It's Day 3 of your over the top sales tips for this holiday and gift-giving season. AND...it's my birthday! But rest assured that I am not working today. Thanks to the miracle of the technology angels, this entry was written ahead of time and posted automatically while I am still sound asleep getting my beauty rest. (And preparing for this momentous day!)

But in the spirit of birthday's, today's tip is about giving your clients a present. Read on to learn more!

Today's Tip - Thank your clients for their gift certificate purchases by giving them a gift! I love this promotion because it is fun, giving and can help increase business now and later! Start by creating a dollar value threshold that you'd like to see each client spend, perhaps $50 or $100. Then when they make a retail, service or gift certificate purchase (your choice of course), you give them a special bonus item to use at a later time.
 
For example, one of my consulting clients is giving each client who spends $100 on gift certificates a $20 product voucher to be used on their next visit. The retail purchase will have to meet a certain threshold - let's say $50 - to meet the requirements for using the coupon. Add it is limited to the month of January when cash sales tend to be lower anyway.

You can also give away a free service or intro session for something you are trying to promote or perhaps a retail product that you got a great price on or are way overstocked in that comes with the minimum purchase. (Clinique and Estee Lauder have made countless sums of cash by doing the gift free with purchase so you know it works!)

Here's an example of how you might tell a client about your new or featured packages:

“Tim, I just want to make sure you know about our special promotion for the holidays. For every $50 you purchase in gift certificates this month, you'll get a $5 credit you can use towards any spa service in January. The certificates can't be combined with other discounts or specials but may be used by you or whomever you decide to give them to. Now, have you decided which package yo get for your wife?"

Again, the keys for a successful promotion are 1) taking action on getting it up and running, 2) making sure your whole staff is informed and able to explain the promotion easily, and 3) sharing the news with your clients. As always, you'll want to post the scoop on your website and to make the special available for online gift certificate purchases.  Ready, set, give!

Adding special offers to your online gift certificate sales is getting a whole lot easier at the Gift Card Cafe. They're adding a new PROMO CODE tool that will allow you to send your clients targeted specials for their gift certificate purchases. Want more info? Learn more by clicking here and you'll be one step closer to more time and money with less work. My friends at TheGiftCardCafe.com have made their product very user-friendly, customizable to your business and practically risk free. No matter what services or products you offer, set-up is super simple, quick and virtually painless.