For many restaurants, growth means filling tables, creating memorable guest experiences, and increasing the average spend. But there’s a powerful tool that’s often overlooked – selling gift cards. When used strategically, gift cards not only boost sales, but also help attract new customers, encourage repeat visits, and strengthen brand loyalty.
In this article, you’ll learn why digital gift cards are a smart investment, how to market them effectively across different channels, and how a digital solution simplifies the process without adding to your administrative workload.
Why should you sell gift cards?
Selling gift cards is a proven strategy in retail, but its full potential is still underutilized in the restaurant industry. For restaurant owners, it represents a business opportunity with several advantages:
- Advance payment – You receive the revenue before the guest even books a table.
- New customers – Every giftcard is an invitation for someone who may never have visited your restaurant before.
- Increased spend – Guests tend to spend more than the card's value.
- Repeat visits – A great experience often leads to guests coming back even after the card has been used.
Digital gift cards are also popular for holidays, birthdays, and corporate gifts – and they’re easy to buy and send from a phone or computer, anytime, anywhere.
How to market your gift cards effectively
Offering digital gift cards is a great first step. But to drive real results, your guests need to know they’re available – and why they make a great gift. Here are five ways to promote your giftcards:
1. In the restaurant
Many purchase decisions happen in the moment. Highlight your gift cards clearly in menus, on tables or near the register. A simple sign like “Give the gift of a dinner – gift cards available here” can work surprisingly well. Complement with physical cards for immediate purchase.
2. On social media
Use your social channels to remind followers about your giftcards – especially around holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Posts can drive both visibility and sales.
3. In newsletters and email campaigns
Do you send out a newsletter? Perfect. Regularly remind your subscribers that giftcards are available. Highlight specific occasions: “Looking for a birthday gift? Treat someone to a dining experience – buy a digital giftcard on our website.”
4. On your website
Your website is often the first impression for new guests – and a key point of sale. Make sure gift cards are visible and easy to find. If you offer preset experiences (e.g. a three-course dinner for two or weekend brunch), showcase them with clear descriptions and pricing. The easier it is for visitors to understand what they’re buying, the more likely they are to complete the purchase.
5. In search engines
When people look for restaurant experiences to give as gifts, they usually start with Google. One of the most common searches is “restaurant gift card + [city]”. Create a dedicated landing page for your gift cards with a clear, searchable URL like yourrestaurant.com/gift-card-gothenburg – instead of hiding it in a menu or your homepage.
Digital control – without administrative hassle
A common concern with launching giftcards is the fear of increased admin. Many restaurants hesitate due to paper handling, manual tracking, or uncertainty around balances, expiry dates and accounting.
But with the right solution, it becomes easy. Microdeb offers a digital giftcard system that automates the entire process – from sales and redemption to tracking and reporting. You avoid complex routines and gain a system designed to simplify your operations without adding tasks.
- Easy sales via your website or in person
- Intuitive web-based interface
- Automated reporting to accounting or business systems
Everything is handled in one system, minimizing errors and saving your staff valuable time. No special technical skills or expensive integrations needed. Whether you run a single restaurant or a growing chain, the system scales with your needs. You’ll have full insight into gift card usage – while offering guests a smooth, professional experience.
Start selling gift cards – and build customer loyalty
Selling gift cards is a simple way to generate new revenue and increase guest retention. It also strengthens your brand, builds relationships, and offers something your customers are already looking for. With Microdeb’s digital payment solution, it’s easy to get started – and you gain a tool that grows with your business.
Contact us at Microdeb to learn more about our solution and how you can start offering digital gift cards right away.
