TLDR

You've been working hard all year to build your customer base and gain new regulars. Now the busy holiday season is here, and it's time to engage those customers to drive more sales. E-gift cards and targeted push notifications are two of the most effective ways to spread the word about your Black Friday deals and holiday promotions. With the right messaging and cadence, you can motivate customers to stop by for a meal, buy a gift card for a friend, or take advantage of your seasonal offers. In just 5 simple steps, you can create an e-gift card program and push notification strategy to make the most of the holidays and keep your customers coming back all season long.

Use Push Notifications to Promote Black Friday Deals

This Black Friday, use push notifications to spread the word about your deals and promotions. Send time-sensitive alerts about flash sales, limited-time offers, and countdowns to motivate customers to act fast.

Countdown notifications build a sense of urgency by showing the time remaining on deals. Send a series of updates as the hours wind down to prompt last-minute shoppers. Messages like “Only 2 hours left!” or “Today only - 50% off all gift cards!” create FOMO and drive sales.

Offer gift card bonuses and incentives through push alerts. For example, “Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card free!” or “Spend $100, get 20% off your next order!” Gift cards are popular stocking stuffers, so promotions will be well received by your audience.

To create gift cards, log into your Per Diem account and select “Gift Cards” from your dashboard. Choose a design, add your business logo, pick a denomination, and you’re all set. Gift cards can then be sold on your app, online, or in-store.

By utilizing push notifications and gift card marketing during the holidays, you’ll boost customer engagement, increase sales, and spread seasonal cheer. Make the most of this opportunity to connect with your loyal customers and community.

Send Customized E-Gift Cards to Increase Customer Engagement

E-gift cards are an easy way to boost customer engagement and drive more sales. As a restaurant owner, you can leverage your mobile app to promote e-gift cards and push notifications during the holidays.

Promote your e-gift card program by sending push notifications to customers about buying gift cards for friends and family. You can offer bonuses like $5 off $25 when they buy e-gift cards. Create them in various denominations that customers can send instantly to recipients via text, email, or your app.

• Send push notifications in the weeks leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday promoting your gift card deals and discounts. Mention your e-gift cards as perfect stocking stuffers and last-minute gifts.
• On Black Friday, send time-sensitive push notifications with special one-day-only deals when customers buy e-gift cards. For example, $10 off $50 gift cards from 12 pm to 3 pm.
• Keep the momentum going on Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday with more gift card promotions. Remind people they can still buy last-minute e-gift cards for their holiday shopping.
• Follow up in December with push notifications reminding customers they can use e-gift cards they received as gifts to pay for meals at your restaurant.

E-gift cards and targeted push notifications are valuable tools that, when used together, can significantly boost your holiday sales and customer loyalty. Make the most of new features in your mobile app to spread the word about your e-gift card program and deals this season. Customers will appreciate the convenience and your business will benefit from the increased revenue and customer engagement.

Creative E-Gift Card Ideas for the Holidays

The holidays are a perfect time to promote your business through e-gift cards and push notifications. Here are some creative ways to engage customers this season:

1. Festive e-gift card designs

Offer e-gift cards with seasonal graphics to spread holiday cheer. Amounts from $5 to $500 give customers options at various price points. E-gift cards are easy to buy and send instantly, so customers can purchase last minute.

2. Gift card promotions

Run a promotion offering a free gift card with the purchase of a larger amount, like “Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 card free.” Or offer a discount, such as 20% off all gift card purchases over $100. Promote the deal through website banners, social media, and push notifications to drive sales.

3. Holiday push notifications

Send festive push notifications to customers advertising your gift card promotion and Black Friday deals. For example:

• ‘Tis the season! $10 free with every $50 e-gift card. Limited time only!
• Black Friday starts now! 25% off everything in-store and online.
• Avoid the crowds—black Friday deals all week. Up to 50% off select items. Shop now!

4. Gift card giveaways

For extra excitement, announce a gift card giveaway through push notifications. For example, “Be one of the first 25 customers to buy a $100 e-gift card and you'll receive a $25 card free!” Gift card giveaways create a sense of urgency and boost immediate sales.

5. Limited Edition E-Gift Cards

Make your restaurant experience even more special! Introduce limited edition e-gift cards. They're exclusive and won't last long, perfect for surprising your regulars and attracting new customers. Share it on social media and through emails to create excitement.

Using e-gift cards, push notifications, promotions, and giveaways are excellent ways to spread holiday cheer to your customers this season. With some creative thinking, you'll have customers rushing to take advantage of your seasonal offers. 

Setting Up Black Friday and Holiday Promotions in Per Diem

The holiday season is an ideal time for restaurants and cafes to boost sales and engage customers. Per Diem’s push notification feature offers an easy way to promote holiday deals and gift cards. Here are five steps to get started:

1. Create Special Holiday Menus

Develop menus featuring seasonal flavors, drinks, and pastries to excite customers. Use push notifications to announce the new options and drive traffic. For example, “Spice up the season with our new Gingerbread Latte and Cranberry Orange Scone. Available for a limited time!”

2. Offer Black Friday Discounts

Run a Black Friday promotion by sending push notifications in the days leading up to the big shopping event. For example, “Black Friday starts early at [Restaurant Name]! Get 25% off all orders over $25. One day only!” This generates buzz and gives customers an incentive to choose your business.

3. Promote Gift Cards

Push notifications are ideal for promoting gift cards as holiday gifts. For example, “Stumped on gift ideas? A [Restaurant Name] gift card is the perfect solution. Buy $50, get $5 free. Limited time offer.” Include a link to easily purchase cards on your website or app.

4. Share Holiday Hours

Inform customers of any changes to hours of operation over the holidays. For example, “The holidays are here! We will have special hours from Dec 24-26. Check our website for details.” This avoids confusion and lost business.

5. Thank Your Customers

Send a push notification thanking your loyal customers for their support over the past year. For example, “Thank you for being a part of our community this year. We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season!” This personal touch will be greatly appreciated.

By utilizing this tool for your holiday promotions and gift card marketing, you can boost end-of-year sales and engage your customer base. Best of luck making this your most successful season yet!

Measuring the Success of Your Holiday Campaign

To successfully promote your restaurant’s holiday campaign, track key metrics to measure its impact. Your app's dashboard allows you to monitor order metrics that matter most during this busy season.

Website Traffic

Track how many visitors come to your website and mobile app. Measure year-over-year growth to see the impact of your marketing efforts. See what content and promotions are driving the most traffic.

Gift Card Sales

Send push notifications regularly about buying gift cards. Provide an easy way for customers to purchase e-gift cards on your website and app. Measure the revenue from gift card sales and set goals to beat last year’s numbers.

Mobile App Downloads

Run an app download promotion offering a free gift or discount for new app users. Track how many people download your app as a result. New app users are more likely to make a purchase and become loyal customers.

Online Orders

Monitor how many orders are coming through your website and mobile app. Set a target for year-over-year growth in online orders. Measure the sales revenue from online orders to determine the success of your marketing campaigns.

Customer Retention

Pay close attention to your customer retention rate. Send post-holiday surveys to get feedback on their experience. Track how many holiday customers make a repeat purchase or continue using your app regularly. Focus on providing great service to turn new customers into lifelong fans.

By diligently tracking these key metrics, you'll gain valuable insights into what's working and not working in your holiday marketing campaign. You'll be able to make quick adjustments to improve results and finish the season strong. The holidays will be over before you know it, so make the most of this busy period by engaging customers in creative new ways.

Final Thoughts

Now you have all the tools and information to run a successful push notification and gift card campaign this holiday season. Reach out to your loyal customers and new potential guests with timely updates on deals and promotions to drive more sales. Gift cards are a perfect gift for the holidays and an easy way for people to support local businesses like yours. Get started designing your gift cards today or use the pre-designed templates and spread the word through social media and push alerts. This simple strategy can help boost revenue during your busiest time of year and keep your customers engaged long after the season ends. The future of digital marketing is here - are you ready to tap into its potential?

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