e-Commerce sales will dominate as we head into Q3 and Q4 of 2020.

My prediction (and many others) is that Black Friday will be almost entirely done via online shopping this year.

Here are some strategies that we are finding that work.

Gift Card Offers

With millions of physical businesses struggling, now more than ever is a brilliant time to let help them sell digital gift cards to their establishments on your PayVibe site. You can decide to offer the gift cards at a discount or not. Currently, it’s probably best for the local merchants / business owners if the gift cards are not discounted. So for example, sell $25, $50, and $100 gift cards to a restaurant for $25, $50, and $100 respectively.

We recommend that our publishers add a new category on their site called Gift Cards (Site Settings >> Categories) and offer gift cards as a category to help out businesses as they struggle through these crazy and trying times. Extending expiration dates on your offer can help alleviate some of concern your subscribers may have in placing an order.

Rescue Operation

Launch an operation to rescue your favorite local restaurants in your area.  Selling Gift Cards to their businesses, listing their info, delivery and takeout info, etc.

Pick up or Delivery Options

When selling deals, gift cards, vouchers, or half off specials to establishments, be transparent in the order of operations. For example: Choose pick up or delivery only when placing your order. When calling to place your order, read off the voucher number. Call once you arrive to pick up your food / gear. Most businesses don’t have a huge following or a way to advise if they are open. In the offer write-up section in your admin panel, include every bit of pertinent information and establish the ground rules for the deal being crafted. Explain to the end customer how they can hold up their phone or voucher to the window when picking up their food so that the merchant can scan from outside the window.

Put together private offers that only your VIP Clients can order.

Put together private offers to enable subscribers to give donations to establishments or charities that they believe in; or just private offers to a Select Group of subscribers.

Deviate from your standard M.O.

Everyone is in scrapper / survival mode.  Share Pertinent Information.  Share official guidelines and CDC recommendations to your audience. If you only usually offer restaurant deals, don’t be afraid to offer golf deals.  If you only offer golf deals, don’t be afraid to offer restaurant deals, etc. Showcase musicians who are live streaming concerts in your markets.  Bring them into your studios (if that is allowed), sell their merchandise, etc. Certain offers can do better than others at the moment such as; farm offers, golf offers (that are still open).  board games, kayak / canoe / stand up paddle board trips, etc.  

Notifications and banner ads

Use your notification spots to highlight specific businesses, give your customers needed updates, link to list of open businesses, CDC guidelines, etc.

Good luck.

Marc Horne