What Are the Best Virtual Gift Cards for Different Types of Recipients?

Driving engagement in your survey, research, or marketing programs is always a challenge, but it’s even more difficult when you’re trying to attract a specific audience. When it comes to rewarding participants, the best virtual gift cards may differ for each campaign or even each individual. Luckily, there are plenty of options and tools to help you curate the right selection.

Letting survey respondents or brand advocates pick which type of e-gift card they want as a reward is always a good idea. For programs that target a certain demographic or interest, however, you can create a more personalized reward experience by tailoring the list they can choose from. Here are some examples and suggestions.

A Focus Group for Travelers

Consider a hospitality or transportation company launching a new offering. It wants to gather input from business travelers and frequent vacationers on their post-pandemic habits and preferences. While those respondents certainly could use virtual gift cards for Amazon or Target, there’s a better way to draw them in and show that you’re taking their interests into account. For instance, offer a selection of gift cards for:

• Accommodation providers, such as Hotels.com and Airbnb.
• Airlines, like Delta and Southwest.
• Transportation options, such as Uber.
• Car maintenance for the road-trippers, with brands like AutoZone and Jiffy Lube.

A Survey for Students 

It’s notoriously difficult to get teenagers and young adults to participate in surveys and other programs. Students especially have many distractions going on. Choosing gift cards that really appeal to their age group is the best way to draw their attention.

Imagine a university trying to solicit feedback from its students about a new service on campus. Technology- and entertainment-related gift cards are likely to speak the loudest, including those for:

• Mobile services, like Google Play and Apple.
• Electronics retailers, such as Best Buy.
• Gaming supplies, like GameStop, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox.
• Streaming services, including Hulu, Twitch, Showtime, and Sling.

An Online Review Request for Parents 

Word-of-mouth is a strong influencer among most consumers, but especially among parents. For day care centers, babysitting services, toy retailers, and other child-centric businesses, it’s an important strategy to get the buzz going about the brand. They could, for instance, offer rewards for online reviews on Yelp, Google, and other sites. Picking the best virtual gift cards for them is key to persuading them to take time from their busy schedules to submit a review. Some examples include:

• Retailers where they can buy family essentials, like Walmart and Target.
• Grocery stores, such as Kroger, Safeway, and Giant Eagle.
• Meal kits, like Hello Fresh and Home Chef.
• Something that will give a tired parent a break, such as AMC movie theaters or Spafinder.

A Clinical Study on Gym Members 

Fitness and wellness have become a bigger focus for many consumers and businesses in recent years. And the research on health habits is ongoing. Consider a clinical researcher who’s looking to collect data from people who exercise regularly and therefore targets gym membership lists. It would hit the wrong note to offer incentives for, say, a fast-food eatery. Instead, take the audience into account and consider:

• Athletic apparel retailers, like Nike, Under Armour, and Columbia Sportswear.
• Sporting equipment stores, such as REI.
• Healthier restaurants, like Subway.

A Feedback Survey for Overseas Customers

Getting opinions from overseas customers is very helpful for many companies with an international reach. That means they need to reward survey participants around the world. It’s key to find digital gift cards that those respondents can actually use in their country. Some options are:

• E-gift cards for country-specific brands, such as Canadian bookstore Indigo and U.K. grocer Tesco.
• Multinational brands with rewards for each specific market, like Amazon, which offers virtual gift cards for more than a dozen country sites.
• Virtual prepaid cards like Visa and Mastercard, which can be redeemed in over 150 countries.

The Best Way to Send the Best Virtual Gift Cards 

Knowing the best virtual gift cards for your target participants is only one step to creating a successful rewards program. With the right incentives management platform, you can easily curate the right list of rewards for each campaign or survey. Make sure to choose a tool with a wide catalog of options, so you can properly tailor your selection — and ensure improved engagement from the right people.

Check out the extensive list of reward choices from BHN Rewards (formerly Rybbon)! Then contact us for a demo or sign up for a free account to see how our easy-to-use platform can boost your program.

about the author

Hannah Prince

Hannah is a reformed journalist who has more than 15 years of experience and now focuses on content marketing for innovative tech companies.

Hannah is a reformed journalist who has more than 15 years of experience and now focuses on content marketing for innovative tech companies.