local restaurants and retailers not only develop effective mobile marketing strategies but also measure and analyze their results so they can continuously optimize and increase profits.

Key Metrics to Help You Measure What Matters

Instead of the “throw it on the wall and see what sticks” approach, we recommend focusing on a few key metrics to measure your mobile marketing effectiveness. Let’s dive into those metrics that can help you turn your opens into orders.

1. Text Marketing Campaign Effectiveness

Text marketing is one of the most direct ways to reach your customers, but how do you know if it’s hitting the mark? Start by keeping an eye on open rates and click-through rates (CTR). These tell you how many people are engaging with your texts. But don’t stop there—dig into the redemption rates of any offers or discounts you include. Are your buy-one-get-one-free deals bringing people through the door, or are your half-off appetizers the real crowd-pleaser? 

By regularly evaluating your restaurant’s text marketing efforts, you can tweak your campaigns to focus on the offers that truly get results.

2. Social Media Content Engagement

Social media isn’t just about posting mouthwatering photos of your dishes, although that’s important, too! It’s about creating content that gets people talking and, more importantly, walking through your doors. Pay attention to what types of posts get the most likes, comments, shares, and saves. Is your audience more into your behind-the-scenes kitchen videos, or do they love hearing about your daily specials? Also, check how much traffic your social media channels are driving to your website or reservation system. 

If people are engaging but not taking action, it might be time to mix things up and evolve your social media strategy.

3. Digital Advertising Performance

Running ads on Google, Facebook, or Instagram? Great! But how do you know which platform is giving you the best bang for your buck? Start by tracking metrics like click-through rates, cost per click, and conversion rates for each platform. Then, dig a little deeper. Are your ads reaching the right audience? If your dinner specials are showing up for early birds, your targeting might need a little tweak. 

By keeping a close eye on these metrics, you can make sure you’re spending your ad dollars where they’ll have the most impact.

4. Customer Loyalty Growth

Building a loyal customer base is like having a solid foundation for your restaurant. So, how’s your customer loyalty program growing? Track the number of new sign-ups and see how often these customers are coming back. Are they taking advantage of your loyalty offers? Are they spending more over time? 

This data can help you shape your loyalty program to keep your regulars coming back—and maybe even bringing their friends along.

Practical Advice for Restaurant Managers

Tracking these metrics is just the beginning—knowing how to blend them into a winning strategy is where the magic happens. Here are some best practices we recommend for crafting a mobile marketing recipe that truly delivers:

1. Establish a Regular Measurement System

Consistency is your best friend when it comes to measuring the success of your mobile marketing. Set up a regular schedule—whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—to review your metrics. This way, you can spot trends, make adjustments, and keep your strategy on track.

2. Give Things Time to Work

We know it’s tempting to want immediate results, but digital marketing is more like a slow-cooked meal than fast food. Give your campaigns time to simmer before making any big changes. This will give you a clearer picture of what’s working and what might need to be changed.

3. Keep Evolving and Learning

The digital world doesn’t stand still, and neither should you. Stay on top of the latest trends and tools in mobile marketing. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new platforms or strategies. The more you learn and adapt, the more successful your marketing efforts will be.

4. Recognize Other Factors That Impact Customer Loyalty

While mobile marketing is crucial, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Remember, customer loyalty is also shaped by the experience you offer: great customer service, a welcoming atmosphere, and delicious food. Your marketing can bring customers in, but it’s the experience that will bring them back.

From Strategy to Success—We’re Here to Help

At Olive + Leo, we’re passionate about helping local restaurants and retailers enhance customer loyalty through effective mobile marketing strategies. By focusing on the right metrics and continuously refining your approach, you can turn opens into orders and drive long-term success for your business.

Ready to take your mobile marketing to the next level? Connect with our team today, and let’s create a strategy that works for you.