If you're thinking about raising brand awareness, increasing foot traffic, generating new sales or increasing repeat business, then giving away free gift cards is a great idea. It's a fact that everyone likes to receive something for free from time to time and a free gift card might give that customer an excuse to walk through your doors to buy something.

If you have a present marketing and advertising campaign in the works, then it's as easy as 1-2-3 to insert a free gift card with your mailings. You can even opt to hand them out directly to select customers. Most gift cards are inexpensive and you'll be compensated in more ways than by just getting back the money spent.

Valuable marketing data on your customers is the great trade-off and you can obtain this by having them fill out a survey or comment sheet. It allows you to determine over time how your customers are spending their money, the items they prefer to spend money on and the types of sales that will make them want to visit again.

On the other side of the coin, if you're a consumer and thinking about giving a giftcard to a friend or family member, then there are tips you should know about. First, find out if there is a service charge attached because you'll want to make sure the recipient knows of any expiration date. Some free gift cards also have a dormancy fee attached.

This goes into effect if the card isn't used within a specific time period. Knowing whether the card is store-specific, such as a Target or a Macys gift card, is also very important. A giftcard has more value if it can be used at multiple locations or on the internet to make purchases. Using a Visa one is especially good for this feature.

It's best to give free gift cards that are sealed safely in some type of packaging. You don't want the numbers of the card to be displayed for the obvious reason. This safety precaution insures that the number hasn't been stolen prior to your purchase of the card.

They can be found virtually everywhere these days. They can be found in gift shops, grocery stores, movie theaters and restaurants to name a few. Just make sure you ask enough questions to understand the variables involved. Giving away free gift cards is a win-win situation for everyone.

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