Cause marketing is a business strategy in which a for-profit business supports a non-profit organization or charitable cause to advance its social responsibility efforts and build customer loyalty. Research shows that cause marketing is an increasingly necessary element of a brand.
For retailers in particular, there is a direct connection between cause and cash register. Brand strategists at Main & Rose found that 71% of consumers who observe a focus on social impact are more likely to buy from that company. Likewise, 60% of consumers have purchased from a brand that was unfamiliar to them simply because of its support of a cause they believe in.
Gift cards are an integral component of the marketing mix for many retailers. They can, and should, be incorporated into a retailer’s cause marketing strategies as well. Here are four ways to ensure that your gift card program will advance the cause you have chosen to support – and ultimately lead to a positive impact on retail sales.
The first step is to design a gift card that clearly reflects the non-profit organization or charitable cause being supported. Both the card itself and the card carrier should utilize colors, images, logos and symbols that are immediately associated with that organization or cause.
A gift card on its own, no matter how well designed, will have limited impact. Instead, make sure your new cause-related gift card is part of broader company marketing campaigns. Every touchpoint the customer has with your brand is an opportunity to promote the cause – and the gift card you are offering to support it.
A gift card program creates a natural platform for ongoing education. Content marketing tactics such as podcasts, articles, webinars and videos can be added to the communications supporting the program. These content sources, in turn, can be used to shine a spotlight on the non-profit or charity itself.
To make a meaningful real-world impact, the gift card program should incorporate a reward or benefit specific to that cause. For example:
The possibilities are endless. The important thing is to create a direct financial link between use of the gift card and support of the cause.
Taylor is one of the world’s largest producers of gift and loyalty cards and offers a true end-to-end solution. Everything needed to devise, design and deliver a cause-related gift card program is available through a single source.
Looking for a way to align your corporate social responsibility goals with your gift card marketing efforts? Contact us to learn more about Taylor’s industry-leading gift card capabilities.